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Journey to my MBA

Sunday, May 30, 2004

May 29, 2004

Finished studying Princeton Review 2004 Math section. I'm doing ok. My errors appear to be primarily due to 1) carelessness in reading the question fully 2) lack of familiarity with question format. Just when I think I'm getting a handle on certain types of questions, I see a new type of permutation that occasionally throws me for a loop. Studied about 5 hrs today. Plan on studying for another hour. I need to stay more focused on priorities. I get easily side tracked by my wife watching TV or by an ultra hard question that I got wrong and I get up to take my mind off of how dumb my mistake was or how hard the question really was.

For fun, I saw Shrek 2 and Raising Helen with my wife. Watched the 2nd to the last stage of the Giro de Italia bike race on TV. We have Tivo and were able to record it while we were at the movies.

My wife Jane was so helpful today in encouraging me to stay focused on my studies when I would wander out of our study room. I can see that she respects me more if I stay on my studies without her seeing me wander mentally of physically from my desk.

To keep me focused on studies and from fiddling with the computer, a couple of months ago, I setup a round conference table in my study and removed a bookshelf. It really helps a lot to have a study table with little distraction from other things I may tend to want to do that aren't a priority.

It appears that math is my weak point. On prelim tests, I was getting 7 or 8 wrong on math and 2 or 3 wrong on verbal.

Thinking about some focused tests or study material to drill me more on math. I think Princeton has a math only study book. I'll consider that next week. I have the Kaplan book, so I'm going to start on the math part in that book next. I went to a GMAT Manhatten seminar where they introduced the GMAT concepts with some good tips. They did some sample questions and walked through the correct answer. Since they are based out of New York, they only have private or semi-private tutoring for an hourly rate they sell in groups of 5 hrs or the like. At $180 to $200 an hour, I was reluctant to sign up. Told my wife a while back that I would try it on my own and that if I didn't do well that I would bring up costs for tutoring or someother test prep class like from Princeton. But you know, Princeton will probably just go over what I went through in their book.

I have yet to do a full blown GMAT test simulation. I'm thinking I should do one by Thursday.

Still no job. Waiting to hear from a recruiter this week.
Talked to my undergraduate school. They are reviewing the class outline at UC Santa Cruz extension to see if it qualifies for my Microbiology requirement. I pray to God that they take it. Otherwise, I may have to not take a job and attend a real school for a quarter just for that class as a part time student. As I'm 7 hrs away from my undergrad school, I may have to apply to a local school like UCSF, UC Berkely, Stanford or UC Santa Cruz. God, this will be tough on us financially. Please let this hurdle of finances not be so tough.

Jane just got in a car accident last weekend and the deductable is $500. We have maybe $700 in money a month for food and entertainment and my studies. I'm seriously considering taking an equity home loan out to deal with upcoming B-School application costs and GMAT study costs... even the costs of interviews is going to be tough. I'm sure others have it worse. At least, we are able to have a reasonable home and have food on the table with no problems.

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