February 2012
4 posts
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Tough Question
The other day I gave a building tour to a group of prospective students. My goal on these tours is to tailor them to the participants, so that everyone walks away with some sense of what it’s like to be a student at Kellogg. A few people in this particular group were interviewing that day, so they were kind of shy at first. After a little prodding I got them to open up and they asked some...
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Kellogg Ad Bowl 2012...
The 8th annual Kellogg Superbowl Advertising Review was held yesterday by Professors Calkins and Rucker and top honors went to a commercial for M&Ms! I thought the ad was cute and funny but similar to other commercials I’ve seen from them. You can check out the rest of the Ad Bowl results here.
Personally, I was under-whelmed by the vast majority of commercials this year. My favorite...
An Introvert's Guide to Networking - Lisa Petrilli... →
We’ll be networking for the rest of our lives. This article provides a few tips to make the process a little less intimidating.
January 2012
5 posts
Evanston pulls The Keg's liquor license →
It’s a sad day for Kellogg students. Our old standby watering hole has had its liquor license revoked. Unfortunately, underage drinking has been happening here for years…
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Standing at the Crossroads: 25th Black Management...
Over the past few months I’ve had the privilege of serving on Kellogg’s Black Management Association’s (BMA) Conference Planning Committee, and it’s truly been a rewarding experience. The BMA Conference is Kellogg’s longest running student-led forum, and we are celebrating our 25th year in 2012! I would like to formally invite all prospective students and members of...
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“Sleeping is overrated!”
– My motto for winter term
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Living the Dream...
70 years ago, my grandmother was unable to attend her senior prom because the hotel in downtown Philadelphia did not allow black people in the ballroom. Her high school art teacher told her that she would never travel the world to see the Mona Lisa or the Pyramids at Giza. When she started secretary school she was given a dilapidated typewriter that was reserved for “colored girls”.
...
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"Another year over, a new one just begun" - John...
Happy New Year! I’m a little late but I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays with friends and family. 2011 was certainly a year of triumphs and struggles. Another chapter in the novel of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I got really excited about 2012 a few days before New Year’s Eve. I don’t know why, but I have this feeling that it’s going to be an...
December 2011
5 posts
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Waitlist Tips
A few prospective students have contacted me for advice/tips on the waitlist. When I got my letter back in the spring I scoured the internet for tips on getting off the list. I also used my network to find current MBA students who were initially waitlisted and successful at gaining admission. Their support and advice was invaluable and this is my chance to pay it forward:
Follow the...
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My First Term of Business School is History!
It’s official…I’ve survived my first term of business school! Finals ended last week and I’m currently on winter break. When the last exam was over, I met several of my classmates around town at informal parties to drink, bond, and celebrate the highs and lows (I’m looking at you, accounting and DECS finals!) of our first term at Kellogg. It’s amazing to think...
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Just Because...Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays everyone! Congrats to all the recent Kellogg Admits, and hang in there if you’re submitting in round 2 or haven’t heard back from your target schools!
“Accounting is the Worst. Subject. Ever!”
– Me. Stated several times throughout the night while cramming for my final.
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Daniella-Mktg: Coke Pulls White Holiday Cans →
Good post from my friend and Kellogg ‘13 classmate. The Coke white can/polar bear campaign was a hot topic in my marketing class yesterday. We had an interesting debate on whether or not social media inflated what may have been an issue with a small group of consumers and the consequences of toying with a brand’s key message(i.e. that particular “coke” red).
Personally,...
November 2011
4 posts
DealBook: Zynga's Tough Culture Risks a Talent... →
I think there are many people out there that have experienced a dysfunctional work environment (myself included). This article on Zynga is an interesting from a MORS (Management & Organization) point of view.
New York Times Article Summary: A data-driven culture, which has been at the root of Zynga’s success, could become a serious liability, several former senior employees warn.
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Ads I Love...
My days of simply enjoying commercials for their entertainment value are over, or at least they are for now. Thanks to my Marketing class I can’t help but ask: “who is their target customer, what message are they trying to convey, and how big is the market for this product?” every time I see an ad that I enjoy. A few of my favorites are posted below.
Google:
...
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Thankful for a Break...
Happy (belated) Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday with family and friends! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go home this year but I had a great time with friends in Evanston. Dean Blount hosted a free dinner at the Allen Center for students, staff, and their families that couldn’t travel home for the holiday. Even though I missed my family I kept traditions...
