“Where’s Toto? It’s a twister”

Apologies for such a long hiatus- as the program starting getting closer, my life started to get more and more hectic (selling our house, transporting our dog, wrapping up my last position, etc.). I will spare the boring and stressful details and only include the most useful information for those out there wanting to learn from my experience.

 

Rules regarding a trip to the other side of the world: 

• Rule #1: Financing was harder than I thought. Instead of taking out a loan (which was extremely challenging because NUS wasn’t registered with the US FASFA system, I took out a line of credit with my bank instead. However, this turned out to be an even better situation as I won’t require the funding until semesters 2 and 3 which means I won’t pay any interest until I actually use the funds. Look into this if you’re struggling to find a proper student loan.

• Rule #2: Whatever you think it will take to get to your destination (money, time, resources, mental stamina) add 35% and buy a few extra bottles of wine.

• Rule #3: Creature comforts do make a difference. I’m sure I overpacked and brought useless trinkets with me, but I’ve been able to very quickly adjust to my new home having a few extra items that remind me of my old home.

• Rule #4: Budget an additional $750 (or currency equivalent) for the first month. This was commonplace with most of my peers. Between cleaning supplies, furniture, eating out a bit more, cell phone, credit card, etc., things can add up quickly and can throw you for a loop if you aren’t prepared. It takes some upfront investment to move to a new place.

 

“Change is like the skin peeling off of a snake. It is slow. It is sticky. And sometimes you have to rub against a hard place to pull yourself through it. But in the end, you realize that it was worth it all to get the the new place and new person you have become.” 
― Stella Payton

A bit of light reading…

 

I may feel emotionally prepared for the course work, busy schedule, and late nights, but one thing I’m less acclimated to is the amount of reading I know I’ll need to do during my program. My personal and professional reading has amped up over the years but it’s no where close to where it needs to be to keep up with the demands of a full-time MBA program. This blog post serves a dual-purpose.

1. To provide a list of books I am currently reading
2. To describe my strategy for tackling them and preparing for the MBA

 

List of focus summer reading books:

1. Case Studies & Cocktails: The “Now What?” Guide to Surviving Business School: This has been a fantastic read so far (I’m about 3/4 of the way through). It’s funny, focused, and informative. It provides insight into life after acceptance- not just life once your MBA program begins. It gives valuable details about “learning teams,” the importance of happy hours, and even runs through a chapter on “must know” business basics sorted by course.
2. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: A classic and necessity for any business student. Starts with your 3 private victories, then your public victories. It’s has a great personal, business, and psychological message.
3. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything: Will update as soon as I finish!
4. The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist’s Guide to Success in Business and Life: Will update as soon as I finish!
5. Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t: Will update as soon as I finish!

 

My strategy for reading more:

1. Order a bunch of books! Some of these I already had but some I needed to order. I also don’t play with e-books- I want something physical in front of me that I can pick up and sit on my patio with. I also included links Thriftbooks.com where I found several of these for a much cheaper price.
2. Push myself. Like I said, I’m not someone who reads for hours on end every day- but I need to ramp up. I read until I’m tired, and then I read for another 30 minutes. I like to think of this as mental conditioning.
3. Set goals. I have specific daily goals for getting through certain chapters which means i’m getting through about 2 books a week. Set goals and stick to them!

 

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

Culture: Why I Care

I’ve had a number of friends and colleagues give me the “…why Singapore?” comment after announcing that I would be leaving life in the United States to get my MBA abroad. While some people have been lucky enough to experience international travel, study abroad in the past, or come from a multicultural family, many others either don’t share the interest, have the financial means or perhaps prioritize other aspirations ahead of the need to travel (having children, living near family, etc.). Cultural immersion has been something I’ve experienced and enjoyed since I was a kid. I grew up in Miami, FL and even though I was a Caucasian majority in the United States, I was most definitely a minority in the highly Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and even Haitian communities that engulf this tropical melting pot of a city. To be honest, as a child I didn’t even notice. It wasn’t until I moved away and went to college that I realized the unique cultural perspective I had grown up with- a lesson and value I carry with me today.

