I received an email in August 2008, informing me that I had passed the first level of the CFA examination. The joy i felt was indescribable! I guess my joy numbed the torture of having to wait an entire day by the computer, hitting the refresh button like someone suffering from the dreaded OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and totally ignore the need to appear to be working. Since then, I have received two CFA 'failure' emails, one MBA rejection and numerous job application rejects via 'the dreaded email' with practically no positive news save the Toefl results last week.
You can imagine my consternation when I got out of bed on Friday the 4th of February, expecting to receive a decision on my application from the Oxford Business School....yes, via email. The thing about such days is that you know you are acting like a retard but you just can't help it. How do you explain checking your email at 4 in the morning knowing fully well that the admissions staff don't resume till 9 am? Will the admissions lady suddenly wake up at 3am, pick up her blackberry and send me an email? Well, I'm ashamed to say I checked my email every 15 minutes from 4am!
When at 3pm, the dreaded e-mail still hadn't come, I went to lunch....of course, the rice tasted like saw dust.. I got back to my seat 30 minutes later to see that I had 3 unread mails.....one of which was from the school.....of course I opened the other two meaningless emails first......then i nervously clicked on the email....
Then I read the words that made me feel like Dr. Sid (A nigerian artist) when he wrote his song 'over the moon'. I had gotten an interview!!!!!! This time, I didn't care I was in the office.....I jumped up, did a 'Tiger Woods' fist pump and started doing my impression of 'alanta' (a popular nigerian dance step).....Thankfully the office was almost empty....the two guys in the office at the time knew I had applied to Said and after initially looking at me with alarm etched on their faces, each other with confusion, and back at me with the realization of what had happened they congratulated me.....
I've sent the school an email requesting that my interview be scheduled on around the Cranfield interview so i can conduct both on the same trip.....
2011 is looking like a good year....Long may it continue!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The emotional roller coaster that is the applications process!
It's been a roller coaster couple of weeks as i've experienced a broad spectrum of emotions......sadness, depression, anger, humiliation, joy, relief, and disbelief!
Sadness and Depression: I got rejected by Cambridge after I had put in everything into my application. It wasn't the fact that i was rejected, but the manner. The curt email told me that all my work for the last few months wasn't even good enough to get them to want to meet me. Thankfully, i've had some experience with disappointment so i was able to pick myself up, send in my oxford application and start my cranfield (my back up) application.
Anger and Humiliation: I found out that I would have to take a test of English specially for the Oxford application. To them, if you haven't lived or worked in the US, UK, Australia or New Zealand, you don't understand English. To make matters worse, they had a minimum pass mark of 109 over 120! I know I can speak English, but I had no clue what to expect from the test....I knew there were four sections, Reading, Speaking, Writing and Listening, but i wondered what i'd have to do to ensure such a high score. I booked the test and went to take it on the 21st of January......when I got there, I felt totally humiliated. The test centre was filled with teenagers just out of high school trying to go to the U.S to study. MBA applicants don't usually have to take a test of English! I'm sure they looked at me and figured I was a farmer or something who started school in his late teens......
Sadness and Depression (2): I started the test....the first two parts were alright.....the reading and listening because they were multiple choice...i breezed through them...I was also comfortable with the writing.....and then came the speaking section. I should have been warned when the guy beside me started his session. He was to articulate why he envied sportsmen and artists....he started....'I like sportsmen and artists because.......coughs, coughs, nervous glance at me, coughs, clock ticking, I like sportmen and artists because, because, because,.....errrrr.......shit (i think that's what he said)....head on the table, time up'! I self righteously wondered how anyone could be so ineffective at communicating......and then it was my turn....the first of six sessions involved having to listen to a lecture and summarize it.....time to prepare after the lecture? 30 seconds....time to speak, 20 seconds! I listened to the lecture and tried to take notes.....shit, this lecturer's speaking too quickly! Slow down! What did he just say? Did he just talk about igneous rocks and volcanoes? What d hell is that? Time up! 30 seconds to prepare! Okay....just look at your notes and you'll be fine....time is running bayo! Stop thinking and look at your notes! Okay...shit! 15 seconds left...okay....and then i hear a voice saying, please speak after the beep.....who d hell pressed the fast forward button????? After the beep, I managed to mumble some words about rocks, volcanoes and even more rocks.....This sequence repeated itself for all the other speaking sessions and i was sure I had blown any chance i had to go to oxford. As i was about to leave the center, i checked my emails and realised i had received one from oxford.....they acknowledged my application but stated they won't be able to consider it until they received a satisfactory toefl score! And that I had until the 28th to produce it or i'll be bumped to round 3......Now round 3 is bad.....its horrible.....its the last minute round where schools don't really take chances...they go with tried and tested profiles. They also try to avoid people that could have potential visa issues because of the short time frame. I asked the toefl guys how long it'll take to get my results and they stated three weeks....that'll be mid-february at the earliest! Shit! Bye Bye Oxford.....Cranfield.....my last hope! Hear my plea!
