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November 30, 2006
Procrastination
Its been a semester full of procrastination and emptiness that it seems the right time to wake up and move on. Perhaps its the dreary senior year schedule -- slow paced, less hectic, less friendly; Maybe its the consequence of having no clear direction in life at the moment.
I guess i've been having too little exercise lately. The adrenaline-deficiency seems to have brought my hype notches down. I wanna feel excited again. About school that is.
Work is always exciting. At least till this point. Most of the projects and assignments I've done has been fun. The advertising industry, or rather the innovation industry still lusters its immense appeal on me. Perhaps its that desire to innovate, create and be different that drives me to continue loving this industry despite the unusual work hours and tough pay.
Well. This post seems to have veered away from its original intended destination. But what the hell. The point is, i'm sitting back here in the library, panged with a desire to procrastinate from GMAT Verbal workouts.
This procrastination has got to end. I shall drag myself to work then...
November 24, 2006
抗戰
「革命尚未成功，同志仍需努力」
與GMAT奮戰搏鬥也有2個都月之久。屈指一算，才發現其實為時並不長。2個半月卻走的很漫長。
功敗垂成的兩次戰役，雖有方寸的進步，但近在咫尺的理想分數還沒達成，始終不敢鬆懈。
有些想法，如果有在看的人要考GMAT，可能有些幫助吧。
1. 選對時間，調整勝利時鐘
畢竟是個早上相條蟲的人，第一次考試竟然選了早上的時段。雖然前晚早睡了，但終究還是無法調節過來，習慣這麼早把頭腦操的那麼兇。
2. 選對日期，飽讀JJ
有時候不得不對大陸同胞倍感尊敬。竟然集結全球華人的勢力，把各次考試、各月份的考古題被下來，與網上同袍分享備戰。累積了幾年、每個月的考古題讓大家參考。這就是JJ了。
註: JJ = 機經 = 機上考聖經
3. 知己知彼，切莫輕敵
每個考過GMAT的人都認為數學很簡單。只有我這個笨蛋都敗在數學手上。現在狂K大陸人的數學JJ，也不知道有沒有用。
4. 掌握時間
我想，如果二戰的時候，時間掌握的好些，可能分數已經到700了。數學剩下5~7題沒做；英文雖然做完了，但是後面因為太急、太慌，READING根本沒看清楚，就隨便作答了。不過，每次作模考的時候，時間掌握其實還算充分，不過上了考場，為了步步為營，時間就變成最大的敵人了。
以上是自己這次考試要注意的重點了。供其他朋友參考吧。
話說，因為一直放不下GMAT這個結，這個學期開學以來一直無法專心做事。心底總是有某處拉起警報，像是戰備中每日的防空警報演習一樣，每日警惕週遭戰爭尚未結束的慘痛事實。
考試成績醜的真希望快點考上研究所，不然這個成績根本不能看；
期待已久的課根本不想去上，只想躲到球場上或影音實驗室同胞們的慰藉中；
功課沒交、課沒上，連脾氣好的老師都威脅要當人了。
這樣下去實在不行。這一役再不把700之巔攻下，我也只能放下顏面撤軍回鄉了。
「塞翁失馬」心態
昨天晚上，本想到信義誠品補一些gmat的惡補書籍。沒想到當兵足兩月的好友Beagle突然來電，說結訓了。就這樣跟他約在信義威秀聊了好一陣。
他這人，天生明好。不論多麼不如意，在人生的大節骨眼上，總是會有令人驚奇的好狗運。(可能因為他是beagle吧。)入伍前，當兵對他來說，簡直就像人間煉獄一樣。拼命的希望能夠抽到憲兵，沒抽到還覺得是老天注定妖磨練他。誰也沒料到，因為某些特殊因素，他新訓過的很涼。這樣就算了，下部隊的籤竟然也給他抽到他夢寐以求的職位。不但清閒，更對他的未來事業有重大幫助。
他人生的路途中，似乎已經發生過無數次這種際遇了。所以說他Lucky真的不是講假的。
聊著聊著，不禁也提醒了我，我的人生不是也如此?
在每一個重大挫折、轉折背後，總是能夠「柳暗花明」來到「意想不到」卻又「有過之而無不及」的新階段。
聯考失利決定回來台灣求學、當兵被兵變結果拿到榮譽劍、L'oreal沒上結果現在在CMS。
環環相扣得天衣無縫。
於是，本來還對McK的結果懷著淡淡哀愁的心情就這樣結開了。
深信這一步棋走到這裡，是上天為我下一步更精采的棋所佈下的局。
November 22, 2006
Ended before I started
Went for the McKinsey Scholar Program interviews on Saturday.
And before I had time to blog about the interview itself, i was rejected by the selection committee.
I guess in a word, i was ill-prepared for the interview.
I had no idea they were going to interview me on cases, so i spent my prep time on reading the business news and understanding how Citigroup intends to buy down the GuangDong Development Bank. But it all came down to analytical skills in the end.
My market stratification test was very straight forward. A test on how my thoughts flowed. Yet, my beverage question was much more complicated than the "Starbucks" question all the other applicants i heard from received. How was that possible? How is that fair?
While i question the equitability of this interview, i question myself on suitability.
If I were truly "McKinsey" calibre, i would have been able to answer both questions easily.
So in retrospect, i'd rather blame myself for not waking up to the exam, than point the finger at a well established organization.
So here it is. The Learning Points for the McKinsey Interview.
1. Understand the process : How many stages would there be? What sort of questions
would it entail?