My older sister made the decision to study abroad while in college, even against the wishes of our parents. She was a huge reason that two years later I would have the same courage to leave behind everything I knew and throw myself into a new place. I went to Madrid, Spain for four months and it was here that I realized that people don’t nearly care about America or American culture as we’re made to believe. I envisioned this place where being American would be so “cool” and people would appreciate that I was a foreigner. Madrid, being the amazing and open city that it is, was anything but that. Madrid was full of wonderful and thoughtful people that did not care at all where I came from. All they wanted was for me to embrace their culture and be a Madrileño myself. It was here I learned that people were the same in Madrid as in the United States. People had close family relationships, enjoyed museums and art, cared about social issues and politics, and were overall waking up every morning to pursue their dreams. It was here that I took a step back from the “American” view of things and saw people beyond borders and where they were born. It was here I realized that simply opening your range of vision and focusing less on your way of life and more on someone else’s can offer such invaluable insight into people, business, and relationships.

Asia is untapped knowledge for me. I’m beyond excited to take my MBA courses and learn business practices from an entirely different perspective- one that is, in a lot of ways, not even the Western mindset which is all I’ve ever known. It is my desire to understand how and why people make the decisions that they make that compels me to be an international student- to learn and soak up all that I can from a fresh viewpoint. One of my dreams in life is to find a career where I can provide value that other cannot- that my choices and experiences that have shaped me will help shape others as well. An MBA in Singapore is my next step in understanding more about the world, business practices, women in business, technology in business, cultural sensitivities and overall compassion and acceptance of different ways of life. It’s my way of broadening my peripheral vision a degree further.

 

“Culture makes people understand each other better. And if they understand each other better in their soul, it is easier to overcome the economic and political barriers. But first they have to understand that their neighbour is, in the end, just like them, with the same problems, the same questions.”

–Paulo Coelho

 

 

Zooming In: Why and How I selected the National University of Singapore (NUS)

Choosing the right school for me seemed like a daunting task at best. I easily made the decision to be an international student and pursue an MBA abroad, but how would I narrow down my search and ultimately rank schools? I assumed each MBA would, more or less, be the same. How would I find differentiation? Well, as it turned out, it was much easier than I thought and each MBA program that I researched had quite a few aspects that made them stand out from the rest.

Here were just some of the things I wanted out of my MBA program:

1. A largely international cohort
2. Diverse, reputable and interesting faculty
3. At least 1 semester focused on real-life work experience- either through one of the courses or a designated internship semester
4. A program with a focus option on entrepreneurship
5. Great international reputation
6. Not too big or too small. It needed to be just right
7. A cultural city that would allow for growth outside of school

All in all, I had very seriously narrowed down my search to NUS in Singapore and HKUST in Hong Kong.

 

Why I chose NUS

My overall experience with the NUS admissions process was great, and definitely helped me make an easy and quick decision to accept the program. But what drew me in to begin with? First off, they have a great international reputation and are a highly ranked global university. QS listed them as the #1 MBA program in Asia in 2016 and Times ranked them #27 in the world in 2017. Also, for it being so highly ranked, I truly felt the cost of the full program was manageable- especially considering my domestic options would range in the mid-$100k’s.

All of the “basic criteria” aside, I felt connected to the program and the city. For me, the two crucial program differentiators were the Entrepreneurship classes (they call it Strategy and Organisation) and their Management Practicum course in which you team up with 3-4 other classmates and offer strategic consulting on a specific project to a top-level organization based in Singapore. The idea of these innovative, critical thinking, and strategic courses paired with the other, what I consider the “routing” MBA courses, makes this a much more well-rounded program than the others that I researched. I feel genuinely excited for the challenges that lie ahead- feelings I can’t say I had regarding other programs.

Lastly, this is somewhere I can embrace for a full 18-months. Singapore has always been this sort of dream paradise in my mind- this multicultural pool of trade, business, and activity. I have this great appreciate for the global history, the location, the climate, and above all, the dynamic micro-cultures. Although I’ve never been there, I love that within such a small square footage you can find so many pockets of Asian diversity. For someone who has never experienced the authentic sense of Asia, this will be a unique opportunity for me to dive into Chinese, Indian, Middle-Eastern, and even in some ways, British culture that exists on this small island.

