Cornell Johnson Interview - Yay!

So you know how sometimes you just feel when something goes well?  That's the case with my Cornell interview.  I'm back on the bus now but I felt that my interview was smooth and perfect.  I was cool calm and collected and was at ease the whole time.

Did I research questions that I thought I would be asked?  Yup sure did, I mean they're out there so why not right?  I didn't type up answers or anything like that though.  I just read through them and thought of stories or anecdotes that I would use.  I didn't even do too much of this because I didn't want to sound too rehearsed because then if I was thrown off my game it would not have a good outcome.  People were asking me if I was nervous at all and I made sure that I was prepared to the point where I would experience a little nerves.  I know how I operate and a little bit of nerves keeps me on my toes, so that's what happened.

My interviewer did not throw any curveballs at me.  Sure there were some questions that I had to pause for, but that's fine because I was simply collecting my thoughts.  What's my definition of Leadership?  Sure didn't think I would be asked that but I mean I have my own definition and here it is.  I didn't say that exact phrase but that's what went through my head.  No biggie.

What surprised myself is that I was making connections to things that I didn't even know I had in me... it's hard to explain but I guess it's a function of being in a different mindset 4 months ago versus now even though I've had the same story ya know?  I think my interview showed how genuine I was which is what I wanted to convey and why I'm glad I took the trip up to Ithaca.  I always said that if I just got an interview I know I can do well.  Which brings me to my next point...

If you can interview on Campus DO SO!!!!  I heard a story about someone from Peru who flew in to visit campus, from Japan, and from India.  I know the guy form India was visiting because he was waitlisted from R1 - we were sitting in the admissions office together.  So there are people who are traveling from every corner (there are no corners) of the Earth, so my little measly 5 hour trip back to NYC was nothing compared to these folks.  Just keep that in mind that you may not want to take a 5 hour trip up to Ithaca or Hanover, or a 2 hour flight to Michigan etc etc... but there are people gunning for that same spot that you want and they/we are taking those trips and interacting with folks at the schools.

You may think "oh... I just need to visit"  well no... interact... I mean think about it... Me...someone who just left Ithaca and was int he admissions office for all of 10 minutes has heard about that prospective student who flew from Peru to visit, last week I think.  So people are still talking about that prospective from Peru and the one from Japan weeks after their departure.  Do you think that person will be memorable?

You be the judge... I've said my piece.... go visit!  I'm going to take a nap because this baby is crying on the bus!  Peace Peace

Oh sidenote - my friend got a Full Ride to Cornell!!!!!!!!!!!

Bus to Ithaca + Photobooth... lol

What happens when you are on your way up to Ithaca to go on your Cornell Johnson interview and you discover Photobooth on your Mac and you can't concentrate on the bus because someone is talking?

All Packed for Cornell Interview

So as you can see I am all packed for my interview at Cornell!  I'm just joking that is NOT my luggage.  If I could afford that much Louis Vuitton luggage I probably wouldn't need to go to business school.  There's about $15,000 of luggage right there.

In any event, I did just pack all of my clothes.  I have my suit, suit, socks, belt, shirts... etc etc blah blah.  I want to thank everyone for sending me their best wishes.  It's nice to know I have all of that support.  This is the final stretch right?  Interview(s) and then hope that the schools understand the applications I submitted to them.  If they "get it" then I think I will have a happy spring.  If not, then my blog will become one of many stories of a re-applicant.  But positive thoughts...positive thoughts.  

Tomorrow (today) I am going to work for about three hours.  I have some things that I need to take care of.  If I had a bit more notice I would have been able to take this time off without it feeling too rushed, but such is life right?  The bus leaves tomorrow from the Cornell Club in Mid-town Manhattan at 12:30 so I'll probably leave work right at 12.  I'll probably get there at 12:15 since it's only 1 stop on the 6 train from where I work, but it's better to be early than late.  

When I arrive at Statler (the Hotel on campus which is across from Sage Hall (business school)) I'll call up my host and get a ride to his apartment and then do whatever and prepare for my interview.  I'm very excited for it!  I like interviews..they make me smile lol.  Actually let me rephrase that...I like interviews where the interviewer is not trying to stump you.  I've heard of some schools interviews and yeah that's not for me - and probably also the reason I'm not going into consulting.  I've done a case based interview before for a start-up and well....I do not work at a start-up so you can imagine how that went.

