First Semester Recap

Looking back over first semester, there are plenty of things I learned but some stuck out more than others. It was a huge change in my life, and there are a few things I wish I had known going into the program...but I quickly figured them out.

So for future First Year MBA Students, here is my Top 10 List!

1.       Do not procrastinate! Time Management is absolutely KEY!

2.       Talk to the 2nd years. They will give you valuable advice, not to mention old tests!

3.       Go to social events...even if you can only go for an hour or so. It will make your class grow closer, and expand your network!

4.       Working well and getting to know your team can make your life a lot easier

5.       Read chapters BEFORE class and skim the material again AFTER class. Utilize your team/class mates for points you may have missed during class.

6.       Use the “day off” on Friday to get school work done, you’ll appreciate it later.

7.       Networking. Networking. Networking. It’s NEVER too early to start networking.

8.       Get your resume done EARLY in the semester when you have some extra time. Then you can apply for jobs throughout the semester as they are posted!

9.       Do NOT Stress Out! It will only make the workload seem worse than it is. Take everything one step at a time, and it will be WAY more manageable.

10.   Have Fun...two years flies by faster than you think!



Second Semester...

Break is over. 4 weeks of vacation went by WAY too fast!

Now it's back to the grind...the start of second semester!

Today we started with Technology & Innovation and Finance.

Tomorrow we have Marketing, Product & Brand Management and Supply Chain.

Starting class today was completely different from last semester. Everyone knows each other, we have certain sections of the room where we typically sit, and we know a little bit more of what to expect. Our group is already close, and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses so its less of a learning curve.

Some classes scare me a little more (Finance/Supply Chain) than others, but all in all I'm hoping for a great semester.

EXAMS!

Well its finally the end of the semester and all that stands between me and a month break is 3 finals and a presentation! Sounds pretty simple when I write it in one little sentence. Well not really.

This week's agenda:

-Meet with our communication coach Tuesday morning for presentation practice

-Cumulative Accounting FINAL Wednesday at 1

-Cumulative Econ FINAL Thursday at 1

-Lunch with my cousins and Christmas party Saturday (HAVE to have a little fun mixed in!)

Next week:

-Final Communication Presentation Monday at 8am

-Final Statistics Exam Tuesday at 8am (Not cumulative, thank goodness, however the hardest of the 4 tests)

THEN I will officially have 1/4 of an MBA Degree! It's only 8 days..but it will be a fairly hectic 8 days! Been a great semester so far...and it all boils down to 8 more days....

Already Demember??

I cannot believe it is almost Thanksgiving break. This semester has absolutely flown by! In a little over a week, it'll be December? The past week and a half has been a little rough...

We’ve only had:

-a Research paper

-Econ Midterm

-Case Study

-Final Presentation

-Final 12 pg paper

-Accounting Quiz

-Paper analyzing a speech

-Powerpoint Slides

-Final Exam

No big deal. It was a little stressful at the time, but through the semester we’ve learned better time management and each other’s strengths/weaknesses. A group of about 10 of us has started studying for all our tests/quizzes together, dividing up articles/chapters to summarize, and teaching each other concepts/problems. It’s a pretty good bet that the day before and the day of a big test/quiz, at least 7-8 of us are in one of 2 study rooms in the Grad area. We nicknamed them “Vegas” and “Rio” to liven things up a bit! It has worked out pretty well so far...I’ve gotten the best grades on tests after we all started studying together!

one week later...

Our relaxing Thanksgiving break is over now. I forgot my laptop when I left to go out of town, so it was especially relaxing! Now, it’s back to the grind. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (the first semester tunnel at least)! 

Only:

 1 case study,

Accounting Final

 Econ Final

Communications Presentation

Stats Final

stand between me and a 27 day WINTER BREAK!!

As excited as I am for winter break, its somewhat bittersweet. I know how fast 4 years of undergrad went, and we’re almost ¼ of the way finished! Crazy!

NC State going BOWLING?!?

NC STATE FOOTBALL=BOWL ELIGIBLE!!

Completely shocked and excited that we are going to a bowl game again! I have been pleasantly surprised 3 times this year.

First: a crushing win over Carolina

Second: a HUGE upset over Clemson

Third: The biggest comeback I have EVER seen this past Saturday over Maryland.

We were down 41-14. And then started to creep back into the game. Maryland missed an extra point, and my cousin made the comment, “with the way this game is going, that could be important.”

I was hoping he was right, but I didn’t know if we could come back from such a huge deficit. But WE DID. We came back and were winning 42-41. Then managed to score 2 more touchdowns (one on an interception), to seal the deal.

42 unanswered points?!?

Impressive SECOND HALF WOLFPACK!!

NCSU/UNC Annual Football game!

Since we have quite a few Carolina and State Alum, there has been some "talking" back and forth in our class! The first year students coordinated together and were able to get 3 parking passes for the Fairgrounds lot to tailgate the morning of the game. We sent around a sign up sheet for food/drinks and we ended up with cornhole, a grill, biscuits, bacon, eggs, pancakes, donuts, orange juice, bloody mary mix and a few adult beverages mixed in.

We carpooled out to the field at 8am, and started cooking breakfast. It was a little cold that morning, a brisk 39 degree to be exact but we still had a great time. It started out with 14 of us, and once it started to warm up more and more people came by. Before the game we had about 25-30 people out there! Everyone had a great time at the tailgate, then we all went into the game and watched the PACK absolutely dominate the Tarheels!

 5^th year in a row that the WOLFPACK come out on top!

Now, let's hope we can continue the momentum into basketball season...

NAWMBA Lunch & Learn

Today was my first Lunch & Learn through the National Association of Woman MBA (NAWMBA). Typically NAWMA consiststs of women in the MBA program, but our chapter is tryig to expand to the men as well. It was great to have about 8 guys attend the lunch & learn session! Each semester the lunches are held at the SCRC building right across from Nelson. Industry professionals are invited to speak with students about their job function, experiences and perspective on successful techniques and tips for the career search.

The two speakers today were:

v  Amy Rumford, Director of Global Supply Chain General Procurement Operations at Lenovo

v  Marirose Steigerwald, President of Elinvar

They both spoke about their career paths, and had numerous tips to share with us. Although their jobs and career paths were very different, they both still were on the same page as far as what to look for in a job. They emphasized a job that would make a great fit for YOU specifically because everyone has different goals.

Marirose suggested sitting down and thinking of a list of “must-haves” in a job, and not to settle for less. Since you spend so much time at your job, you need to love going to work everyday. She also heavily emphasized networking because that was how she landed multiple opportunities.

Amy focused on staying true to yourself and your goals, and giving back whether it be to your family/friends, community or employers. She also interviews candidates regularly and was able to give us some great insight on what she looked for in a great candidate. She said that the experience and your resume will get you that interview, however a candidate’s communication skills and how they fit in with the company culture is what really set them apart.

Overall, it was a great experience. I was able to hear their stories and advice, and it really helps me to be able to dig deeper into what I really want from a job. I’m still in my first semester, but it has already flown by so I really need to start seriously thinking what exactly I would like to do when I graduate. These two women have great success stories, and it was great to be able to talk and interact with them in the smaller setting!