With Singapore as my home base location, in addition to the countless wonderful places a quick plane ride away, makes this an spot on planet Earth location for me to spend a year and a half of my life. Life is definitely a journey that I plan on throwing myself into. No one knows what life has in store- but this seems like a pretty incredible experience!

 

 

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”

-J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

In celebration of Disney’s Peter Pan which released 64 years ago.

 

 

A Lifetime of Adventure- Why I Chose an International MBA Program

Although people may reach similar conclusions on a topic, it is often for very different reasons- whether economic, social, or even spiritual. I can’t tell you how many articles or blogs I’ve read with titles like “Why getting an MBA is crucial,” “Is an MBA worth it?,” or “Stop Now! Don’t get an MBA!” It’s confusing at best and, for a while, made me doubt my instinct to pursue a higher education degree. Why are there so many varying opinions on getting an MBA? Are mine misguided? Is an international MBA a waste?

It took me about two months to stop listening to all of the noise and decide for myself what my reasons were. I made two lists- one detailing why I wanted an MBA and the second detailing why I wanted to pursue an MBA as an international student. Here they are in all of their glory:

Why I want an MBA: 

When I was an undergrad I had the unique option of pursuing a dual Bachelors/Masters program through my University. Although not an MBA, this Masters in International Business would have helped me kick-start my career with not only a B.S. in Marketing, but a Masters as well and cheaper tuition rates to boot. Why in the world did I turn that down? I knew, even then, that I would come to a point in my life when I would want to go back to school. I knew the change of pace from work and the need to get back into formal education would be a breath of fresh air. I knew the network I would have of professionals with experience- people who have worked for startups, small businesses, and conglomerations in all fields- finance, engineering, consulting, marketing, entrepreneurship- would become my national or global professional network for years to come. I knew, even at 21, that waiting to experience the breadth and depth of a true MBA program would be worth the wait and return on my investment. Even though I would have to pay higher initial payments and take out more in loans, I knew it would yield much greater results for me over time. Or at least that’s still the hope…

I’ve often heard that pursuing an MBA when you aren’t sure where you want to pivot your career is not a smart move. Well, I’m hoping I will be an outlier in that experiment. I’ve been in sales and management for the last 4 years working for two Fortune 500 companies. I’ve had jobs that I’ve hated and jobs that I’ve loved- all teaching me invaluable lessons about myself and others. With a degree in Marketing- shouldn’t that be my next move? To be honest, I’m not sure. Most mid-level Marketing positions require an MBA nowadays but I’m not entirely sure I want to go that route. I feel like my scope of job opportunities is limited by my geography and sales experience- I want to get out of sales but I don’t want to start back at the bottom in another field. To me, this is the inherent value of an MBA. I know I want to stay in business but I feel that by charging down my current path I am limiting myself and my abilities. I want to know more about what I can accomplish and how I can make a difference. This is why I want an MBA- to figure things out and open a few new doors (or crack a window at the very least).

 

Why I want to study abroad in Singapore: 

Pursuing an MBA is one risky idea but going abroad as an international student is an entirely new hurdle. My reasons for wanting to study in Singapore are quite specific to my circumstance and history. Firstly, I love to travel but have only found myself taking around one trip per year due to vacation constraints and finances. While I feel fortunate to even have that opportunity, I oftentimes don’t feel fully engulfed in where I travel- I want to experience Singapore and Asia more fully as a local and not a tourist. Also, with Asia being so far from the United States, it often takes the backseat when I do plan my international travels; it takes 10 days and ~$4,000 to make the trip worthwhile- I don’t want to wait 15 years to see the continent that I will now have the ability to experience more fully in 2 years.

My second reason is the education style itself. To be honest, I’m not 100% sure what to expect but I find that super exciting! I know exactly what I would get out of a U.S. based program and my network would be 90% American students. I want to experience the sensation of being that minority- of adapting to different teaching styles and needing that flexibility in order to succeed. Also, I want to come back to the United States as a stronger businesswoman with perspective that few others have. The business sectors in Asia are booming and only those with an understanding of their practices will be able to play a part in this evolution. I want to lead the female C-level exec effort and in order to do that I need a global perspective on business and the world around me. It seems to get smaller every day and, at least in my lifetime, it will be at the forefront of true expansion and innovation.

