It's almost over! I can't believe that after two years, I am finally graduating with two Master's degrees. I still have a few finals to get through and a couple projects, but it is nice to know that I will be done in less than a month. Commencement is on May 20th, so it will be exciting to walk in front of family and friends in honor of the end of my graduate education.
While the end is very near, there is still so much going on until graduation. There are numerous social events that are going on before we reach the last day of classes. There are many numerous end of the year parties for the different programs. This year's MSF and MSA event is at Market in downtown Boston. It should be a classy, yet fun affair. As a part of the GMA, we have the responsibility to plan these events using our budget.
In addition to all the end of the year parties, there are also Grad Week events. These should be a lot of fun as they involve fun activities around Boston, as well as events in other states around New England. It will be nice to hang out with everyone else who is graduating and celebrate our achievements as we anticipate the next chapter in our lives.
Over the summer, I plan to study for and take the CPA exam. It will basically be my job. I know it is quite a feat to pass all four parts in one summer, but I hope that the Becker FastPass classes at BC will help me achieve this. I do not want to have to study for the tests once I start my job. The summer will be a bit more stressful than most, but it will all be worth it in the end!
It has been a great two years, but I am excited to start a new chapter in my life! But Boston College will always be a special place to me. GO EAGLES!
JC
FULTON FRESH
Friday, May 10, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
TECHTREK
Hello everyone!
Happy spring, and hope everyone is safe and doing well. God bless Boston! I wanted to take some time to share information on a cool experience that is available to Boston College graduate business students. I took some time to talk with Steve Pipp, MSF '13 about the famous TechTrek experience here. He went on the TechTrek in NYC, but there is also another one in California that takes place earlier in the year. He provided some really great information, and it definitely sounds like a program you do not want to miss out on:
Could you please give us a background about what the TechTrek in NYC involved?
TechTrek NYC is a selective program that takes ~20 graduate and undergraduate students on a day trip down to New York City to meet with startups. On our trip, we visited Tumblr, Google, Rent the Runway, Fresh Direct, and Etsy - all big players in the world of tech startups! We met with BC alumni at each company through Professor Gallaugher's connections. In many cases, those alums connected us with other employees in the company. For example, the CEO of Etsy took an hour out of his day to speak with us about the challenges and goals of their company - and enjoy some pizza! Was there any preparation involved? All the prep work was done on an individual basis, but a wiki full of information was provided for us. Definitely one of those "you get out what you put in" experiences. I did most of my prep work on recent rounds of funding and revenue streams, as I'm a finance guy at heart.
Which programs in Carroll were involved? (MBAs, MSFs, MSAs?)
The program is open to all CGSOM and CSOM students, and we even had some A&S students on the trip. This diversity showed during conversations as we were delving into these companies.
What kind of networking opportunities did you have through this experience?
I was actually surprised at how receptive all of these companies were to us as students. Many of the alums provided us with contact information and I've connected with a few of them via LinkedIn. It was also great to be with other BC students who are passionate about startups. Sometimes those can be the best connections to make on a trip like this!
What was your favorite part of the whole experience?
My favorite part was visiting the Google NYC headquarters. They own one of the largest buildings in all of NYC and you could walk for days just looking at the exhibits and artwork in their facility. They have committed to being an innovation-driven culture and it permeates through every aspect of their workspace. It goes to show the lengths that Google will go to attract and retain the best talent in the world. Unfortunately, it was the only facility that didn't allow photography as there were so many yet-unseen projects underway - but maybe that added to the mystique!
Are you involved with the Tech Club at BC and how did that influence your experience?
I am involved in the BC Grad Tech Club, and their weekly email is how I found out about this and many other trips. There are Boston TechTreks nearly every week to startups and venture capital firms closer to home here in Boston. Those were great preparation for this trip since a lot of these startups face similar challenges. I would encourage any incoming students to get on as many mailing lists as they're interested in. You never know what opportunities they may have to offer!
Why would you recommend this experience to people thinking of doing TechTrek?
