February 05, 2008
The last few weeks have been intense. I underestimated the amount of time and energy that interviews would take. In addition, to interviews there are generally receptions the night before to meet the interviewers and learn more about the organizations. The receptions are good in that they present the opportunity to meet people in a more informal environment. However, it is hard after a long day to go and mingle. Fortunately interviews are starting to wrap-up now and the atmosphere is calming down around here as people prepare for Spring Break and MAP.
We found out MAP assignments a few weeks ago and it was like Christmas, but with a little bit of anxiety. I was beyond excited because I was placed on my first choice. We are going to be working with a social enterprise for a non-profit organization whose mission is to rehabilitate women and children in crisis. We are going to be working on a market entry strategy for a soy product they created. In addition, to being excited about the organization and the project, I am happy with the team. We are meeting this Friday for drinks and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone.
The other big thing going on is that the Ross Winter Formal was last Saturday night. Basically over 500 MBAs showed up at the Inn at St. John in black tie attire. University of Michigan Business Student Association (UMBSA) did a fabulous job of arranging the event. Michigan shuttle buses took people to and from the venue, which was about 20-minutes away. Everyone had a great time at the event, including me. The timing was perfect for the event, since we were all running around with interviews we had not had a chance to catch-up. The night was a good opportunity to relax and dance!
Posted by cmkohl at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2008
Winter Break was a great chance to get away and relax for a while. I spent time snowboarding in Vermont, back home with family in Upstate New York, and then New Year’s with friends in New York City. I think that I say this in every blog, but I cannot believe how quick things are going. Maybe it is because I was on the move so much during Winter Break, but it felt like it was over in two-seconds. The next time that I am going to be able to take a breath is Spring Break. I just bought a plane ticket yesterday to go out to Colorado with a group from Ross. The best part about Spring Break is that Summer Internship interviews will be over and we can relax!
The Summer Internship interview process is in full swing. Resume drops started during Winter Break and continue for the next couple of weeks. The first rounds of interviews start next Friday and then go until February. I know that there are a lot of nerves, but there are so many different opportunities available that I know something will work out for everyone. I am still waiting to hear back about a majority of interviews. Everyone talks about how intense Winter A is with interviews, but I do not think that anything can truly prepare you. It is the first time that the vibe at Ross has been a little bit tense, but at the same time people are cheering for each other.
The classes this quarter are great so far, which to be honest I was not expecting. The core classes are Operations and Management Accounting, both subjects that I was not excited about, but the professors are energetic and make the material interesting. And with interviews I am seeing a lot of relevance to what we are learning and what I want to do post-Ross. In addition to the core, I am taking Consumer Behavior as an elective.
MAP selections are due on Sunday night. I still need to go through every project and put together my rankings, but an initial glance shows some interesting projects with a lot of international opportunities in a variety of locations. The one thing that all the projects have in common is that they seem to be substantial engagements for the teams to undertake. I will be sure to let you know where I end up going!
Posted by cmkohl at 04:06 PM | Comments (0)
December 10, 2007
End of the line!
We are in the last week of Fall B! We have classes on Monday and Tuesday then finals the rest of the week. Looking back, the academics this semester were less intense than Fall A, but the time devoted to recruiting and other activities was much more. The recruiting process got intense with corporate presentations, happy hours, dinners, etc. But I know that next semester is going to be even more extreme with interviews. We all cannot wait until we know where we are going for the Summer and can relax about the job stuff. Everyone is being supportive of each other though and helping with mock interviews, cases, and general preparation.
I plan on using time away from school during Winter Break to chill out a little. I am splitting time between Vermont, upstate New York, and New York City. I know that it is going to be a lot of traveling around, but I want to see all the friends and family that I can during break. I might try and do some company visits, but the main focus of the time is going to be having fun.
I am seeing more and more prospective students around Ross the last few weeks. I remember being in that position just last year! I know the application process is stressful and I devoted a lot of time to preparing for the GMAT, writing essays, and speaking with the individuals writing recommendations for me. But I want to say that looking back at Fall A and Fall B that is all worth it! I am positioning myself for a future career that is going to be more in line with where I want to go with my life and the people that I have met along the way are the best. I hope this motivates you all to keep working at the application. Best of luck!
Posted by cmkohl at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)
November 23, 2007
Break!
Thanksgiving break is this week and I am excited be home and relax. I plan on catching-up on emails and working on scholarship applications, so it there is some work to get done though. And I also plan on looking for a ski house to rent in Stowe, VT for New Year’s. We decided to get a group together and go snowboarding for a week during Winter Break. I had a ski house in Killington, VT when I lived in New York, and I am excited to be able to go back there even for a little while and to share Vermont with friends from Ross. It is the thing that I miss the most about being in the Midwest, no mountains. But luckily the breaks provide lots of opportunities to go back to Vermont and to go out West.