Overall I have my cloudy yet semi-clear reasons for making this large leap in a new direction. All I know is that I personally feel great about my decision. I feel prepared, informed and aware of what is expected of me. Even if you aren’t sure of the reasons but you have that desire deep in your stomach and you plan ahead, I think any reason can justify the action. I may have my off days when I worry about the outcome but I reassure myself by asking “why the hell not?”

 

“It’s better to see something once, than to hear about it a thousand times”

-Asian Proverb

 

 

Beginning the MBA Process- GMAT Prep

You often hear a lot of grumbling and negative energy around the expectation that schools require a standardized test such as the GMAT or GRE.  I can empathize with a lot of the complaints- your test taking ability doesn’t always match your skill set, it’s an expensive requirement, the tests must be taken in English, etc. However, after studying and taking the exam, I see the inherent value in it. It shows a level of dedication to your degree- are you actually committed enough to spend long, hard hours (~100 or more) studying for one exam? Are you willing to find help and resources when and where you need it? Are you able to pace yourself, learn the information, and demonstrate your knowledge? All of these values I appreciate and will appreciate in my fellow classmates who went through the same rigorous process. I know everyone in my MBA class has a certain level of internal drive and motivation.

No matter where you are in your grad school application process- even if you’ve simply decided that you will apply for grad school or an MBA at some point, I recommend that you create a timeline for completing the GMAT/GRE. Scores are good for up to five years and, in my case, all I had decided was “I’m 70% sure I’ll attend grad school this year but 90% sure it’ll be within the next 5 years”. My work scheduled had eased up a bit and I took advantage of the extra time at home to begin studying. I also booked the date in advance so I had to hold myself accountable to testing by that time. I scheduled in mid-July for an October 1st test date. First round applications for my first choice school started in October so, even if I had to retest, I gave myself enough time to schedule and retake (you must wait at least 16 days before retesting). Although I don’t want to share my score (everyone has their own personal goal/expectation), I didn’t need to retake because I fell within the 80% of applicant range which I found on my school website. Although I’m sure I could have improved by 20-30 points, I didn’t feel like that incremental increase would make or break my application and decided not to invest in another exam. This is obviously a very personal decision and everyone will face different circumstances.

My tips for doing well without paying for an expensive tutor: 

• Start studying early. Give yourself at least 3 months at 8-10 hours per week.
• Study a variety of materials. This was a drawback for me- I spent the first 2 months studying from one book- going chapter by chapter but wasn’t improving as much as I needed to. My rationale was that if I studied the 2016 Kaplan test book as thoroughly as possible, I would do well. If I had to retake, I would broaden my studying horizons.
• Leverage different types of study methods (reading, online videos, etc)
  • There are more free videos and online support than I thought there would be- just spend a few hours searching! My personal favorite was Don’t Memorise
  • Refer to my page GMAT Prep Resources for a beginners list
• Find all of your resources ahead of time– then create a study schedule. As I mentioned, I was very focused on the 2-3 resources I found and paid little attention to the other resources available to me until the last month. If I could do it again, I would spend the time researching resources ahead of time, make a list of 10 websites and 10 books, then narrow down what to study and when.
• Small motivations can go a long way– visit your testing site early, figure out where to park and how long it will take you to get there. Eat healthy meals for at least a week ahead of time- nourish your body and mind the right way. No alcohol until after!! 🙂

 

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
–Pele

Beginning the MBA Process- NUS Application

In order for this to be a proper story about my MBA experience as an international student, I think it’s important that I start from the beginning and explain the requirements of my chosen program (I’ll only discuss NUS as that is the only school where I submitted all of my application materials) as well as the GMAT study process and a few tips for doing well in the exam (see GMAT Prep post).

Overall Application Experience

Prior to even starting my application, I knew I needed to make contact with the school and set up a pre-application Skype info session so I could ensure this was the school and program that would meet my MBA expectations. In total, I considered four different programs but, with NUS being my top choice, I began my communication with them first (though I did have Skype info sessions with all 4 schools). From the beginning I felt my experience with my admissions contact, Jennifer, was great. She was warm, friendly, and, in my opinion, someone I felt a personal connection with. She was a huge reason that I felt so compelled to continue my application with NUS.