I would highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in entrepreneurship or innovation. These trips go light-years beyond a case study. TechTrek NYC is a great way to immerse yourself in several startups and get a feel for the excitement and difficulties of working for or starting a new venture. If you enjoy the Boston TechTreks, this takes it to the next level. A TechTrek West is also offered, where students take a week-long trip to Seattle and Silicon Valley, so any interest level can be accommodated.
Thanks a lot Steve! Hope this provided a good background and synopsis into the whole TechTrek experience! It definitely sounds like something that anyone can get involved in no matter what their background or interests are. The technical companies are on the rise, so it can't hurt to really get into the industry no matter what functions you perform. This is another great example of how great the Boston College alumni are. They really are everywhere.
Again, special thanks to Steve Pipp. Until next time -
--JC
Happy spring, and hope everyone is safe and doing well. God bless Boston! I wanted to take some time to share information on a cool experience that is available to Boston College graduate business students. I took some time to talk with Steve Pipp, MSF '13 about the famous TechTrek experience here. He went on the TechTrek in NYC, but there is also another one in California that takes place earlier in the year. He provided some really great information, and it definitely sounds like a program you do not want to miss out on:
Could you please give us a background about what the TechTrek in NYC involved?
TechTrek NYC is a selective program that takes ~20 graduate and undergraduate students on a day trip down to New York City to meet with startups. On our trip, we visited Tumblr, Google, Rent the Runway, Fresh Direct, and Etsy - all big players in the world of tech startups! We met with BC alumni at each company through Professor Gallaugher's connections. In many cases, those alums connected us with other employees in the company. For example, the CEO of Etsy took an hour out of his day to speak with us about the challenges and goals of their company - and enjoy some pizza! Was there any preparation involved? All the prep work was done on an individual basis, but a wiki full of information was provided for us. Definitely one of those "you get out what you put in" experiences. I did most of my prep work on recent rounds of funding and revenue streams, as I'm a finance guy at heart.
Which programs in Carroll were involved? (MBAs, MSFs, MSAs?)
The program is open to all CGSOM and CSOM students, and we even had some A&S students on the trip. This diversity showed during conversations as we were delving into these companies.
What kind of networking opportunities did you have through this experience?
I was actually surprised at how receptive all of these companies were to us as students. Many of the alums provided us with contact information and I've connected with a few of them via LinkedIn. It was also great to be with other BC students who are passionate about startups. Sometimes those can be the best connections to make on a trip like this!
What was your favorite part of the whole experience?
My favorite part was visiting the Google NYC headquarters. They own one of the largest buildings in all of NYC and you could walk for days just looking at the exhibits and artwork in their facility. They have committed to being an innovation-driven culture and it permeates through every aspect of their workspace. It goes to show the lengths that Google will go to attract and retain the best talent in the world. Unfortunately, it was the only facility that didn't allow photography as there were so many yet-unseen projects underway - but maybe that added to the mystique!
Are you involved with the Tech Club at BC and how did that influence your experience?
I am involved in the BC Grad Tech Club, and their weekly email is how I found out about this and many other trips. There are Boston TechTreks nearly every week to startups and venture capital firms closer to home here in Boston. Those were great preparation for this trip since a lot of these startups face similar challenges. I would encourage any incoming students to get on as many mailing lists as they're interested in. You never know what opportunities they may have to offer!
Why would you recommend this experience to people thinking of doing TechTrek?
I would highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in entrepreneurship or innovation. These trips go light-years beyond a case study. TechTrek NYC is a great way to immerse yourself in several startups and get a feel for the excitement and difficulties of working for or starting a new venture. If you enjoy the Boston TechTreks, this takes it to the next level. A TechTrek West is also offered, where students take a week-long trip to Seattle and Silicon Valley, so any interest level can be accommodated.
Thanks a lot Steve! Hope this provided a good background and synopsis into the whole TechTrek experience! It definitely sounds like something that anyone can get involved in no matter what their background or interests are. The technical companies are on the rise, so it can't hurt to really get into the industry no matter what functions you perform. This is another great example of how great the Boston College alumni are. They really are everywhere.
