Texas State B-School Diary

What was I thinking?  I should have done this a long time ago, but I don't think that I would have been as mentally prepared for what lies ahead of me.  I've decided to get my MBA in business from Texas State University.  With my current job offering tuition reimbursement of up $6000 a year, I would be stupid to not take advantage and help advance my career aspirations through finishing my degree.  It has been interesting trying to figure out everything that is needed to get me ready.  I have not taken the GMAT yet so I have to hurry and schedule an exam and testing location before to long.  Scholarships?  That might be an idea for next year as deadlines for scholarship packages are due in two weeks and I need to have two letters of recommendation from past professors to qualify for review.  That will be interesting.  I will email to a couple and if I can get a reply, I will finish the rest of the necessary info.

I graduated in August of 2001, with a business degree from Southwest Texas State University, and I attempted a working MBA program for around two months, but with 60+ hours at work, the timing was just not right.  A lot has changed at Texas State now.  New name, new buildings going up like crazy, and many new faces are going to make this try much more enjoyable.  I am actually looking forward to this.

I recently met with an advisor in the Graduate school, and she really helped me streamline my process for getting everything ready.  I have decided to tackle the CFP certification program that Texas State offers (only five classes) but I think that it will be something that I enjoy.  With me already having a life, loan, and securities license, I might as well add the CFP to my name.  The one thing that might worry me is where to take the classes.  The advisor said most of my Graduate core courses would be offered in Round Rock, but the CFP stuff will be in San Marcos.  Can anyone say commute?   She also said all that I would need to make on the GMAT is around a 450 with my grades being decent when I completed my undergrad (3.0) so that gives me a bit of an encouragement.

I just started studying for the GMAT, my test is next week, and I downloaded some of the practice exams from the GMAC website.   The verbal is easy, but the math problems are really kicking my tail.  If I keep making under the 30%, 450 might be a bit harder that I expected.  I will try and set some time aside to practice a couple of essay questions, but I don’t have time at work, and without a internet connection at the house, it makes it a bit tough to study and practice writing a analytical essay in 30 minutes!  What were they thinking?  It takes me longer to go to the bathroom, let alone write a full five-paragraph essay in 30 minutes, and the darn GMAT wants you to do this twice!  Ugghh.  Oh well.

The GMAT came and went and I think that I did all right.  I scored a 600 on it unofficially as my official score will come back with the essays graded in two weeks but the sheet that they gave me after I took the test shows an unofficial score.  Let's hope the fact that I ran out of time (on both essays!) while trying to complete my final paragraphs does not affect my score that much.  The University of Texas site where I took the test really was small and cramped.  Oh well, if I would have registered earlier, I could have taken it a Prometric where I could have at least sat in the hall way and not worried about knocking myself out on the tray that was behind my seat while I was waiting for everyone to check in. 

Now that that the GMAT is over, let us see how my financial aid picture is looking and if I need to apply for any loans.  I was disappointed that the two professors did not even respond via email or phone call to my requests for letters of recommendation.  I would have thought it as a sign of "no" but I made A's in their classes.  Oh well, I guess I will just work harder and be that much more prepared for next April's deadline.  I came across a great website (scholarships.com) that listed a ton of scholarships that I can qualify for.  I will have to really knock the rust off of my essay skills and write up a few pages on those always interesting subjects "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and my favorite "What does a communitarian mindset mean to you?"  Do people just sit around thinking of weird topics to have people write in to about?  I will write an essay about anything if it will pay me $5,000 in scholarship money.

More entries from Scott:

May 2005