Studylife here so far is hectic. There's a lot of assignments, homework and expected participation in class. You should always be up to speed on your reading, and be prepared to be "cold-called" in class. You should also expect to get a snappy reply when you answer incorrectly (as I did in Financial Modeling....).
As expected - a lot to do. But the sheer workload still surprised me. After having a fever last week and fighting my way through chapters, presentations and papers due I feel like I have an overview again.
A short summary of work done so far - and my classes;
Financial Modeling
The class with no readings - but a lot of practical tasks. Teaches you nice tips and tricks in excel for building dynamic excel spreadsheets for financial statements, balance sheets, valuation models and more. So far we have handed in a group assignment, and an individual assignment is due this week's saturday.
Problem Solving Project Process
Most intense 1,5 credit course ever. Applying McKinsey (basically) framework and methods you get a case, and the course teaches you how to attack and solve a problem for a client. This is perhaps the course me and the group have spent the most time on. I battled through a proposal to the "CEO" with my group with a fever (THANK YOU SUPERGROUP - for not giving up on me), but it paid off. There was a prize for the group with the best proposal... and the awesome "Exchange Consulting" beat all Johnson students in the class! We will receive a bump in the grade for the proposal and a lunch with the global head of mergers and acquisitions of Deloitte. You could say we got mildly excited.
International Finance
So far a nice amount of reading - first class the professor says we don't have to buy the book. He knows a lot - and talks a lot - but a genuinely nice Canadian professor with a lot of insight and stakes in different countries. So far a excel-assignment, and division into groups where we going forward will research a country, its international trade and possible boundaries and restriction, and ultimately what effects its exchange rate, nominal interest rate, PPP and etc. My country is Argentina - should be interesting.
Strategy and Tactics of Pricing
A course that is very heavy on readings, and a bit too unstructured to be well prepared for class. And he will ask your opinion, and ask for quick calculations. So far, 1 individual assignment handed in, which was written in a fever state at 530 in the morning, but got a decent grade on it even so. So far, the course has dwelt mainly in computations, theories around ricing and elasticities, not so much into strategy. We will do a group assignment for a real company; in my case a big american pharmaceutical company. We have a tele-conference with our contact tomorrow to establish common understanding and scope for our project. EXCITING!
Managerial Decision Making
This is my favorite course. Jay Russo is a very involving teacher, and makes you question yourself and other in each class. Every class is oral exercises that challenge your "frames" or viewpoints of the world - and how this translates to decision making and different personalities. Quite a few readings - but mainly interesting stuff. And you better read it. He makes unannounced pop-quizzes (3 so far!) with 5 minute question - in what he calls "either you get it - or you don't". I handed in the first of 6 applications today - a group paper on overconfidence. He demands a lot of class participation - but makes it quite easy to join in. In addition you should make contributions to an online discussion board. I have made one submission - a link to an article on a coffee cut situation in Norway.
So far I am having 5 classes a week, a total of maybe 12-15 hours spread out on Mon-Thu. Fridays are off - but so far it's been mostly spent on studying. But the subjects are interesting - and I like the practical approach to many of the subjects. Two of my courses will be over in just 3 weeks time, and then after fall break I will have two new courses. That said - I am looking forward to the trip to Niagara Falls this weekend. To do something else.
As expected - a lot to do. But the sheer workload still surprised me. After having a fever last week and fighting my way through chapters, presentations and papers due I feel like I have an overview again.
A short summary of work done so far - and my classes;
Financial Modeling
The class with no readings - but a lot of practical tasks. Teaches you nice tips and tricks in excel for building dynamic excel spreadsheets for financial statements, balance sheets, valuation models and more. So far we have handed in a group assignment, and an individual assignment is due this week's saturday.
Problem Solving Project Process
Most intense 1,5 credit course ever. Applying McKinsey (basically) framework and methods you get a case, and the course teaches you how to attack and solve a problem for a client. This is perhaps the course me and the group have spent the most time on. I battled through a proposal to the "CEO" with my group with a fever (THANK YOU SUPERGROUP - for not giving up on me), but it paid off. There was a prize for the group with the best proposal... and the awesome "Exchange Consulting" beat all Johnson students in the class! We will receive a bump in the grade for the proposal and a lunch with the global head of mergers and acquisitions of Deloitte. You could say we got mildly excited.
International Finance
So far a nice amount of reading - first class the professor says we don't have to buy the book. He knows a lot - and talks a lot - but a genuinely nice Canadian professor with a lot of insight and stakes in different countries. So far a excel-assignment, and division into groups where we going forward will research a country, its international trade and possible boundaries and restriction, and ultimately what effects its exchange rate, nominal interest rate, PPP and etc. My country is Argentina - should be interesting.
Strategy and Tactics of Pricing
A course that is very heavy on readings, and a bit too unstructured to be well prepared for class. And he will ask your opinion, and ask for quick calculations. So far, 1 individual assignment handed in, which was written in a fever state at 530 in the morning, but got a decent grade on it even so. So far, the course has dwelt mainly in computations, theories around ricing and elasticities, not so much into strategy. We will do a group assignment for a real company; in my case a big american pharmaceutical company. We have a tele-conference with our contact tomorrow to establish common understanding and scope for our project. EXCITING!
Managerial Decision Making
This is my favorite course. Jay Russo is a very involving teacher, and makes you question yourself and other in each class. Every class is oral exercises that challenge your "frames" or viewpoints of the world - and how this translates to decision making and different personalities. Quite a few readings - but mainly interesting stuff. And you better read it. He makes unannounced pop-quizzes (3 so far!) with 5 minute question - in what he calls "either you get it - or you don't". I handed in the first of 6 applications today - a group paper on overconfidence. He demands a lot of class participation - but makes it quite easy to join in. In addition you should make contributions to an online discussion board. I have made one submission - a link to an article on a coffee cut situation in Norway.
So far I am having 5 classes a week, a total of maybe 12-15 hours spread out on Mon-Thu. Fridays are off - but so far it's been mostly spent on studying. But the subjects are interesting - and I like the practical approach to many of the subjects. Two of my courses will be over in just 3 weeks time, and then after fall break I will have two new courses. That said - I am looking forward to the trip to Niagara Falls this weekend. To do something else.
My face after reading for 3 hours....