Again, special thanks to Steve Pipp. Until next time -
--JC
Thursday, January 24, 2013
THE FINAL SEMESTER
My final semester at BC is under way. It is definitely nice to know I will be finished soon, but also sad as well.
So this semester, I am taking Assurance & Consulting Services, Tax & Management Decisions, Law for CPAs, and Financial Statement Analysis. It is a completely accounting-filled curriculum. I finished my MSF last semester, so I have technically graduated with my first degree. All my classes seem very interesting so far, and I have learned quite a bit in the first couple weeks.
I finished recruiting last semester, and I received multiple offers in both the tax and advisory fields of the Big 4. I ultimately decided that it was best to choose the company I felt the best fit with, and that led me to PwC. I will be working in their ISG tax department in New York City next year. It should be a good experience, and I expect to learn a lot quickly. My decision really came down to the culture and the people I met. I just felt comfortable making the decision to join PwC. From the very start, I felt the strongest connection with the company, even over the other Big 4 firms. Many people say they are all the same, but I somehow internally was able to distinguish them. It was a difficult decision, but I believe I made the best decision for myself. I also think tax will be a very interesting discipline to work in, although it was definitely tough to give up my advisory offers. I am definitely excited to start this fall and embark on a new chapter in my life.
The rest of this semester should be very fun. We will be having another Winter Gala in the business school, as well as our weekly social events and Thirsty Thursdays. The MSAs and MSFs had a welcome back event at Jose McIntyre's last weekend. It was definitely a great time with free food and drinks, and the turnout was great. It was nice to see our classmates and friends in a setting where we were all having fun and socializing. As part of the GMA, I was able to help organize the event, and I am very glad it turned out to be a big success.
After I graduate, I plan to stay in Boston for the summer, and do the Becker fast-pass at BC to prepare for my CPA exams. I am hoping to take and pass all of them before I start work. Hopefully, I will be able to accomplish this without too much trouble. I already got my books and flashcards from Becker. All the materials and classes were expensed directly to PwC, so it was great. As a student with limited funds, this was really helpful and convenient. The big firms definitely take care of you when it comes to the CPA exams. They will reimburse you for the all the CPA registration and test fees too.
I am definitely looking forward to finishing the program, as my future is set, but I have created some great memories and made some life-long friends here, so I am glad it is not over yet.
So this semester, I am taking Assurance & Consulting Services, Tax & Management Decisions, Law for CPAs, and Financial Statement Analysis. It is a completely accounting-filled curriculum. I finished my MSF last semester, so I have technically graduated with my first degree. All my classes seem very interesting so far, and I have learned quite a bit in the first couple weeks.
I finished recruiting last semester, and I received multiple offers in both the tax and advisory fields of the Big 4. I ultimately decided that it was best to choose the company I felt the best fit with, and that led me to PwC. I will be working in their ISG tax department in New York City next year. It should be a good experience, and I expect to learn a lot quickly. My decision really came down to the culture and the people I met. I just felt comfortable making the decision to join PwC. From the very start, I felt the strongest connection with the company, even over the other Big 4 firms. Many people say they are all the same, but I somehow internally was able to distinguish them. It was a difficult decision, but I believe I made the best decision for myself. I also think tax will be a very interesting discipline to work in, although it was definitely tough to give up my advisory offers. I am definitely excited to start this fall and embark on a new chapter in my life.
The rest of this semester should be very fun. We will be having another Winter Gala in the business school, as well as our weekly social events and Thirsty Thursdays. The MSAs and MSFs had a welcome back event at Jose McIntyre's last weekend. It was definitely a great time with free food and drinks, and the turnout was great. It was nice to see our classmates and friends in a setting where we were all having fun and socializing. As part of the GMA, I was able to help organize the event, and I am very glad it turned out to be a big success.
