AMP Treatise

Despite the premature retirement of Kimi Raikkonnen (and not even to engine failure!) from P1 after mere laps, yesterday’s CBS broadcast of F1 was one of the most exciting races of the past two seasons, if not more.

Off to lovely Montreal in 30 minutes to do a due diligence on a client, will perhaps drop in my brother as well. Yay poutine!

I haven’t been this worried/anxious/stressed in a long time. Argh, can’t get this financing problem out of my mind. I should at least wait to see if I even get in.

Anxiety is my current state of emotions.

Issue #1: I had my CEIBS interview last night during which I learned that, for international students, school essentially starts Monday July 25^th. That is approximately 3-4 weeks earlier than I had anticipated leaving. This is for an intense 4-week “orientation” including language, cultural, and history studies. It’s not mandatory, technically, but I’d definitely arrive several steps behind if I chose to skip it. Since this is where I want to go, I’ve been assuming that this is my new timetable. That means that in order to see all my friends/family I only have a month or so to do so (I will still be working so that leaves only the weekends, four to be exact, that I am not already occupied). Not the leisurely paced summer visitation schedules I had been mentally planning.

Issue #2: Given my constrained timetable and that fact that I may not return to the US for up to two years, I’m seriously reconsidering my CFA exam studying commitment. I’ve already paid for the damn thing and bought the books and software and all that, so I’m definitely TAKING the exam. The question is, how much heart and soul I want to put into it. More like a study when I can, hope to pass situation rather than a study super hard and expect to pass situation. A more leisurely commitment would lead to an infinitely more enjoyable last couple of months on this continent & hemisphere.

Issue #3: I have to figure out how to pay for this damn education. All the US student loan providers only consider applicants for loans that are going to schools on their “eligible” list. Of course CEIBS is not on that list. The first question they all ask on their websites is “What state is the school located?” As you can pretty guess, China is not in that list. So I have to fund a $25,000 tuition bill plus pay for living & other educational expenses and that brings the estimated total to something like $35,000.

Seems like my options are to go for a personal loan and beg the bank to restructure it as a student loan without any of the requirements. Meaning, there are no payments to be made until 3-6 months after graduation. Obviously, making student loan payments while I’m still in school is not an attractive solution. And if I can’t find this money, then all my aspirations for the past year or two are flushed down the toilet. I’m even trying to figure out who I know that is rich and would lend me money. But that would be extremely last resort.

My non-loan funding options are personal savings and 401k/IRA education loan. Personal savings I will need DURING school and borrowing from my

Issue #4: I still haven’t heard back from Columbia or NYU and I fully expect one of those schools to throw a monkey wrench/life line (depending on your perspective) in my plans.

I got this last night!!!!

HKUST Campus (Total of 8,500 students)

I hope that worked.

I also realize how exceedingly boring this mass of writing is. But give me 2 months, honest. Stupid cfa exams!

RSM interview went very well last night, took about 45 minutes and aside from one brain fart, the guy said I had clear vision of my future and would be a good fit for RSM and that he would recommend me. So, apparently, its not standard procedure to tell the interviewee your final decision so I’ll take that as a good sign. Acceptance is by no measure guaranteed but a good interview helps immensely. Tonight @ 9PM is HKUST. I’m expecting a tougher interview as well as a case study (not quite sure what that entails or how it is structured) since this is with an admissions officer rather than an alumni (alumni are known for also selling the school and not having as in depth knowledge of the applicant as an admissions officer would).

CEIBS: Apparently there have been email problems at the school. I have to send them an email from every email account I have tonight. Either way, though, I have a time slot for Wednesday night (Thursday morning Beijing Time). I just have to make sure that my emails have been getting through.

On a side note, RSM and HKUST have closed the gap with CEIBS. I’ve definitely taken them more seriously lately. My reservation regarding RSM is that I’m not sure what my chances are of staying in Europe afterwards. And my reservation regarding HKUST is that the class size is only 60 people. I’d like a little larger class, probably at least 100, in order to really diversify the people and whatnot. But HKUST has a beautiful campus, and I’m not one to be normally persuaded by that kind of stuff. HKUST also is an engineering school, which would be a perfect place to look for people with innovative technology who need a business partner. That is something that CEIBS and RSM don’t have. This is especially significant given my entrepreneurship goal.

So, T-minus 4 hours to interview #1.  Read up on the school, the interview section of “How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs,” a little online searching as well.  In a way, I’m more worried about the little stuff than the big stuff since I like to think I have my goals/ambitions/ideas pretty well set.  Tomorrow, HKUST.  And strangely, not answer from CEIBS.  I’m beginning to think that Gmail has screwed something up.  The first time I sent a response to the interview invite, it ended up in my mailbox at work.  Luckily I came in on a Saturday and saw it there.  Resent it on Saturday expecting them to send the schedule out Monday Beijing time, but still nothing yet.  I end sent an email asking them to confirm that they received what I sent.  And again, nothing.  Unfortunately, stupid me used the same method, so if they didn’t get my first email, they wouldn’t have gotten my second.  I hope I didn’t get that invite by mistake and they’re devising some way to politely let me know.

Otherwise, looks like my sister is going to be attending Boston University this fall.  I haven’t been told officially, but that seems to be the word on the street.  I think she’s a little afraid she won’t like it, but I’m sure she’ll settle in fine immediately.  Just as long as she doesn’t entrench herself like my brother.

# posted by AMP @ 4/13/2005 02:27:00 AM 0 comments