Joy, Relief and Disbelief! : Cranfield heard my plea and invited me for an interview....first positive news in ages! They wanted to do a phone interview but I wasn't taking any chances! I told them I would like to come over.....I booked my ticket and will travel on the 17th, the interview's on the 21st. I decided to visit oxford as well on their open day on the 18th.....hoping i'd see something about the school that'll make me feel better about not going! Out of the blue, I received an email saying my toefl results were available online. How is that possible? In a week? With shaking hands, i logged on and checked my results.....Reading 30/30, Listening 30/30, Writing 29/30 and Speaking 26/30! A total of 115/120! How is that possible? I stood up and was about scream in joy when i realised i was in the office and couldn't really explain why i was taking toefl....i converted it into an attempt to stretch, yawned and sauntered into the bathroom where i punched the wall vigorously in suppressed excitement. With trembling hands, I reached for my phone and called Oxford, i explained my situation to the amused admissions officer who agreed to send my application in for the second round if i could get the screenshots of my results to her!
What next? I should hear from Oxford of Friday whether i'll get an interview....if i do, i'll just combine the oxford and cranfield interviews in one trip......fingers crossed!
No prizes for guessing what i'm praying i'll title my next post.......
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Judge Business School - Admission Decision
'Many thanks for your application to the Cambridge MBA program. The admissions committee has carefully considered your applications and we regret to say that it was decided not to invite you for an interview'.
With those words, the guys at Cambridged reached into my stomach, pulled out my intestines and used it to make 'asun' (a local Nigerian delicacy). Months of work down the drain! The worst part is I really can't be mad at anyone. Not myself because I know I put my back into it. Not the guys JBS because I know they receive over a thousand five hundred excellent applications and have to pick the top 10%. So who? Surely I can find a way to blame the government, that's what they are there for!
Well, as a man, I have to dust myself up and move on (Who came up with that by the way? Are women supposed to wallow and wail?). Sent in the Oxford application, a little happier with it than the Cambridge app so fingers crossed. I've also added imperial college as an additional back up school and will apply to them in addition to Cranfield if it Oxford doesnt work out. I'm also adjusting mentally to the possibility of not going to school this year. The tricky thing is my firm's being merged with two others so it'll be interesting to see how this year pans out.
By the way.......Happy New Year!
With those words, the guys at Cambridged reached into my stomach, pulled out my intestines and used it to make 'asun' (a local Nigerian delicacy). Months of work down the drain! The worst part is I really can't be mad at anyone. Not myself because I know I put my back into it. Not the guys JBS because I know they receive over a thousand five hundred excellent applications and have to pick the top 10%. So who? Surely I can find a way to blame the government, that's what they are there for!
Well, as a man, I have to dust myself up and move on (Who came up with that by the way? Are women supposed to wallow and wail?). Sent in the Oxford application, a little happier with it than the Cambridge app so fingers crossed. I've also added imperial college as an additional back up school and will apply to them in addition to Cranfield if it Oxford doesnt work out. I'm also adjusting mentally to the possibility of not going to school this year. The tricky thing is my firm's being merged with two others so it'll be interesting to see how this year pans out.
By the way.......Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Can it be over already???
