Monday, May 23, 2005
Year in Review, or not...
I’ve been trying to write some kind of end of year post for a few days now, and nothing is coming to me. I did an ok semester review back in December after the end of Term 1, but I really don’t like that format so I’m not going to do that again. It would be really nice if I could write something honest and insightful about the program here, but I really don’t feel like it.
Finals were tough this time around, and I’m not sure why. I’m not convinced that the subject matter or actual finals were any harder than Term 1, but I struggled with them more. Perhaps it’s because I was disappointed with my finals results after Term 1 so I was determined to put in more time and effort this time around. I averaged almost 4 hours per final this term, but I still don’t feel like I did particularly well on any of them. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
I guess that would be my biggest surprise about HBS, the high level of my peers. This is my first time in a private education setting, up until now I’ve been public schools at every level. As grades are on a forced curve, and since I’m not the most polished essay writer, good grades have been harder to come by than I expected. Of course, in the end grades matter for nothing other than personal pride, since there is a no grade disclosure policy for recruiting.
Jie and I leave for Texas on Wednesday, and we’re driving a slightly different route than when we came up. We’ll be going through Columbus, Indianapolis, and St. Louis this time in an effort to see a different part of the country. It’s adding about 100 miles to the trip, but I think it’s worth it to see something new. Today I’ve got to start packing and I’m also going to see the new Star Wars movie.
I read The Tipping Point last week and really enjoyed it. The concept behind the book is that social phenomena expand slowly at first and then tip into hypergrowth and all of a sudden conditions radically change. I’ve been thinking about this regarding HDTV, since its adoption seems poised to tip for a number of reasons (I won’t go into it, just check out the latest Barron’s). I absolutely love HDTV, and find myself hugging my TV at least every few days. The only bothersome thing is the slow production of content by the major networks. ABC seems to be the big laggard, as they still aren’t broadcasting the NBA playoffs in hi-def even while ESPN and TNT are doing it. I hate watching basketball, but it’s just so pretty in hi-def, and with the DVR I can fast-forward through the boring parts.
Finals were tough this time around, and I’m not sure why. I’m not convinced that the subject matter or actual finals were any harder than Term 1, but I struggled with them more. Perhaps it’s because I was disappointed with my finals results after Term 1 so I was determined to put in more time and effort this time around. I averaged almost 4 hours per final this term, but I still don’t feel like I did particularly well on any of them. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
I guess that would be my biggest surprise about HBS, the high level of my peers. This is my first time in a private education setting, up until now I’ve been public schools at every level. As grades are on a forced curve, and since I’m not the most polished essay writer, good grades have been harder to come by than I expected. Of course, in the end grades matter for nothing other than personal pride, since there is a no grade disclosure policy for recruiting.
Jie and I leave for Texas on Wednesday, and we’re driving a slightly different route than when we came up. We’ll be going through Columbus, Indianapolis, and St. Louis this time in an effort to see a different part of the country. It’s adding about 100 miles to the trip, but I think it’s worth it to see something new. Today I’ve got to start packing and I’m also going to see the new Star Wars movie.
I read The Tipping Point last week and really enjoyed it. The concept behind the book is that social phenomena expand slowly at first and then tip into hypergrowth and all of a sudden conditions radically change. I’ve been thinking about this regarding HDTV, since its adoption seems poised to tip for a number of reasons (I won’t go into it, just check out the latest Barron’s). I absolutely love HDTV, and find myself hugging my TV at least every few days. The only bothersome thing is the slow production of content by the major networks. ABC seems to be the big laggard, as they still aren’t broadcasting the NBA playoffs in hi-def even while ESPN and TNT are doing it. I hate watching basketball, but it’s just so pretty in hi-def, and with the DVR I can fast-forward through the boring parts.