My interview is Wednesday @ 10:15am and then my bus leaves for NYC at 11:40.  From what I hear the interview will be about 35 minutes so that'll give me enough time to change before taking the 4.5 hour trip back.

From what my friends tell me there is a happy hour going down with a lot of MLT folks on Wednesday @ I think 6 or 7.  Now while I am not in MLT, I know many of MLTers just from attending events with them, so maybe if I feel up to it I'll make the happy hour.  I know a lot of them have been receiving good news lately.  I hope that one day in the near future I'll be able to add to it!

and on that note I'm going to do some more research!  ;-)

GMAT Test Practice + Life + Conferences = Hectic(ocity)

It's been a while since I've given an update but I'm going to keep this short because I need to get back to studying...

How have I been fairing on my studies?  Well I just finished a set of 32 RC questions.  I got 5 incorrect, but... 4 of the incorrect answers were on the first passage.  I blame the 2 hours of Jersey Shore that I watched before beginning to study.  After those four I only got 1 wrong out of the next 33 that I did.  That's amazing for me and works very nicely with my 17/17 CR the other night.  I just need to keep this up.  My main focus is going to be to make sure I remember the basics in Quant.  My floor needs to be higher and the only way it will be higher is if I remind myself to not make stupid mistakes and to check my work and not spend too much time on any one question.

I've been doing Quant and Verbal every single night!  My scores have not been terrible and my practice exams have been after a 9 hour work day.  I only have internet at home sporadically because I'm stealing it from neighbors.  That's a story for another day!  Here's my upcoming schedule though...

Saturday - Wake up... study Quant, Quant, Quant.  Pick up my dry cleaning.  Then go to work, not to do work, but to take my 2nd GMAT prep practice test.  Come home and then alternate RC / Quant, break, then CR / Quant, break and MAYBE go to my friends housewarming party in Hoboken for a couple hours.  I will NOT be drinking...ok if I do go... ONE beer will not hurt, and I will be coming home early because I have an early day on Sunday.

Sunday - Wake up... go to La Guardia airport to pick up my rental car.  Then at 4pm I'm going to my tutor.

Monday - Drive up to Dartmouth!!!!  I'll probably get up there around 11pm.  I hope I don't get lost on the way up there!  Then check into the hotel.

Tuesday - Dartmouth self-initiated interview/ class visit/ campus tour.  My interview is at 2:15 and I sent them my resume today.  I've been asking friends who have already had their interviews, what it's like and they said that it's very laid back.  Then after my interview, hopefully I'll get to meet up with some of the Tuckies I'm friends with and maybe take them out to an early dinner or coffee for helping me.  Then I drive back home and drop off the car back at La Guardia and come home and pack.  Pack for what you ask?

Wednesday - 6:30pm, I have to be at the Cornell Club in Midtown Manhattan, to hop on the Cornell bus.  I'm going up to Johnson Means Business a day early!  The event starts early in the morning on Thursday, so it's better to get there the night before.  I'll be hosted with a current student, who ironically I met when I was out in California for the Reaching Out Conference.  Funny how things work out huh?  ;-).  He also told me that there's a Halloween party that weekend and that I'm more than welcome to attend.  I'm not even thinking about what I would want to be, but if I decide to be anything, I'll get the costume on Wednesday.

Thursday - Johnson Means Business

Friday - Johnson means Business

Saturday - Johnson Means Business, and then I'm taking the greyhound bus to NYC at 5:30.  So I'll get home around 11pm and probably just pass out.  NYC is going to be pandemonium on Halloween, so I'd rather not be involved.

Sunday - Start packing up my room... I'm moving back to New Jersey.  I haven't reserved the truck or anything yet, but I have to be out of my apartment by November 2nd.  I'm sad to be leaving NYC, but it will be good to pay off credit cards, and save money for business school, since I won't have a steady income for two years!

So yeah... that's the update... hope you enjoyed it... I'm going back to studying!!!  Later Peeps!