Full Swing

Things are in high gear here in the Jenkins MBA full time program. It seems like multiple projects are all hitting at the same time and we are in a whirlwind of activity. This busier schedule combined with my home closing last week has put me a little behind the 8 ball. The stress is mostly having a positive motivating effect on our class but it's stress all the same. Looking back over the past 3 months it's amazing how much we have all learned so far and I can clearly see how the fast pace of business school really pays off in quick knowledge acquisition. A recent study I read seems to indicate that learning a second language later in life as an adult might significantly delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. I'm wondering what learning binomial distributions in statistics class is doing for us?

A Cohort

A group of individuals having a statistical factor (as age or class membership) in common. - Merriam Webster Online Dictionary


One of the main factors for me in choosing the full-time MBA program over the part-time program was the opportunity of going through the program with my classmates in a more intensive cohort during most of my first year.  Since all Business Schools require some core business courses before you start heading into your chosen concentration, you often get the opportunity to take the same classes together in the early part of your MBA program. 


The part-time program has this to some degree but because of the nature of their program (they are also balancing full time jobs) they don't get quite the same team experience that you do when your full time job is the MBA program. We also take more classes at a time and more overall credits. From 9:00am to 3pm every Monday through Thursday we are working within our cohort nearly as much as we formerly did in our full time careers. Before you start to think "Hey, I'd love to work from 9am to 3pm four days a week!" just keep in mind that is only class lecture time. There is about 3-5 additional daily hours of reading, homework, and group projects that make for a very long day at times. Oh yeah, and Fridays are often the only time you have to get everyone on your team together for your many group projects so that day gets filled quickly too. Saturday and Sunday used to be my days of rest but now they are spent catching up on readings or on our current house hunt. They say misery loves company and there is some comfort in the fact that many of my classmates are feeling a little overwhelmed as well. This first week feels like a mental equivalent to the physical demands of army boot camp so the other definition I found of a cohort probably applies just as well too.


Cohort: A group of warriors or soldiers.- Merriam Webster Online Dictionary

The Beginning

I've just finished my first week of classes as an MBA candidate in the Jenkins Graduate School of Management at NC State University.  This was after a week of orientation and a half of a week of Boot Camp otherwise known as 'Excel Overload'. I'm busier than I've been in quite a long time. My best friend Daniel works 100 hours a week as a trauma surgeon, sometimes going 30+ plus hours without sleep. I need a nap after eating Chinese food so this new demanding schedule could take some adjusting. At 32 it's a bit of an adjustment being back in school and picking back up some good study habits but I'm confident they will come with time.

Our full-time class is about 50 people strong, and it's been great getting to know everyone. We have people with really unique backgrounds from many corners of the world. Right now what seems to be the biggest difference among us is not the different cultures but the students from Math/Engineering backgrounds and those of us that aren't. I am definitely in the latter camp and am waiting for more of my "soft skills" experience to help me out because so far I feel like I'm a half step behind when we get into Calculus and other data analysis. Note to past self: Yes, it would have been a better idea to take that Pre-Calculus class and Excel refresher prior to the start of the program rather than spending the past 6 weeks riding around Raleigh on my bike