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Kellogg Celebrates Diversity!
What’s the best way to unwind after midterms and kick-off the Halloween weekend? Watching your classmates dress-up as the opposite sex (aka “in drag”) and perform ridiculous dance routines of course! Every Friday, a student group hosts a free Happy Hour (beer and snacks) called TG (short for TGIF, which is short for Thank God it’s Friday). I guess it got shortened to TG...
October 2011
5 posts
Trading in My Flip-Flops for a Parka and Other...
The weather is getting colder in Evanston so I just purchased my first winter coat in six years! I lived through a few blizzards when I was growing up in Philadelphia and thought I’d be prepared for the cold, but all of the second years I’ve spoken to have said that nothing compares to a Chicago winter and lake effect snow. I wasn’t happy about having to spend $300 on a coat,...
My Blogger Interview @ Accepted.com →
MBA admissions consulting firm Accepted.com contacted me for a brief interview about my MBA journey and life at Kellogg. You can read it here or click the title above.
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Decisions, Decisions...and An Introduction to FOMO
I’m embarrassed to see that it’s been almost a month since my last post! Needless to say Kellogg has kept me very busy.
School has only been in session for a few weeks and I’ve already had to make decisions about courses and activities for the rest of the year. First up was academics…should I take Marketing or Finance in the Fall term? The general advice I got from...
Overheard @ Jacobs...
Me: What's happening to me? I used to be so organized!
Classmate: Core classes at Kellogg happened...Never a dull moment around here...
September 2011
6 posts
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Yeah Writing!: 13 Tips for Actually Getting Some... →
I was so sad when my favorite tumblr on writing went away. Luckily I’ve found a new one (yay), and it’s filled with great quotes and advice from authors on the writing process. This post is a re-blog of some tips for anyone struggling with those MBA application essays. I’m not totally on board with number 13. Sometimes free-writing, with no goal or point in mind, is a great way...
“I just got a facebook! How many of you have facebook pages?”
– Overheard @ Jacobs: Professor to my class this afternoon.
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Don't be "That Guy/Girl" at Business School...
It’s that time of year again. Round one deadlines for business school applications are rapidly approaching and admissions committees from schools across the world are hitting the road to host information sessions. Enthusiastic current students and alumni will also be in attendance, and they are very excited to meet you.
Information sessions are great for a number of reasons: they...
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My CIMsational First Week at Kellogg...
How do you turn groups of 70 - 90 total strangers into cohesive bonded units? Putting them through a crazy shared experience is one way, and Kellogg did not disappoint! On August 29th I started my orientation program, or CIM (Complete Immersion in Management) as it’s called at Kellogg. I mentioned in an earlier post that I was assigned to the Highlander section of the class of 2013. What I...
August 2011
5 posts
I'm in Evanston...and I'm a Highlander!!!
I finally made it to campus on Wednesday! Adjusting to the weather has been difficult for this California girl. I was wearing sweaters in San Francisco on Monday and now I’m sweating in the Midwest (not cute). Six years on the West Coast will make you forget about humidity.
I’ve spent the last few days getting my apartment set up and completing any last minute tasks like getting...
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Working Professional to B-School Student in 3...
I can think of a few words to describe my life since getting admitted to Kellogg from the waitlist last month - Joyful, crazy, and exciting are the first that come to mind. My path from working professional to business school student is outlined below.
Step 1. Miss acceptance call from admissions committee member while shopping - Go to Costco during lunch with a co-worker to shop for...
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It's Been A While...
It’s been two weeks since my last post, and in that time I’ve made significant progress in leaving my old working life behind (I’ll post the details later). Moving sucks no matter how organized or prepared you are, and it’s even worse if you are like me and are neither organized nor prepared. Cleaning out my place has only confirmed that I’m getting dangerously...
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Cue the crickets...lol
I guess everyone is busy with the GMAT, because no one entered the BTG/Clear Admit giveaway I posted a few days ago. I have a friend who could use the advice offered in the series, so I’ll pass one access code to him.
If anyone is interested in the other (I had two) email me at nightowl2014@gmail.com
First come, first served.
July 2011
8 posts
5 tags
Kellogg called…I’m IN!!!
Ok, so they actually called late last week, but I wanted to wait for all of the financial aid paperwork to be completed before making the announcement. When I got the call I was in shock! I still have this irrational fear that the adcom will call me back and say that there’s been some sort of mistake! I’m excited and overwhelmed at the same time.
