Management Consulting

So although I have no plans to go into management consulting ($ is tempting) I was just reading up on it.  The learning curve for me from where I've come since last year has been tremendous.  Last year this time I had no idea what consultants did.  I have a friend who is a consultant for Capgemini and I was like "wait... so do you work at _______ or do you work for Capgemini?"  I couldn't wrap my head around the whole thing.

Then I believe either last year or earlier this year Conde Naste' hired McKinsey to audit their portfolio.  The only reason this was big news for me and my industry (Luxury Retail) is because there were many articles written in the NY press about how Anna Wintour, the Editor of Vogue, was worried about losing her job.  That's a different story in and of itself because Vogue would be stupid to fire Anna now.  In any event, so yeah that's when I was like "Oooohh that's what McKinsey does."

But now that I know more about consulting, I would advise ANY and EVERY ONE thinking about getting and MBA to research this profession.  There's no way you can go into business school and not know what consultants do.  One important reason is that you want to have something to talk to your friends about.  As you progress through the application process and meet new people you'll inevitably meet those who want to go into consulting.  By knowing the basics, you'll be able to have an intelligent conversation with them.

Also - by researching what consultants do and how they think, the GMAT will make more sense and it will be easier to break down!  I kid you not.  So here is the basic website I was perusing just now about Management Consulting.  I was also on Bain's website looking at some of their case studies through this widget they have:  Bain Consulting.  I promise that if you go through these resources you'll understand why b-schools want people who think a certain way!

That's it for now... I'll update you on Day 2 of SMX tomorrow and I'll also tell you why I am up at this hour!  My schedule is messed up because of work I had to do late last night - for work!  Ugh...

My GMAT Theme Song!

You know how sometimes you're going through something in your life and there's a song that you just listen to constantly that sums up exactly how you're feeling?  Well I have found this song and I'm going to play it out until I take the GMAT.  

This song puts me in a phenomenal mood and has a great verse:

"Don’t let haters get me off my grind
Whip my hair, if I know I’ll be fine
Keep fighting until I get there
When I’m down and I feel like giving up"

You know this artist's FATHER really well actually.  Her dad is Will Smith!  Her name is Willow Smith and her song Whip My Hair is my anthem for this month.  Yes she sounds grown but she's 8!!!  Here is the song if you care to listen although it's not on itunes yet - Willow Smith - Whip My Hair

So how does this song fit into the theme of my blog?  Well this past weekend I felt down.  Well just Saturday in particular after that 36 Quant score.  Lately I've been going through all of the questions I've gotten wrong in the Official Guide books.  Going through this process makes me realize that the 36 in Quant that I got on Saturday was certainly an anomaly.  There is no way that I haven't learned anything since May.  Remember - my quant score when I took the GMAT was a 36.  So it's not that I felt like giving up because shoot at this point I'm waaay to invested.  

As I go over the questions that I've gotten wrong months ago, they're so easy for me now.  That's how I know that I've learned something.  You would think that the mid 40's scores would tell me that I've learned something but noooo... it's going over my previous mistakes.  So like Willow Smith says I'll keep fighting until I get there!  

Now some may be thinking "Why is he stressing so much about the GMAT? It's just a barrier to entry!" Well for some people they stress over making themselves stand out from the crowd because they are in an over-represented group in business school.  So while that struggle may be their pain point.  The GMAT is mine - FOR NOW ;-)

I hear everyday from friends that they've been scoring highly.  Not that we're competing against one another, even though we really are, but we're all rooting for each other.  It's funny because none of us is telling the others when our test dates are.  Lol so randomly we get text messages and updates with scores.  I also have friends who are pushing back their test dates and the rounds in which they apply.  I cannot be in this group of applicants because if I study for any longer I'm going to burn out.

As long as I keep my head down and keep on the grind I feel that I will peak at the opportune time.  I haven't used the word opportune in a long time! Not sure where I pulled that from haha.

Like I said, this month is going to be HELLA busy, but I'm so excited because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  Almost there.............

Diversity Conference + Work Conference = Busy Week

So this post is going to be relatively quick because this may be the busiest week of my life and I gotta get back to getting my life together. So really quick...

1. Yesterday I took a MGMAT CAT exam and scored a 36 on Quant.  Not too sure why that's the case and of course it A.) Surprised me and B.) Pissed me off!  Nonetheless, I'm writing it off an an anomaly and not thinking about it.  There's explanation for scoring in the mid 40's and then all of a sudden back to mid-thirties.  It's not like I forgot the information!  So yeah, I'm going to just go back to my routine and discount that one. 