I brought a classmate who is from Nigeria home with me for Thanksgiving. It is fun to share all the American traditions with him. In fact, we are watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as I write this. We are going to make a pumpkin pie later for him to take back to Ann Arbor and share with his roommate. He never had anything pumpkin before and it is hard to explain to someone what pumpkin tastes like, but he tried a pumpkin cookie and liked it.
When I get back to Ross we only have three more weeks and then it is Winter Break. I might write this in every Blog, but I can’t believe how quickly B-School is going. I love every moment of the experience and Ross is a great place to be. I might even do a dual-degree program just so that I don’t have to leave next year! Hope everyone is having a good Thanksgiving holiday. Until next time…
Posted by cmkohl at 10:23 AM | Comments (0)
November 07, 2007
The weekend cometh...
The week has been a busy one with lots of company presentations and group meetings, so I am looking forward to the weekend and kicking back. And since we don’t have class on Fridays the weekend starts tomorrow!
Things are going to start off with a dinner hosted by Michigan Business Women at the Dean Dolan’s house. Afterwards I am planning on going to the weekly MBA happy hour at Vineology. Each week the happy hour is hosted with another grad school, and this week it is with the School of Dentistry. Vineology is a local wine bar down on Main Street with a great wine list and amazing food, which rivals the wine bars in New York.
Even though we have Fridays off there are always tons of meetings and events to attend. This Friday I am going to attend a company presentation and then meet with my consulting case review team to start prepping for interviews. I can’t believe how quickly everything is going and that we already need to think about this stuff!
Saturday and Sunday are going to be dedicated to catching-up on work and hanging out with friends. My section is hosting a tailgate at Connor O’Neill’s, a local pub, to watch Michigan vs. Wisconsin. And then on Sunday I am planning on having some friends over for chili, beers, and football.
I can’t wait for the game against OSU on November 17. Ann Arbor is going to be a fun place to be that weekend. And a group of us actually have tickets for the Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants game that Sunday. If it isn’t obvious, I like football. University of Michigan is the best place to be for that. Go Blue!
Posted by cmkohl at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
Fall B Already!
I can’t believe that Fall Break came and went. I made the trip back to New York. It was fun to be back home and to hang out with friends from Ross in the City. I also managed to get some work done while I was there and met with representatives from Pfizer and American Express to discuss Summer Intern opportunities. Both of the reps that I met with were alumni of University of Michigan. The extensive alumni network definitely helped me with setting up the meetings. And the alumni pride always comes through!
Fall B is off to a strong start. We celebrated Halloween with a haunted hayride at a nearby orchard. Section 4 hosted the event with Section 6 and we capped the night off with a bonfire and hot cider. Fall is a beautiful time of year in Ann Arbor!
Of course there is lots of work to get done again this semester, but I think that I am now better prepared for it. In fact, I just worked all evening with a group on the first Finance 503 problem set. I love the collaboration that Ross fosters and it becomes so apparent when you can go down to the cafeteria at any point day or night and find someone to work things out with. The more time I spend here the more I appreciate the community and realize that I am making some great friends.
The collaboration is going to be crucial with interviews coming up. I decided to pursue consulting for the Summer, which means that I need to get started with practicing cases. But the Consulting Club helps walk you through all the steps leading up to the interview process, including lots of case prep. I know with all the resources available to me that I can succeed. I am looking forward to getting to know all the consulting firms as they come to Ross over the next couple of weeks.
Posted by kkellerz at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)
Introduction from Candace
I came to Ross from New York City. When I was looking at schools I knew I wanted a break from New York and the busy city life. But I also knew that I would be bored and feel trapped in a place too small. The fact that Ann Arbor was a great place with a top business school made Ross a perfect fit. And all the people that I met and the information that I gained about the school reinforced that.
While in New York I worked for McKinsey & Company and Credit Suisse in Human Resources focusing on recruiting strategies. Now at Ross I am concentrating on opportunities in consulting for the summer. Classmates all have different career aspirations and I would say that no matter what you want to do you can find a second-year to mentor you.
The first few weeks of school have been fun, but tough. M-Trek gave me an excellent opportunity to get to know a small group of people before getting to Ross and eased the transition. The classes themselves move quickly and are interesting. But I would say the biggest challenge has been adjusting to new people and a new place. With the end of the first semester (which went so quick!) things are starting to settle into place and I am looking forward to Fall Break and the New York Forum. And I am excited for what the next few months will bring, including MAP!
Posted by kkellerz at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)