Ok i'm officially fatigued. I've been perusing mba blogs, webistes and brochures since my fascination with the MBA started in 2008. Can't afford to be just yet though....I haven't finished my Said application. I have first drafts of both my essays ready though and for a first draft, I must say I'm reasonably happy! I've also gotten good feedback on the essays and everyone seems to like them. So I need to conclude the essays and get one of my recommenders to send hers in....the other sent his in almost immediately I asked him to....bless him!
Said's essays are pretty cool....the first one;
Why did you choose your current Job? How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will an MBA help you achieve this? 750 words
Pretty straightfoward.......i explained how every move in my career was to intentionally lead up to a job in private equity. I also explained how i felt i needed a better grounding in business fundamentals and the networking benefits derivable. I further tied it to my desire to attend SBS in particular.....the fact that the school has a private equity institute and its close proximity to london. I also mentioned the names of a few professors for effect!
The second one was even more exciting!
Which recent world event, development and book has most influenced your thinking and why? (1000 words)
Here i used two books.....My Life by Bill Clinton and My Journey by Tony Blair. I explained how i believed Nigerian politicians were the biggest problem in Nigeria until i read both books. The books highlighted the similarities in politicians all over the world. I realised that the problem with Nigeria is essentially the fact that politicians are not held accountable for their actions by the electorate as a result of the flaws in the voting system and went on to provide examples from the current situation in Nigeria and both books.
In other news, I got promoted today! I need to let the adcom guys at cambridge know as circumstances have changed. My new role entails supervision of junior analysts so that's significant!
Said's essays are pretty cool....the first one;
Why did you choose your current Job? How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will an MBA help you achieve this? 750 words
Pretty straightfoward.......i explained how every move in my career was to intentionally lead up to a job in private equity. I also explained how i felt i needed a better grounding in business fundamentals and the networking benefits derivable. I further tied it to my desire to attend SBS in particular.....the fact that the school has a private equity institute and its close proximity to london. I also mentioned the names of a few professors for effect!
The second one was even more exciting!
Which recent world event, development and book has most influenced your thinking and why? (1000 words)
Here i used two books.....My Life by Bill Clinton and My Journey by Tony Blair. I explained how i believed Nigerian politicians were the biggest problem in Nigeria until i read both books. The books highlighted the similarities in politicians all over the world. I realised that the problem with Nigeria is essentially the fact that politicians are not held accountable for their actions by the electorate as a result of the flaws in the voting system and went on to provide examples from the current situation in Nigeria and both books.
In other news, I got promoted today! I need to let the adcom guys at cambridge know as circumstances have changed. My new role entails supervision of junior analysts so that's significant!
Monday, November 22, 2010
JBS App Submitted
Drumroll..........Just sent in the cambridge application! Took me long enough! Started the process in September and after two long months of brainstorming, essay writing and re-writing, insulting and praising myself in equal measure and annoying my reference providers with 'gentle reminders' every couple of days, i can say i am reasonably happy with my application. I have obvious weaknesses....a low undergrad gp, pretty mediocre extra curriculars and less than stellar work exp. I do think however that i have been able to play up my key strength.....applying from an under represented region (Africa) and an under represented field (private equity) mean that i am likely to bring a unique perspective to the class. My classmates would probably not know what investing in emerging and frontier markets entail....I would have liked to emphasize on my role in my previous place of work where I was instrumental in bringing about a lot of change but the jbs questions appear skewed towards achievements at my current job. Fortunately, I mentioned my previous achievements on my cv so i hope that i get a chance to elaborate on these when i get interviewed....JBS had three main essays:
Essay 1: What are the key issues facing organisations in your sector over the next three years and what course of action would you recommend to such organisations.
Here i focused on the difficulties in investing in Nigeria. Corruption, weak capital market, infrastructure deficit etc. My recommendations centered around alignment of interests between investee and management and the need for pe professionals to deepen their competence. Personal rating for this essay, 7/10. I felt it was almost academic but decided a school like cambridge would like a bit of intellectual posturing.
Essay 2: What did you learn from your most spectacular failure?
Here i used this question to acknowledge one of the weaknesses of my application - my low undergrad gpa. I explained how i never thought i would fail to make a second class upper degree. I also explained how the failure helped me develop my strongest qualities - tenacity and drive and how i learnt to fail forward. Personal rating for this essay, 7.5/10. I felt it was more personal than the first and i think the fact that i reflected on my low gpa without trying to make excuses for it would be a postive.
