Holding on for Dear Life

The last two weeks have been intense. I don't even know where to start, last week seems like a year ago and the week before (gala, etc. even longer!) Finals have been killer with the wrap up of my Tiffany & Co. brand valuation and recommendation, my market research analysis report, KIP presentation, Diesel brand valuation, CMA project work and an accounting final. Phew! Makes me tired to even write it out!

And it hasn't just been schoolwork tying me up; there has been volunteering, Kelley Women Speaker Series, Pilates, Yoga, Dinner with Friends, researching Japanese cooking at the Asian Cultural Center, Carnival, Kelley Women farewell dinner, blogging for school, and trying to have some semblance of a life (watching the Olympics with Charlton and the pets)

Both of us are really burnt out, was it possible to be more exhausted than when we were in Core?! Any 2nd year that said this would be easier was definitely lying.

So to try to make up for the torture of the last few weeks...I slept in (after having fallen asleep on the couch until 6 am), then I did a little research for CMA, made lunch, gave Addie a bath, did a little laundry, took Addie to the dog park and watched Public Enemies after picking up some Mexican food from La Torre.

I wish I could sit around all day tomorrow, but still have some laundry left to do and some reading for Academy Week 2 (ugh!) Can't wait for spring break in Israel.

Final Final & Friday Recap

I had all of the intentions to write a huge wrap up post for yesterday, but in between activities I was too burnout and then after getting my exam results back I wasn't really in the mood.

Econ was another morning final, so we left our complex at 8:15 so we could get there on time and get a seat and get all set up. Felt okay going in, but it was a brutal 33 questions. I took all but 3 minutes of the 3 hours provided. ugh! Afterward most of us were loitering around like a bunch of zombies in the atrium. When everyone had finished up we headed down to Yogi's to unwind a little.

Then it was back to the apartment where Charlton took a nap and I vegged out in front of the TV and played around online. After partially recharging our batteries we headed back to campus for Kelley Iron Chef that was being held in the HPER. There were 4 teams of second years that had to work with the secret ingredient...potato! I was the only 1st year judge and got the first bite of all the various dishes, 3 from each team. There were some great items and everyone did a great job. It was a great way to celebrate....

But for every little up there is always a down to bring you back to reality. We had already got our operations grade earlier (ouch!) but we got an email that econ had already been graded. None of us could just let those exams just sit in our mailbox so before we headed to the end of the core party we thought we would swing by and pick up our tests. BAD IDEA! It put me in a crummy mood to see it and there was no way that I could go out after. Just need to hide out at the apartment. So while I was bummed I didn't get to hang out with everyone it was good to just have some time to myself and go to bed early.

But whatever happens happens. It's all over now

So close you can almost taste it!

3 more hours and then no more Core! What a ride but I am glad that its almost over...Yogi's here we come!

Is it Friday yet?

Finals week, and this is what I have been reduced to! A slob in sweats pouring over ppts and word files regarding monetary and fiscal policy until I am cross-eyed. I washed the dishes for the first time this week just a few minutes ago, eww!

I am ready to be done, and I think the rest of the class of 2011 is too. It cannot be noon tomorrow soon enough!

Closing in

on what has been the most intense 16 weeks of my life. And because I am days away from being doesn't mean I can slack, I think I scheduled more stuff today than I have had in awhile. First up, Finance final. Didn't leave crying, but I think the other finals have made me dead to getting worked up. Then picked up my Accounting final from the MBA office, not stellar but not the worst grade in the class, something I have really had to get used to this semester.

Then the fun began...MOCKS! I had arranged back-to-back mocks with 2 second years that have a lot of knowledge about one of my top companies so they could coach me and help me shape my answers better. They went better than expected, have I really gotten better over the last 16 weeks with that too? Wow! Just have a few minor ticks I have to work on and need to polish up a couple answers. Interview stream here I come!

Next up, my transition meeting for Kelley Women. I sat down with the former VP and talked about the role and some of the challenges and things I will need to handle. Then a major data dump onto my jump drive so I am all set for next semester. Going to have to fly on my own as soon as I get back from break as she won't be back to Kelley until after Spring Break, must be nice to study abroad in Switzerland!

And then because I was dead, we headed to Target and then walked around the mall before heading to Bucceto's to grab a pizza. Since then I have gotten some gifts together to some of my favorite second years who have helped me out a lot and NOTHING! A girl needs to recharge her batteries so I don't crash and burn before Friday. Studying is what Thursdays are for!

I have a feeling this won't work....

I just have a hunch "that a miracle happens" or "you give me a fantastic grade" are not acceptable answers to our Finance final today. Bummer!

We spent all day working back through the take home portion. Having a midnight study session with our neighbor (with peppermint fudge! There is now no hope for me fitting in my suit in January!)

I got up early this morning to put some last minute notes in my book and made sure I packed everything:
Calculator - check
Take Home - check
Book -check
Pencils and erasers - check, check

Let's do this!