After I graduate, I plan to stay in Boston for the summer, and do the Becker fast-pass at BC to prepare for my CPA exams. I am hoping to take and pass all of them before I start work. Hopefully, I will be able to accomplish this without too much trouble. I already got my books and flashcards from Becker. All the materials and classes were expensed directly to PwC, so it was great. As a student with limited funds, this was really helpful and convenient. The big firms definitely take care of you when it comes to the CPA exams. They will reimburse you for the all the CPA registration and test fees too.
I am definitely looking forward to finishing the program, as my future is set, but I have created some great memories and made some life-long friends here, so I am glad it is not over yet.
Friday, October 26, 2012
INTERVIEWS
This semester has been pretty insane. My life has been consumed by interviews lately. First rounds were late September and early October, and the past couple weeks have been mostly final rounds.
I have gone through a few final round interviews already. A couple have been in Boston, but I just got back from one in New York City just yesterday. It is nice to have interviews in NYC because the firms treat you very well. They let you expense everything and put you up in a hotel. They also pay for all of your travel expenses. It is definitely great treatment.
I had a great interview experience yesterday. They gave us a great presentation and nice breakfast. Then after our interviews, they had a great networking session and amazing lunch at Pampano. It was definitely a great experience.
Interviews have ranged in difficulty. Technical interviews are always more difficult, but I have enjoyed going through the processes. It is definitely nice to meet new people and make connections.
I still have a couple final rounds to finish including PWC in New York, but I am waiting to hear back from a few good firms like Deloitte and KPMG. I am hoping for good news, but it is definitely nerve-wracking to wait. It is even worse than anticipation and studying for the interviews.
Having classes at the same time has definitely not been easy. It is really a challenge juggling both, especially since you have to miss some classes due to interview schedules. Keeping up is really important.
This weekend should be nice and relaxing due to Halloween parties. I also will be attending the football game against Maryland this Saturday, so it should be a nice breather. At the same time, I really need to study and catch up on some work too. Between work, school, clubs, and interviews, it definitely has been a hectic semester.
My hope is that it will be all worth it in the end!
I have gone through a few final round interviews already. A couple have been in Boston, but I just got back from one in New York City just yesterday. It is nice to have interviews in NYC because the firms treat you very well. They let you expense everything and put you up in a hotel. They also pay for all of your travel expenses. It is definitely great treatment.
I had a great interview experience yesterday. They gave us a great presentation and nice breakfast. Then after our interviews, they had a great networking session and amazing lunch at Pampano. It was definitely a great experience.
Interviews have ranged in difficulty. Technical interviews are always more difficult, but I have enjoyed going through the processes. It is definitely nice to meet new people and make connections.
I still have a couple final rounds to finish including PWC in New York, but I am waiting to hear back from a few good firms like Deloitte and KPMG. I am hoping for good news, but it is definitely nerve-wracking to wait. It is even worse than anticipation and studying for the interviews.
Having classes at the same time has definitely not been easy. It is really a challenge juggling both, especially since you have to miss some classes due to interview schedules. Keeping up is really important.
This weekend should be nice and relaxing due to Halloween parties. I also will be attending the football game against Maryland this Saturday, so it should be a nice breather. At the same time, I really need to study and catch up on some work too. Between work, school, clubs, and interviews, it definitely has been a hectic semester.
My hope is that it will be all worth it in the end!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
SECOND YEAR
So the summer went by quick. I took three accounting courses, Financial Accounting Practice I, Internal Cost Management & Controls, and Strategic Cost & Profitability Analysis, and the pace of the classes were really intense, but I survived. It was a great summer in Boston with warm weather and lots to do. We had a small break before classes started in the fall, so I was able to go home and prepare for the intense subsequent semester.
Since classes have started in the fall, I have been going non-stop. It is definitely a very fast-paced environment now that I am applying to jobs. Even before classes started, the networking events kicked into high gear. I went to multiple information sessions and networking events for the Big Four firms and Grant Thornton during the beginning of the year while taking classes and participating in all my clubs at the same time. It is definitely a lot to handle, but it is nice to stay busy. I am still the MSA/MSF representative on the GMA, so it has been nice participating in that and organizing things for my programs. I am also the captain of the MSA/MSF flag football team, so I have been in the process of finalizing the team to beat the MBAs.