There’s a lot to do before...
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Heading to Philadelphia to Visit Wharton?
If you’re headed to Philly to visit Wharton, or any of the other schools in this fabulous city, please plan an additional day or two to go off campus and explore. Why? Because if you are accepted and decide to attend it will be your home for the next two years! Since I know that you will have done your research and thought of great questions for the students and staff during your tour,...
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Study Break Courtesy of Mother Monster
I need a study break and who better to provide one than the Mother Monster herself? The song is titled “Edge of Glory”. I keep visualizing myself walking out of the test center with a great GMAT score. If I do well on test day then I should put on a show similar to Gaga’s on the streets of San Francisco. To do that I will need:
A darkened alley complete with fog and a fire...
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GMAT Update - Number Properties
My review of Number Properties took a little longer than I anticipated. For some strange reason consecutive integers and I just don’t get along. I’ve had to repeat the OG questions several times before the rules made sense. I also made flash cards for some of the exponent/root rules that I’ve forgotten. I practice the set between meetings at work.
I have admit that I’m...
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Things I'd Like to do Differently: "Keep My Head...
This is the last post in the series, but I think it’s the most important. I should have deferred my applications to business school last year, as 2010 is a year I’d like to forget. I lost my grandmother to cancer, the environment at my job was extremely negative, and the recession hit my family hard. In 2009 I became the sole income earner until my brother found a job last summer....
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Giveaway: 2 Free Clear Admit/Beat the GMAT...
Image Source: http://weheartit.com/entry/9626321
My last post was a review of a new online course titled Navigating the MBA Admissions Process presented by Clear Admit and Beat The GMAT.
The series costs $249, but I have two free subscriptions that I’d like to give away. Let’s make this fun and get in some good essay writing practice. Answer the question below:
Business school...
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Clear Admit and Beat the GMAT: Navigating the MBA...
My knowledge of the business school application process back in January 2010 can be summed up in one word - clueless. I come from a science and engineering background. Most of my co-workers are concerned with the latest results from a clinical trial from a research perspective. We have a hazy view of how it affects the financial bottom line of the overall company. There are several reasons why I...
June 2011
7 posts
5 tags
Summer Waitlist...
It’s official. I’m on Kellogg’s summer waitlist. School starts August 29th, so I have about a month to hope that some accepted student will change his/her mind and will defer business school for a year. I don’t think I could pull off a cross-country move with less than a month’s notice. Maybe I could, but it would be extremely tough.
In the meantime I’m...
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Things I'd Like to do Differently: "Invest in the...
One piece of advice my GMAT instructor used to give me was to “invest in the winners”. As it turns out, he was really referring to time management, and not just repeating something he heard from his financial adviser or Vegas bookie (hey…he was that kind of guy).
The most difficult GMAT skill for me to master is learning to let go and move on when I can’t figure out...
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Things I'd Like to do Differently: Freedom to Fail
This week I’m on a “mental vacation”, recovering from my accounting course. lol. I spent some time today, however, reflecting on my 2010 GMAT experience and came up with a list of things that I’d like to do differently this year. I’ll post them over the next few days.
Last spring I took a Manhattan GMAT class and the instructor would get positively giddy whenever...
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Calm Before the Storm...
This weekend and the upcoming week will be busy for me. I’m currently taking an accounting course that will hopefully support my applications to business school. The final exam is due early Monday morning. Once that’s done I’m going to take a week off to relax and get ready for GMAT prep. During the next week I need to:
Research GMAT prep courses. I’m trying to...
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Do You Have A Theme Song?
Pick a theme song! I know it sounds frivolous, but we have a LONG year ahead of us before we are hopefully packing our belongings and leaving our jobs for the business schools of our dreams! There are going to be highs (admission, fellowships) and several lows (GMAT, and gasp, rejection!) along the way. In order to draft the very best application essays you should be doing deep examinations of...
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Jumping into the Business School Blogging World...
Why is this blog titled Night Owl’s Revenge? Because I love to write, and my best ideas often come when I should be going to sleep. Sometimes they wake me up in the middle of the night. Luckily I sleep with keep my iphone by my bed, and I can reach over and record my thoughts on the notes app. If you don’t commit ideas to (hypothetical) paper when they strike they’re gone by the...
May 2011
2 posts
