I never thought I was going to get done with all of the statistics. Boy am I glad that is over.
Next up--Economics!
I'm a little more than exhausted right now so I'm cutting this short.
The good news is that the weather here in LA has been so nice for a change. I love cooler temperatures and will savor them for as long as I can.
30 July 2006
26 July 2006
I'm back in LA!
After getting tired of the horrific heat wave going on in SoCal we headed up North to San Carlos to cool off. The first three days were terrific and cooler than LA but on the fourth day all hell broke loose and temperatures soared to over 106 degrees for the rest of the week and into the weekend. When you are not used to this kind of weather it is a killer.
It was so hot up there that a racoon stumbled out of the woods and begged me to wet him with the hose...he was insistent that he get wet. We also noticed 20 deer sitting on a family's lawn seeking an escape from the heat!
I went from being ahead with business and school work to losing my lead and sweating like a pig...it was still nice to get away. Hopefully thing will cool off here as I've been to every store up and down the coast and everybody is sold out of fans and air conditioners.
It was so hot up there that a racoon stumbled out of the woods and begged me to wet him with the hose...he was insistent that he get wet. We also noticed 20 deer sitting on a family's lawn seeking an escape from the heat!
I went from being ahead with business and school work to losing my lead and sweating like a pig...it was still nice to get away. Hopefully thing will cool off here as I've been to every store up and down the coast and everybody is sold out of fans and air conditioners.
Week 3 done, week 4 in full swing
I finished my week three assignments early and am happy to say that I have just one week left remaining for Statistics...it's just not my favorite topic to study. Of course this week has three times the readings, lectures, and homework, but I'm gearing up to get it all done ASAP....
20 July 2006
NOT everybody can read my blog
It turns out that not everybody has access to my blog. One of my favorite friends who happens to live in Pakistan was trying to access my blog and couldn’t. Apparently the only thing she could read was the title of the blog. It’s unfortunate that my free speech is being censored for her but that will not stop me as I am going to email her my blog entries anyway.
It all just makes we wonder what else is being restricted in other places?
And how unfair is it that people are not allowed access to my lovely social commentary?
It all just makes we wonder what else is being restricted in other places?
And how unfair is it that people are not allowed access to my lovely social commentary?
End of MBA week 2 and halfway done with week 3
It’s been quite a process working with Statistics over the past couple of weeks. I am OFFICIALLY living at my computer now. The word problems go on forever and I think I am going to install a shower near my desk!
Week two sped by quite fast and I managed not to get too confused with all of the histograms, time plots, mode, median and standard deviation talk…
Week 3 has already begun and I am happy to say that I am ahead for the week. I thought some of the problems in week 2 were long but then came this week’s study of linear correlation coefficient and I find myself doing 12 step problems that take an hour to complete by the time you plug in all of the numbers to the formulas! I do believe that my strong mathematical background in high school and college have helped allay some of the busy work. It’s also been helpful that I’ve gone away from LA for the week to a much cooler airy locale!
I’ll write more by the end of the weekend.
Week two sped by quite fast and I managed not to get too confused with all of the histograms, time plots, mode, median and standard deviation talk…
Week 3 has already begun and I am happy to say that I am ahead for the week. I thought some of the problems in week 2 were long but then came this week’s study of linear correlation coefficient and I find myself doing 12 step problems that take an hour to complete by the time you plug in all of the numbers to the formulas! I do believe that my strong mathematical background in high school and college have helped allay some of the busy work. It’s also been helpful that I’ve gone away from LA for the week to a much cooler airy locale!
I’ll write more by the end of the weekend.
11 July 2006
Tales from the MBA trenches!
Over the past few years I have created a few different businesses that I am currently working on expanding, etc. During this time I have spent a great deal of time working on business plans and private placement memorandums along with marketing and advertising and dealing with the various personalities that one must deal with here in LA. It's been an interesting challenge and it's reminded me of how much of an entrepreneur I am. Having said all that...
The last degree I earned (2004) was my MA in screenwriting/ mass communications. I must say that film school sped by so quickly and I had a blast refining my screenwriting skills that I hardly felt like I was in grad school…
As some of you may know I have been interested in getting my MBA for some time now. While I do have access to USC and UCLA here in LA, I realized that I wasn't particularly interested in setting foot inside the classroom. So I began my search several months ago for the university that would fit my needs and that had a stellar online program. I narrowed my choices to 3 schools and then decided on one of them. I applied and was accepted and have recently completed my first week of my MBA program!
