background check

forgot to report: my background check is complete!!! As of yesterday. Glad it's over.

black canvas bags

So I just got back from the Bain & Co. open house in New York. Before that, it was the MBA JumpStart event in Chicago. And before that, it was the MLT Citigroup Bootcamp in New York, too. And I now have a set of black canvas bags with various logos on them. It's funny, my roommate at JumpStart warned me that I might get more than a few logo'd black canvas bags. And now I have three.

In addition to the bags and various other company freebies, I also have a better understanding of two of the more popular post-MBA careers--investment banking and management consulting--several others, and a sense of where I could see myself in two years. Just as I thought I could chill for a minute and catch my breath after the whirlwind of research, campus visits, and applications, I see that it is all beginning again. With the first University bill only two weeks away, I am having to choose my events carefully to conserve what few duckets I have available to spend. But I find that I am able to find focus already by seeing a broad view of the lay of the land. And while I am endeavoring to keep an open mind, I am also finding that the plan I wrote about in my essays is still a good plan. What a novel concept: to set out to plan to do what you planned to set out to do.

It's a safe bet that I won't pursue investment banking. A good friend has been trying to convince me that the temporary sacrifice is worth the vast financial rewards, career options, and knowledge gained. It doesn't fit me, though. I can tell. I like having some semblance of a life, and the prospect of seeing my husband from time to time, not to mention family and friends. The lifestyle doesn't pass my hit by a bus test: if I'm hit by a bus tomorrow morning, would I be happy with what I did with my life today?

It's also a safe bet that I will pursue management consulting. It's corny to admit it, but working on a case makes my heart beat faster. It's probably part anxiety that I don't know what I'm doing. The other part is that I care about the outcome and want to figure it out. Sort of like exercise, and reminds me of what learning feels like.

I could also pursue HR or general management. HR was always a fun part of my job, and a few firms seemed to have some good opportunities there, too. I also want to explore Management Associate rotational programs; these seem to be a good way to get to know a business from various angles fairly quickly.

Some of the firms I have met through recent travels: Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Banc of America, McKinsey, Bain, Booz Allen Hamilton, The Boston Consulting Group, CSFB, UBS, and Morgan Stanley.

walk the talk

So it seems that things are moving along. Background check should be coming to a close, and I'm supposed to be getting cracking on studying before heading off to math camp. Financial aid is even fairly close to getting completed. After the initial sticker shock, the husband is back on board.

This seems like such a selfish time -- half of the time, all I can think about is what's next, what comes after that, when can I finally make the change. And it's a time when I can't really afford to be so selfish. My little sis is staying with us this summer, and she's going through the same math books I had to review for GMAT prep. She's getting her quant up to speed because she's fallen behind. And I've tried to be as helpful as I can. Helping her get settled into our household; trying to design programming that fit her needs and personality; helping her define some goals for each day, week, and month. And she's doing well. She even managed to walk on to the swim team at the local club. L couldn't be more pleased about that. The nostalgia when we pulled out his old Santa Clara Swim Club cap nearly choked the oxygen from the garage. She's been hanging out with me at work, and even helped me get a proposal in the mail under deadline. I've been finding myself spending my time arranging for her growth. And somehow, not doing my work for my calculus class. Or doing enough at my job, where I'm mercifully part-time now. Since I can only muster up enough energy to work part of the time, it seemed to be the right thing to do. And I get to hire an intern to build the website I've been complaining about at work for at least 6 months.

This setting an example stuff is important. If she can get up at 6 am to do math, go to swim practice, spend hours studying at home, then be ready to work in an office in the afternoon, why can't I? I read a child development article recently about teenagers and what to expect. One point that I took away from it was how important it is as an adult to align what I say with what I do. Dam* but it's tough when I'm internally conflicted and trying to find enough motivation to make it through the week at work. I've gotta find a way to walk the talk. As Big Daddy Kane once scowled, "ain't no half-steppin'".

In other news, I was sad to find out recently that Luther Vandross passed away. I spent a New Year's Eve some years ago at his concert with L and an old friend, and remember thinking how talented he was. And funny, too. What a show it was. May he rest in peace.