The program had a very clear online application process. There were no additional requirements as an international applicant- the international student process typically kicks into high gear 2-3 months before the start of the program. All in all, here were the application requirements:

• Online Application
• 3 short, 500 word essays
• 2 letters of recommendation (I chose a previous boss and a high ranking character reference at my current employer)
• GMAT or GRE test scores
• Official transcripts from my university (very easy to order online)
• One small mail-in requirement of a passport photo and copy of my undergrad degree scroll

Overall it was a straightforward process and no application fees were due until admissions was granted; this is pretty atypical from what I saw of other schools who often require $150-$350 upfront. About two weeks after submitting my application I was asked to schedule a formal Skype interview as part 2 of my application. This was about a 45 minute session with two admissions faculty members. They asked a few questions around my background, why I wanted to attend a school in Singapore, what I wanted to gain from the program, how I work in teams and what I find important about a team dynamic, etc. I was prepared for the interview, showed confidence and a strong desire for an international MBA. As a result, roughly 2-3 weeks later I received my acceptance email!!

As this process was so seamless and quick, I waited to hear back from NUS before applying and paying for other applications. This worked out in my favor and saved me about $700 in application fees for schools I wouldn’t have even accepted. Had I not been accepted into NUS, I still would have been able to complete my other applications within their respective first rounds. If you’re able to plan ahead and prepare in the same way, I would definitely recommend it as it saved me a lot of time and money!

 

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

 

A Little Bit of Courage…

In a world full of noise and social media paralysis, it took me some time to decide that a blog of my story would be worthwhile. Would anyone read it? Learn anything? Allow it to change them as I know it will change me?  I hope anyone out there can find some value in my decision and process to quit my full-time, high salary job to pursue an international MBA, but this is also an opportunity for me to record this chapter of my life in fuller detail.

After experiencing part two of my Quarter-Life Crisis (yes this is a real thing), I wasn’t sure which direction to go. I’d considered an MBA for the past year- though the timing and finances never seemed entirely appropriate (even though I have a decent savings- taking on so much debt never seemed appealing to me). After researching schools, admissions criteria, and having a mental war for 2 months, I decided to take my first step and enrolled for the GMAT exam. “Let me just get that out of the way because, you know, one step at a time…?”

What I didn’t realize was that preparing for the exam would throw me into a whirlwind of school contemplation, unmet dreams, and career aspirations. While studying, I began narrowing down my search and my husband and I agreed on 3 countries and 5 schools- Hong Kong (2), Singapore (2), and Australia (1).

Fast forward a few months, a GMAT exam, Skype interviews, several bouts of crying and a lot of anxiety (my husband is a very patient person), I seemed to finally have found a little bit of courage. I submitted my first application to my top choice- the National University of Singapore. Two weeks later I had an interview with their admissions faculty and two weeks after that I had been accepted and granted a scholarship for roughly a third of the program fees. I’d like to quickly clarify that while this seems like a serendipitous process- rarely does anything lay itself at my doorstep like this.

In 7 shorts months I will be packing my bags with my husband (and dog) and leaving my home for 18 months to a country I’ve never been to. Fingers crossed that this isn’t a complete and total train wreck.

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. […] I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.”

-Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A Mission Statement, Not a Memo

This is a picture of my husband and I are on our wedding day. I don’t post this to be cheesy or cliche, but instead to offer a small glimpse into my first true adult decision and adventuresome spirit. Our wedding day was rather unique- we flew to Bali, Indonesia (a country and continent I had never been to) to get married alone via a Hindu beach ceremony next to a small statue of Ganesh (which I felt was appropriate).

This blog is a portal into my passions, my photography and my future which includes leaving my cushy job in Texas to pursue an MBA in Singapore in July 2017. I will share my experiences before, during, and after my program, as well as how I will prepare for and ultimately experience an 18 month trip abroad with my husband and Westie, Winston. I want to be open about the excitement and joy as well as the anxiety, fear and financial struggle this will put on my family and I. As someone who is consistently a planner and introvert yet a traveler and adventurer, this will be quite the emotional roller coaster. Buckle up and enjoy the ride- life is a journey!

 

“Not all those who wander are lost”

-J.R.R Tolkien