Essay 3: What are your long and short term career objectives? What skills and characteristics do you already have will help you achieve them? What do you hope to gain from the degree and how do you feel it would help you achieve them.
Here i elaborated on my desire to make the transition from an analyst at a Nigerian focused PE fund to an associate at an emerging markets focused PE fund in the short term, and own my own fund in the long term. This essay was anecdote heavy and i think my best essay. I linked JBS's entrepreneurial focus and events such as 'Enterprise Tuesdays' to my goals. I would rate my essay here 8.5/10...
Lets hope adcom agrees with my ratings!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Application seaason's in full swing with my first deadline on the 7th of December (Judge Business School). I've uploaded all my essays and my referees have sent in their references. Just waiting for my mastercard to be activated so I can pay the application fee. Problem is my next deadline is only a month away (said). I have to get two essays, write toefl and complete the application in about a month. Its a tough ask but doable. I'll upload my application essays in my next post.
On th personal angle, I was robbed recently at home and documented my experience....here goes;
The clock just struck 2am.....the night was silent and peaceful. I had just entered my third tier of dreams(inception style) when I heard an explosion like noise...I jumped up.....what was that? I pondered....was it a gas explosion? OMG I'm gonna die! This is how it'll all end!
And then I heard it again....No it wasn't an explosion.....some pple were trying to break down my door! I tiptoed to the door, briefly considering grabbing a knife from the kitchen....a mental picture of the knife sticking out of my neck stopped that line of thought....
I looked through the peep hole....and alas! I saw a lot of torchlights and heard voices....they had switched off the lights in the passage! The third bang explained what was happening...they had brought along a huge metal battering ram to break down my door! I could hear the door giving way.....what do I do?
I ran to the balcony(not sure why).....as soon as I got there, I found myself in d spotlight! They had more people watching on the street! They had pointed their own torches at me! I fell to the floor (like a well trained navy seal....yeah, fear does that to you)....and rolled back into the house
At this point, sensing defeat, I decided to open the door for them.....as I walked toward d door, another bang followed by the sound of the door opening startled me! Like a guy with good home training, I postrated flat on the floor....declaring my willingness to co-operate with their excellencies....
Where 'h'is your money? Bellowed one guy with a chronic case of 'H' factor....'its in my wallet in d room'. But who answered? That's not my voice! That's a girl's voice! What happened to my deep manly voice? Apparently, its a medical condition called AK47laria....affects male voices!
As one of the guys marched toward my prized laptop with glee in his eyes, another was fiddling with my prized flat screen tv...My TV? Lailai! They cannot take it o....I thought....at this point, I remembered how spartacus was inspired to kill everybody that was messing with his prized possesion....with my brow furrowed, one eyebrow raised and fist clenched....Gbosa! A kick in my face woke me from my little day dream....wia is ur car key?
Na third party insurance I get o....I thought...e don finish for me today! My car key? I stammered....its somewhere here....lemme look for it. For some reason, their excellencies lost interest and proceeded to repeat the process with my neighbours next door.... As I watched them drive away from the window 30 minutes later....I pondered what might have been...and proceeded to watch a repeat episode of girls of the playboy mansion....afterall, life is short!
On th personal angle, I was robbed recently at home and documented my experience....here goes;
The clock just struck 2am.....the night was silent and peaceful. I had just entered my third tier of dreams(inception style) when I heard an explosion like noise...I jumped up.....what was that? I pondered....was it a gas explosion? OMG I'm gonna die! This is how it'll all end!
And then I heard it again....No it wasn't an explosion.....some pple were trying to break down my door! I tiptoed to the door, briefly considering grabbing a knife from the kitchen....a mental picture of the knife sticking out of my neck stopped that line of thought....
I looked through the peep hole....and alas! I saw a lot of torchlights and heard voices....they had switched off the lights in the passage! The third bang explained what was happening...they had brought along a huge metal battering ram to break down my door! I could hear the door giving way.....what do I do?