2. Do not panic under any circumstances: I suppose i was a little panicky when i heard the case, and my thought just started to
flow in such an unruly manner, it was
difficult for me to manage it in an organized
manner.
3. Think! : I suppose i wasn't thinking. Or at least, I believed myself to be thinking. But i was simply not thinking enough.
As optimistic a person as i might be, its still hard to be absolutely happy with the result. Afterall, many others have made it past this round, but i didn't.
Perhaps, i'm not as great as i perceive myself to be. So maybe its time to eat the humble pie anyway.
Cheers.
Ended before I started
Went for the McKinsey Scholar Program interviews on Saturday.
And before I had time to blog about the interview itself, i was rejected by the selection committee.
I guess in a word, i was ill-prepared for the interview.
I had no idea they were going to interview me on cases, so i spent my prep time on reading the business news and understanding how Citigroup intends to buy down the GuangDong Development Bank. But it all came down to analytical skills in the end.
My market stratification test was very straight forward. A test on how my thoughts flowed. Yet, my beverage question was much more complicated than the "Starbucks" question all the other applicants i heard from received. How was that possible? How is that fair?
While i question the equitability of this interview, i question myself on suitability.
If I were truly "McKinsey" calibre, i would have been able to answer both questions easily.
So in retrospect, i'd rather blame myself for not waking up to the exam, than point the finger at a well established organization.
So here it is. The Learning Points for the McKinsey Interview.
1. Understand the process : How many stages would there be? What sort of questions
would it entail?
2. Do not panic under any circumstances: I suppose i was a little panicky when i heard the case, and my thought just started to
flow in such an unruly manner, it was
difficult for me to manage it in an organized
manner.
3. Think! : I suppose i wasn't thinking. Or at least, I believed myself to be thinking. But i was simply not thinking enough.
As optimistic a person as i might be, its still hard to be absolutely happy with the result. Afterall, many others have made it past this round, but i didn't.
Perhaps, i'm not as great as i perceive myself to be. So maybe its time to eat the humble pie anyway.
Cheers.
November 14, 2006
When one door closes, another door opens
I was sort of reminded of this phrase while watching "Sex and the City" just the other day.
Somehow, it puts into perspective, what I think i've been doing with my life.
At certain points in time, i just feel like shutting out a part of me. A part which might not necessarily be bad, but more of a random portion of myself I don't seem to fit into for the moment. It sounds something like a recurring temprament i used to suffer from in JC. But i wouldnt take it that far.
So, probably, I've just been trying to "close one door", in hopes of "opening another".
Perhaps its the attempt to acclimatize myself to the next step in life. Embracing a working environment, a new environment altogether(if i DO make it to the states). In either case, i havent exactly sorted it out very clearly yet. Perhaps, its just denial.
As you might have probably noticed, my mind isn't functioning at its normal capacity right now. Due greatly to the fact that its 4a.m., and i'm still unable to finish preps for the 2 crazy papers i have tomorrow -- Financial management and Commercial Law.
I regret underestimating the full prowess of the finance paper. I've spent hours turning the book upside down, and still find it impossible to solve some incredibly easy questions. And the commercial law paper? Lets just say i'm definitely not prepared as yet.
I have 2 hours before sunrise, 4 hours before the Commercial Law paper.
Do pray that my mind clears up tomorrow, enough for my last burst of fire before the Finance paper.
*Pray*.................................. damn hard....................
November 10, 2006
Its been 10,000 years
Its been 10,000 years since i last posted a msg here. And since its my birthday today, i shall update those who remembered with what i've been doing. ...
In the twinkle of an eye, the mids are here already. Which simply means, half the sem has gone by with nothing significant done; I am officially closing in on 13/16 of my college life, and i now have 3/16 before i either step out into working life, or move on to another institution.
So it seems that i've gone through 2 GMAT attempts the last half a sem, with nothing close to what i'd need to guarantee a safe MBA application. And these results seem to follow a arithmetic progression that suggests i might get my desired 700 points in 2 more attempts. This is really depressing. To think that the aspect in the test thats getting me down is Maths, the one thing evveryone else does well. This sux, and there seems to be nothing much more i can do to remedy the situation, than getting more practice questions done.
Also, for the first time in college life, i was warned by a prof about my absenteeism rate. He even threatened to flunk me this sem. Well, lets look at it this way. If I can apply for my MBA entry safely this time round, i'll only need my results for the past 6 sems, which is a surprising 2/49 in class. Surprising indeed. Thats impressive enough for me. So, i really can't be bothered too much if i do badly, so long as i pass the class. HOWEVER, if i don't get into MBA this round, i'll need the results for the whole 4 years here. THAT's going to make it care enough to no miss any classes. Sighz... Boring...
'Nuff of waning in self pity.
Other than the depressing GMAT, and an even more depressing absenteeism rate, life has been quite happy. Been cheerfully spending time at my new company as a Strategic Planning Assistant. Despite what the name suggests, the terms of reference aren't exactly what it suggests. The work has entailed brainstorming sessions on an incredibly diverse clientale, nosing around on what others are doing, looking up on information, simple graphic design and film editing, and basically, Listening....
As much as that sounds like alot, those are probably a days work for some people. Hopefully when my GMAT is completely cleared, i'll be able to devote more time and effort into this ad hoc job.
After numerous sessions of introspection, thats pretty much all i've been doing with my life.
Uneventful and plain.
And to all my well-wishers. Thanx for remembering.
Cheers to a great 24, and a successful ever after....