I was never good at this game

A if you didn't see the massacre on the wii a few weeks back, it was back in all of its glory during tonight's final.

I thought I was prepared, went to the review on Sunday, and spent all last night and today studying. Felt I got thrown by rewording on questions though. Wasn't anything that REALLY threw me, I knew what all the questions were getting at...but getting there was another issue.

Felt I spent a lot of time hitting the sides and getting shocked, but we will have to wait and see.

We went to Uptown to lick our wounds before coming home and relaxing. Tomorrow is dedicated to studying for Finance then more finals fun on Weds.

Crowded?!

Here is a shot from our Ops review yesterday. I had to sit on a table in the back with a friend. The review helped a lot and hopefully I will be able to put it to work this evening. Fingers crossed!

Another one bites the dust!

So accounting is done. It was a brutal exam, with full financials to analyze from Dow Chemical. Fun!

After feeling like we had been through a meat grinder, Charlton and I headed to the Irish Lion for dinner (delicious!) and then to BluBoy Chocolate (okay)

I have spent the rest of the evening going through applications for committee chair positions for Kelley Women. I am so impressed with the backgrounds of all classmates, we have some tough choices to make!

Planning to go bed early again tonight, we have an exec meeting early tomorrow to finalize our decisions. Then time to kick it into high gear for Operations!

1 down...

4 more to go! Yesterday was our marketing final and most of us spent the full three full hours darkening bubbles and writing until our fingers felt they were going to fall off. It was a relief to get one out of the way, but today's will be a lot more difficult ACCOUNTING!

It doesn't start for another 3 hours so I have a little more time to cram, but in all seriousness my brain can't process anymore writedowns and expense changes. Let the torture begin!

This commercial is partly to blame for getting me in this mess

Are we there yet?

We are almost done, but it is hard to focus when you have 5 finals competing for your attention, prep for interviews and anything else that goes on in what I call a life. Today was our last accounting class, last operations class and a fun intro to the GCS resume and bidding process. After class I had a lunch date with my peer coach to go over some of my CARs then home to study for the rest of the day. 8 days to go...

2 weeks and counting

Sunday is coming to a close. I didn't get half as much done as I wanted, but that is really something I have started to get used to. I read through my preliminary marketing notes and worked through the first accounting practice exam with Charlton (in a word brutal!). For a much needed study break we headed to College Mall and did a little shopping and got each other books for Christmas at Borders.
When we got back to the house it was time to get ready for our various evening activities. First up was the Business Marketing Academy's holiday party (Charlton's academy). I didn't get to stay long though as I head to head across Bloomington for an SAC dinner with some prospies, our biggest turnout yet! With a belly full of Nick's pizza it was time to head home to watch the Amazing Race finale.
Now it is a 11:30 and I really need to get to bed. Want to be on the top of my game tomorrow so I can get through class, study and hopefully knock the socks off the members of Kelley Women during my VP election speech. Wish me luck!

So another final has come and gone. Although, I don’t think I did as well as I would have liked I have pretty much come to terms with it. Sort of a zen approach to the final. No need to work myself up on something I can’t do anything about now. I did study and http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=994694090181350300felt some of the questions I was prepared for and then there were the curve balls…but really there are more pressing matters! Can’t get hung up on Quant anymore, it’s OVER!

This week has been hard for me to get motivated. I just feel really behind, and can’t seem to get that little push to get me though it. I feel like I have major Attention Deficit Disorder, and find it hard to focus on the littlest things. Am I burnt out? Just tired from the conference? Who knows! Just have to dig deep and push through the last day of classes before the Quant final. Wish me luck!

Another day completed in the Kelley MBA program thanks to the goal! Finished my first final, went to an amazing multi-channel presentation put on by a senior consultant at Target, and then lunch and networking with 2nd year CMA-ers.

What better way to celebrate the end of week 5 than with a visit from my little brother! Even though his flight was late we were able to get him to Nick’s (One of Playboy’s top 10 college bars) and to the Upstairs to celebrate my friend’s birthday with Beer Golf. We finished off the night at Steak ‘N Shake. Goodbye week 5, hello, weekend!

It's Friday, but it doesn't feel like it

It’s raining outside, and I have a Critical Thinking test i just a few hours. I can’t even remember why I used to like Fridays any more. All they are now are midterms and finals.

However, there is a cool presentation after the test by a current team member at Target discussing channels. I am really excited.

Then it will be on to Academy Friday, where we will have lunch with the 2nd years and pick their brains about the Core and their internships. Hopefully, I can meet some more great contacts. After the meeting we are having a quickie Trek meeting to try to finalize our companies for the January trip to MN.

At 7 PM a big plane will land in Indianapolis with my brother on it! Can’t wait to show him around a real college town! It is going to be fun!

I guess Friday isn’t so bad after all, if you get rid of the Critical Thinking final ;)