I ran to the balcony(not sure why).....as soon as I got there, I found myself in d spotlight! They had more people watching on the street! They had pointed their own torches at me! I fell to the floor (like a well trained navy seal....yeah, fear does that to you)....and rolled back into the house
At this point, sensing defeat, I decided to open the door for them.....as I walked toward d door, another bang followed by the sound of the door opening startled me! Like a guy with good home training, I postrated flat on the floor....declaring my willingness to co-operate with their excellencies....
Where 'h'is your money? Bellowed one guy with a chronic case of 'H' factor....'its in my wallet in d room'. But who answered? That's not my voice! That's a girl's voice! What happened to my deep manly voice? Apparently, its a medical condition called AK47laria....affects male voices!
As one of the guys marched toward my prized laptop with glee in his eyes, another was fiddling with my prized flat screen tv...My TV? Lailai! They cannot take it o....I thought....at this point, I remembered how spartacus was inspired to kill everybody that was messing with his prized possesion....with my brow furrowed, one eyebrow raised and fist clenched....Gbosa! A kick in my face woke me from my little day dream....wia is ur car key?
Na third party insurance I get o....I thought...e don finish for me today! My car key? I stammered....its somewhere here....lemme look for it. For some reason, their excellencies lost interest and proceeded to repeat the process with my neighbours next door.... As I watched them drive away from the window 30 minutes later....I pondered what might have been...and proceeded to watch a repeat episode of girls of the playboy mansion....afterall, life is short!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Damn Essays!
Phew! Just wired $650 to the CFA institute......only just made it before the dealine. Once again i apologise for my absence from this forum, i've been too busy massaging my bruised ego. Infact, i hereby apologise in advance for any future acts of disappearance!
No i did not pass the CFA Exam (I'm sure you gathered that from the first paragraph). If i passed, i would have posted here immediately, screaming to the high heavens about the birth of Nigeria's latest finance prodigy! Instead, I've been left to lick my wounds, ponder about the nature of the failure (worse than last year) and entertain fleeting thoughts of hugging a transformer! Anyway, i've registered to take the exam again next year......finger's crossed.
MBA applications? Admissions season is finally here......I plan to apply to cambridge before the third deadline on December 7th (they have five deadlines) and Oxford before the second deadline in January. I should have heard from both these guys by February......i'll apply to Cranfield if i don't make it to either of the two. I've started working on the essays.....damn! It's tough! Especially as thats my only way to impress the admissions committee. I have a pretty average profile so i'll need to have stellar essays to have a chance. I'll need to make them laugh, impress them and make them absolutely want to meet me in person. Maybe I should outsource the job to Basket mouth although i doubt jokes about kanayo o kanayo would suffice. I'm currently working on the Cambridge essays;
Essay 1
What are the key issues facing organisations in your sector over the next three years? What course of action would you recommend to such organisations? (300 words)
What are the key issues facing organisations in your sector over the next three years? What course of action would you recommend to such organisations? (300 words)
Essay 2
What did you learn from your most spectacular failure? (200 words)
What did you learn from your most spectacular failure? (200 words)
Essay 3
What are your short and long term career objectives? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them? What do you hope to gain from the degree and how do you feel it will help you achieve the career objectives you have? (please do not exceed 500 words).
What are your short and long term career objectives? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them? What do you hope to gain from the degree and how do you feel it will help you achieve the career objectives you have? (please do not exceed 500 words).
I have drafts for Essays 1 and 2 but i am far from happy. They just don't sound outstanding. I learnt to be Tenacious, Focused and Driven after i failed to make a 2.1! Who cares? Private Equity firms have to deal with inferior management teams....duh! everyone knows that.....now i understand what novelists go through! I haven't even started on the Oxford Essays;
Essay 1: Explain why you chose your current job. How do you hope to see your career developing over the next five years? How will an MBA assist you in the development of these ambitions? (1000 word maximum)
Essay 2: Which recent development, world event or book has most influenced your thinking and why? (2000 word maximum)
Recent development? That'll be a struggle as well........I'm thinking about using The West Wing (a series about the Presidency in America) to showcase how its got me thinking more about politics.
Anyway, till next time......adios, my non-existent fan base!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)