It's final, I am working until the end of the year and then starting school just a few days later on January 3. Although I would have liked to leave sooner to get some R&R, financial considerations and the chance to achieve some additional career goals has kept me put.

I have made some good progress on the checklist that CBS provides to us, and I'm set up on the email system already, which is nice.

I just took a look at our first assignment for IBS (Individual, Business,and Society) which is to draft a 1-pager on an ethical dilemma we faced at work where our values were at odds with that of the company. We need to submit it before the start of classes.

I also signed up for exemption exams. I am going to take the Marketing Strat, Management, and Stat exams since I have either taken a course (Stat), or had experience in other areas. Originally I was not planning on taking any exemption exams since the school does not recommend it for those who have not had significant coursework in the area. However, I spoke to a second year who was pretty convinced that it made sense to take as many as you could. After all, even if you pass the exam, you can still opt to take the course! So I figured what the heck....

This evening I decided to take a crack at the very long checklist that I'm supposed to knock out before January 3. I found out two key things from this activity:

1) You can't make alot of progress on the checklist without your Columbia network ID

and

2) I'm going to be busy :)

In reference to #2, there are three days worth of 'optional' social events during orientation. I'm planning on hitting them all and hopefully my wife will be able to join me. I want to involve her as much as possible in all of this b-school stuff. Of course, I am sure there will also be numerous other social events during orientation, but it was cool that CBS planned a few things formally.

By the way, here are the 'optional' events for those who are curious...

January 4, 2007
6:00-9:00pm
Dinner at Bryant Park Grill- Join us for this unique experience to have
cocktails and dinner on 42nd St.
s famous Bryant Park Grill. Click here to RSVP.

January 4, 2007
9:00-10:30pm
Ice-Skating at Bryant Park Pond- This is a delightful place to experience
ice-skating in New York City. It is seconds away from the Bryant Park
Grill.

January 5, 2007
8:00-11:00pm
Lets bowl away at New Yorks landmark Chelsea Piers Lanes.

Un-cluster Dinner is an opportunity for you to have dinner in the city on
Saturday, January 6, 2007. While Columbia Business School does not cover
the expense of this dinner or provide transportation, we do make
reservations for you to meet with your fellow peers at a local restaurant.
The point of the un-cluster dinner is so that you have the opportunity to
socialize with people who are NOT in your cluster. We realize how
important it is that you have a strong network of friends and for this
reason encourage you to meet as many people as possible. Click here to
RSVP.

Hello from sunny LA (I'm just visiting this week)...

This past Monday I finally received the call I had been working towards for over two years. Linda Meehan and the Columbia admissions team phoned me to let me know I had been accepted to J-term 2007!

I have to admit, I became a little veclempt after I got off the phone. I had been working towards getting admitted to b-school since 2004 and it was a crazy feeling to finally have that dream realized after so many ups and downs. I almost can't believe it myself.

Normally I am not a big blogger/mySpace/Friendster/name-your-web2.0-technology type guy, but I decided to start a blog to share my experiences over the next year and a half. The b-school blogging community was a great resource for me during the application process and I figured it would be helpful if I did the same thing for folks who are in the midst of applying or who are just starting to investigate b-school.

A little more about me...I'm 29, live in NYC with my wife and an American Hairless Terrier. I work for a large data storage/software/services company where I manage a team of consultants in the area and do some bizdev stuff, too. In my copious spare time I like to mix house music.

I'm going to b-school to develop skills in the areas of entrepreneurial management and finance, and I hope to start my own company after I'm done w/school.

Although I am thrilled to be admitted, I know the next 2 months will be insanely busy.

Gotta go now, I need to get started on the admitted students checklist!