Even though there has been a lot of work, I have tried to stay close to my new classmates. There is a new class of people now that I am in accounting courses. Many of us have definitely developed a close rapport, and we have been out to many Thirsty Thursdays and social events together. I always love meeting new people, and it has been a great time getting to know my new friends.
I am currently taking Federal Taxation and Financial Auditing with Ed Taylor, Financial Accounting II with Gil Manzon, and Financial Policy with Elliott Smith. I have definitely learned a lot so far this semester and I have some great professors with a lot of energy right now. I am never even close to falling asleep in my 9AM class which says a lot about my tax professor.
This upcoming week is going to be very difficult with midterms and interviews. I am definitely nervous about it, but I will be happy when I have gotten through it. It has definitely been an eventful first few weeks of the fall semester, but I am sure it will only get more crazy. And even though I am stressed and nervous about the next month or so, I am excited and looking forward to taking on the challenge!
Since classes have started in the fall, I have been going non-stop. It is definitely a very fast-paced environment now that I am applying to jobs. Even before classes started, the networking events kicked into high gear. I went to multiple information sessions and networking events for the Big Four firms and Grant Thornton during the beginning of the year while taking classes and participating in all my clubs at the same time. It is definitely a lot to handle, but it is nice to stay busy. I am still the MSA/MSF representative on the GMA, so it has been nice participating in that and organizing things for my programs. I am also the captain of the MSA/MSF flag football team, so I have been in the process of finalizing the team to beat the MBAs.
Even though there has been a lot of work, I have tried to stay close to my new classmates. There is a new class of people now that I am in accounting courses. Many of us have definitely developed a close rapport, and we have been out to many Thirsty Thursdays and social events together. I always love meeting new people, and it has been a great time getting to know my new friends.
I am currently taking Federal Taxation and Financial Auditing with Ed Taylor, Financial Accounting II with Gil Manzon, and Financial Policy with Elliott Smith. I have definitely learned a lot so far this semester and I have some great professors with a lot of energy right now. I am never even close to falling asleep in my 9AM class which says a lot about my tax professor.
This upcoming week is going to be very difficult with midterms and interviews. I am definitely nervous about it, but I will be happy when I have gotten through it. It has definitely been an eventful first few weeks of the fall semester, but I am sure it will only get more crazy. And even though I am stressed and nervous about the next month or so, I am excited and looking forward to taking on the challenge!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
SECOND SEMESTER
So second semester has flown by. This semester, I have Derivatives, Fixed Income Analysis, Accounting Information Systems, and Corporate Finance Theory. There are definitely more cases this semester, and the classes are harder than first semester, but it has been a great learning experience. The finance courses are more in depth and at a higher advanced level, so I have learned a lot. The quantitative parts of the cases are definitely difficult, but my groups have provided a great learning experience when analyzing the cases.
As for my accounting class, it has been more about information systems. I've learned a lot about MS Access and MS Excel, so it has definitely made my skills more advanced. This should be very useful in the future.
It is surreal that this semester is almost already over as finals are just in a couple weeks, but at least the weather is getting nicer! I can't wait for the summer!
As for my accounting class, it has been more about information systems. I've learned a lot about MS Access and MS Excel, so it has definitely made my skills more advanced. This should be very useful in the future.
It is surreal that this semester is almost already over as finals are just in a couple weeks, but at least the weather is getting nicer! I can't wait for the summer!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
BACK TO SCHOOL
Time flies when you are having fun!
It is crazy that a whole semester has gone by, but it has definitely been an eventful first semester. My classes last semester included Investments, Corporate Finance, Financial Econometrics, and Management of Financial Institutions. I learned some great financial concepts that I had never learned before. As an undergraduate economics major, it was nice to learn so much about new topics like syndicated lending and security tranching. My favorite parts of classes were definitely when we learned about real-life cases and applied them to the financial concepts. It is a great way of learning, and the professors did a great job of incorporating relevant examples with the concepts.
