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Monday, August 28, 2006
. Orientation Day 3: Management Assessment & Section Meeting]
We had our first section 4 meeting today at 8am. It was the first time we got to see the whole section in one place. Everyone has very diverse backgrounds. We have everything from Investment Bankers to Engineers to Medical Doctors! And from countries all over the world. The section meeting was basically to get a quick introduction to everyone in the class and then get details about the MBA Games, the Shout Off, and other various events that we have coming up. The section elections are a week from today... so we have to be ready to know what we want to run for, if we decide to run.
I spent part of today doing some research regarding the Zell Lurie Institute Wolverine Venture Fund. I guess they take on 8 MBA1's to sit on the advisory board every year. It sounds like fun and I am thinking about applying for it. We'll see how that goes.
The next session was our Management Assessment seminar. It turns out I am in the "blue" group -- or that my management style is more "market" vs. "clan", "adhocracy" or "heirarchy". Surprisingly, other people who filled out my assessment rated me "clan". I'm not really sure what to believe. I think I can be extremely competitive when I want something. Tomorrow my section has our first section-wide happy hour after orientation. Tonight, there is an MBA Bowling activity, but I don't plan to go to that.
I picked up my season tickets for the football games today from the Ticket Office. I also went to Briar Cove Mall and picked up my Football Season Student T-Shirt from the M-Den. The mall is nicer than I expected, but I doubt I'll spend much time there now that I have no incoming funds.
MBA Cutie @ 2:20 PM
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Saturday, August 26, 2006
. Orientation: Days 1 & 2]
I have been meeting so many people so quickly that it's hard to keep track! I usually find that I can remember where people are from, but not their name. Some how, I don't think people will respond well be being called "Minnesota Guy" or the like.
The first day of Orientation was O.K. It wasn't that exciting. The Dean's welcome was nice, but the break out sessions for the rest of the day just felt a little long, and I wasn't that interested in "feeling sharing" with my group, etc. But, meeting more of the class was a huge plus. Supposedly, this will be one of the last times that we will all be together as a class for a long, long time.
The second day we had a series of speakers from the Human Performance Institute, including Jim Loehr, co-author of THE POWER OF FULL ENGAGEMENT. I really tried my best to stay fully engaged through lectures about spiritual health, nutrition and exercise, but the previous night's festivities were weighing pretty heavily on my eyelids. I bolted out of there the second I could, came home, and took a 2 hour nap. It was much needed! We had to head out again that evening for an MBA 1 get together in downtown AA.
MBA Cutie @ 11:12 AM
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Wednesday, August 23, 2006
. First Week @ Ross]
I've officially been in Ann Arbor for 6 days. My apartment is great! Just half a block from the business school and about 1 block from the all-important Dominicks. The first few days have been a whirlwind of activity, between setting up my apartment, picking up my orientation information materials, and just orienting myself with the school, Ann Arbor and Michigan.
One of the guys in my class organized a "Campus M-Trek". He went here for undergrad, and since so many of us were asking him questions on how to get places and how to go here and there he gave us all a little campus tour that concluded at Leopold's... a nice brewery that distills its own liquor.
Initial Impressions:
* U of M is not AS big as I thought. It is totally walkable. I was thinking it may be like a UC San Diego or UC Davis, where walking to some places is nearly impossible.
* I am so happy I live next to campus. Consider the number of social activities, being close to campus is an absolute godsend. It is hard to find a good place close by, but totally worth the effort and extra rent.
* There are so many things to do, I'm worried I can't keep it all straight. We get a bunch of reminder emails every day to make sure we "fill out a form" or remember to register for something or the other. I created a day planner on Excel to help me get organized, but still not sure that will be enough...
I met
Microfinance Girl at a b-school kegger party hosted just a few houses down from me. It turns out she is in my section too! As
Arwen is my roomate, I hope to get the scoop on the personality of her section. There seems to be some sort of social activity for us almost every day! I don't know if my liver can take it! I tried a beer bong at the party last night for the first time ever. It's a big more sudden than I would have thought.... everyone got splashed when I pushed the tube out of my mouth.... oh well! I'm finally starting to see a lot of the people I met at GBR and things are starting to come together. It's definitely going to be a fun two years.
Got my class information all sorted out...
Fall A:
FIN 513
BE 502
OMS 502
STRAT 502
Fall B:
MO 503
MKT 504
STRAT 503
LHC 513
My Fall B is still a little tentative. I'm only taking two core courses but figured I could add on two electives. I may drop that down to just one elective.
MBA Cutie @ 3:44 PM
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Monday, August 14, 2006
. Section 4!]
Upon my return from India, I have discovered that I've been placed into Section 4. My roommate has already made it out to AA and moved into our apartment. I can't wait to see it too! She's left on an M-Trek. I plan to head out there by August 17th.
MBA Cutie @ 12:24 AM
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