The excellent school I chose is Regis University. Regis is a Top Tier Western University. Founded in 1877, Regis University is located in Denver, CO, on a picturesque 90-acre campus overlooking the Rocky Mountains. Regis University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities nationwide - others include Georgetown University, Boston College and the University of San Francisco. For more information you can visit www.regis.edu or www.mbaregis.com
The first week was filled with lots and lots of spreadsheet work and business plan reviews and creation. I spent about 7 hours working on spreadsheets Sunday night. Fortunately for me Erica is also getting her MBA too, so I am not alone in the trenches. Together, we'll be even better equipped to put all of our ventures on a much larger scale.
I find myself most interested in two areas: marketing and financing. After much thought, I've decided to get an MBA in Marketing. The bottom line is that a business will never succeed if you do not know the market and how to reach your potential clients. Everything in Hollywood is about marketing...long before the cameras start to roll we're thinking about marketing.
How do I learn online? Well the program itself is a year-round three semester MBA which takes two years or 6 semesters to complete. Each semester is broken up into two 8-week sessions. There is a fast track option which allows you to complete your MBA in 16 months if you double up on classes. I am strongly considering this as time goes on. I find myself far too busy to want to linger in the program for the full two years. I'd like to get done sooner.
I've found that online learning will deter lazy people who are used to showing up at class and not contributing. There is absolutely no way to fake it here. If you do not participate in online discussions everybody knows it. This I like. It means that my peers must be disciplined, committed and prepared.
Each week consists of the following: streaming video lectures, lots of reading, various assignments, and additional work and research for a marketing/business plan. All assignments must be turned in to the professors on the designated days, in addition it is mandatory to participate in class discussions on the message boards and to communicate with others about the current issues. I feel challenged and I like sitting down to do the work. But at times, I feel like I am not leaving the computer which I already spend a lot of time at!
This week and the next few weeks we will be knee deep in Statistics. I fear I may have more spreadsheets to do!
I will be chronicling my time with the MBA weekly so please feel free to ask questions and follow along.
The last degree I earned (2004) was my MA in screenwriting/ mass communications. I must say that film school sped by so quickly and I had a blast refining my screenwriting skills that I hardly felt like I was in grad school…
As some of you may know I have been interested in getting my MBA for some time now. While I do have access to USC and UCLA here in LA, I realized that I wasn't particularly interested in setting foot inside the classroom. So I began my search several months ago for the university that would fit my needs and that had a stellar online program. I narrowed my choices to 3 schools and then decided on one of them. I applied and was accepted and have recently completed my first week of my MBA program!
The excellent school I chose is Regis University. Regis is a Top Tier Western University. Founded in 1877, Regis University is located in Denver, CO, on a picturesque 90-acre campus overlooking the Rocky Mountains. Regis University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities nationwide - others include Georgetown University, Boston College and the University of San Francisco. For more information you can visit www.regis.edu or www.mbaregis.com
The first week was filled with lots and lots of spreadsheet work and business plan reviews and creation. I spent about 7 hours working on spreadsheets Sunday night. Fortunately for me Erica is also getting her MBA too, so I am not alone in the trenches. Together, we'll be even better equipped to put all of our ventures on a much larger scale.
I find myself most interested in two areas: marketing and financing. After much thought, I've decided to get an MBA in Marketing. The bottom line is that a business will never succeed if you do not know the market and how to reach your potential clients. Everything in Hollywood is about marketing...long before the cameras start to roll we're thinking about marketing.
How do I learn online? Well the program itself is a year-round three semester MBA which takes two years or 6 semesters to complete. Each semester is broken up into two 8-week sessions. There is a fast track option which allows you to complete your MBA in 16 months if you double up on classes. I am strongly considering this as time goes on. I find myself far too busy to want to linger in the program for the full two years. I'd like to get done sooner.
I've found that online learning will deter lazy people who are used to showing up at class and not contributing. There is absolutely no way to fake it here. If you do not participate in online discussions everybody knows it. This I like. It means that my peers must be disciplined, committed and prepared.
Each week consists of the following: streaming video lectures, lots of reading, various assignments, and additional work and research for a marketing/business plan. All assignments must be turned in to the professors on the designated days, in addition it is mandatory to participate in class discussions on the message boards and to communicate with others about the current issues. I feel challenged and I like sitting down to do the work. But at times, I feel like I am not leaving the computer which I already spend a lot of time at!
This week and the next few weeks we will be knee deep in Statistics. I fear I may have more spreadsheets to do!
I will be chronicling my time with the MBA weekly so please feel free to ask questions and follow along.
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