2.  Last night one of the Tuckies I've become friends with (the one I ran into at the Tuck Reception) was having a going away party down in Chelsea.  I got an email earlier in the day, and I told him that I would come and buy him a drink and thank him for his help.  I'll also see him next week at the Reaching Out conference in LA, so it wasn't all bad.  So I showed up at the bar...said hi to him and was talking to his friends.  

Now I can talk it up with anyone especially when drinks are involved, but this night was fun.  Let me explain to you who was in attendance... about 5 recent Tuckies...a Harvard undergraduate...Stanford B-school graduate... So yeah I was "wide eyed" as my friend so eloquently put it.  Needless to say there was a lot of "So what do you do now?" Questions.  All of their faces looked so familiar to me because I've seen them at various events except they were on the other side of the table.

3. Here is the schedule for my week - ready for this?

Sunday - Quant then work on Essays and clean my room

Monday - I'll be attending the Search Marketing Expo (SMX) at the Javitz center

Tuesday - SMX

Wednesday - SMX

Thursday - I'll be in the office but we have a vendor coming in that we're vetting.. and then I have to leave at 4pm to head down to the NYU Diversity Conference that starts at 5. 

Friday - NYU Diversity Conference

Saturday - Diversity Conference

Oh and Mon - Sat I'll have to find time to study, eat, and sleep, in there as well!

With all that being said, I must be going now.  Reading Comp awaits!

Freakonomics Movie - Funny Story

Well it's not really a funny story but coincidental!  So about 2/3 hours ago I posted the NYU diversity conference update and at the end of the post I wrote about how I was going to watch the movie Freakonomics!  I have been looking forward to watching this movie on iTunes for a while now.  As I was watching the trailer again while it was downloading I was thinking... Hhmm they're talking about a different way of thinking.  This may be good to watch to get movie to watch to get into the right mindset for the GMAT.  (I kid you not I was thinking that)..

Here watch the trailer and go into it thinking about how you need to reason Critical Reasoning and Reading Comp questions - Freakonomics Trailer  it talks a lot about CAUSALITY AND CORRELATION.  hhmm....  ever hear these words before in GMAT Verbal explanations? lmao

So I'm laying in bed... the opening credits are rolling and I see the following portion on the screen....

You guys may be thinking... so what?  Who is Chad Troutwine?  Well.. he and his business partner started... wait for it... wait for it... VERITAS PREP!  He's actually a very nice guy!  I got to meet him when He and Brian Galvin were over here in NYC visiting my soon to be GMAT Teacher... not tutor.. but Teacher.  Both great / nice / helpful guys!  

So yeah... that's my post for right now.  

NYU Diversity Conference - ACCEPTED off Waitlist!

So today around 4pm my gmail updated itself and the following email w/ corresponding subject line came through:

I smiled and said "YES!!!" to myself again haha.  Then of course I immediately texted my friend who was also accepted!  The same one who I will be going up to Cornell with.  

The conference is NEXT WEEK!  But don't cry for me Argentina, I had already warned work that I would be taking those days off.  I told them last week that it was tentative, but to keep it on the schedule.  At least I don't have to worry about lodging and traveling costs lol.  I'll just use my metrocard and in the morning instead of going East on the subway I'll go South.  Just a hop skip and a jump.

Here is the schedule for the days events:

Thursday, October 7        
4:00-5:00 p.m.            Registration
5:00 p.m.                    Welcome and Icebreaker
6:30 p.m.                    Opening Dinner Featuring NYU Stern Dean Peter Henry
8:30 p.m.                    Stern Beer Blast (optional)


Friday, October 8        
9:30-10:15 a.m.          Check-In and Breakfast
10:30 a.m.                  Mock Class
12:00-7:00 p.m.         Association of Hispanic & Black Business (AHBBS) Students Conference
7:00 p.m.                   Happy Hour with AHBBS (optional)


Saturday, October 9        
9:30-10:00 a.m.         Check-In and Breakfast
10:00 a.m.                 Career Development and Student Activities Presentation
11:00 a.m.                 Your 60-Second Pitch Workshop
12:00 p.m.                 Mock Application Workshop
1:30-3:00 p.m.           Luncheon with Stern Alumni
8:00 p.m.                   A Night out with AHBBS (optional)


So I'm looking forward to it!  Reminds me that I must put my suit in the cleaners!  Ok I just wanted to give you guys an update.  


Here is my weekend in preview:


Friday night - Study then watch Freakanomics on iTunes.
Saturday - Take a full length MGMAT CAT Exam...  Go into work to do some stuff... Study....Continue writing essay.
Sunday - Study... Continue writing Essays