It was definitely a little strange going back to school from work, but it has also been a lot of fun. The culture is different, but I have made a lot of new friends and colleagues. The experience is priceless, and you never know who you will meet and how they will affect you. The students at Carroll are definitely very unique and engaging.
I joined a lot of clubs my first semester at BC. One of these included the Graduate Management Association. This is basically like the student council run by the graduate business programs at Carroll. We organize social events and take care of financing, club activities, and general business school issues. We are also a voice for the students at the Carroll Graduate School of Management.
Some cool events that the GMA planned for the first semester were the 7-week and 14-week parties, which are scheduled specifically after testing periods so that people can relax and let loose. These are usually organized at special places around Boston. The GMA also plans a Thirsty Thursday event every week where you can catch up with classmates and enjoy yourself. Another great activity from first semester was our charity Toys For Tots event. This was a nice beer pong/flip cup tournament and the entry fee was a toy per person. We made all the donations to Toys For Tots. The graduate students at Carroll definitely know how to study, but they know how to have fun too.
This past weekend, the graduate school just had their annual gala at the State Room in Boston. It was a beautiful venue with an amazing view. Great food and drinks, a rocking dj, and amazing desserts headlined the night. There were even midnight snacks that included sliders and fries! Definitely a great event where everyone was able to have a classy, upscale night in a laidback, relaxed environment.
Currently, the MSA and MSF representatives on the GMA are planning an event at Harpoon Brewery on February 24th. It should be a good time for the younger students and smaller programs in the graduate business school to bond and get to know each other.
All in all, it's been a really eventful graduate school experience so far. I'll fill you in on more updates in the future. For now, stay fresh!
It is crazy that a whole semester has gone by, but it has definitely been an eventful first semester. My classes last semester included Investments, Corporate Finance, Financial Econometrics, and Management of Financial Institutions. I learned some great financial concepts that I had never learned before. As an undergraduate economics major, it was nice to learn so much about new topics like syndicated lending and security tranching. My favorite parts of classes were definitely when we learned about real-life cases and applied them to the financial concepts. It is a great way of learning, and the professors did a great job of incorporating relevant examples with the concepts.
It was definitely a little strange going back to school from work, but it has also been a lot of fun. The culture is different, but I have made a lot of new friends and colleagues. The experience is priceless, and you never know who you will meet and how they will affect you. The students at Carroll are definitely very unique and engaging.
I joined a lot of clubs my first semester at BC. One of these included the Graduate Management Association. This is basically like the student council run by the graduate business programs at Carroll. We organize social events and take care of financing, club activities, and general business school issues. We are also a voice for the students at the Carroll Graduate School of Management.
Some cool events that the GMA planned for the first semester were the 7-week and 14-week parties, which are scheduled specifically after testing periods so that people can relax and let loose. These are usually organized at special places around Boston. The GMA also plans a Thirsty Thursday event every week where you can catch up with classmates and enjoy yourself. Another great activity from first semester was our charity Toys For Tots event. This was a nice beer pong/flip cup tournament and the entry fee was a toy per person. We made all the donations to Toys For Tots. The graduate students at Carroll definitely know how to study, but they know how to have fun too.
This past weekend, the graduate school just had their annual gala at the State Room in Boston. It was a beautiful venue with an amazing view. Great food and drinks, a rocking dj, and amazing desserts headlined the night. There were even midnight snacks that included sliders and fries! Definitely a great event where everyone was able to have a classy, upscale night in a laidback, relaxed environment.
Currently, the MSA and MSF representatives on the GMA are planning an event at Harpoon Brewery on February 24th. It should be a good time for the younger students and smaller programs in the graduate business school to bond and get to know each other.
All in all, it's been a really eventful graduate school experience so far. I'll fill you in on more updates in the future. For now, stay fresh!
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