Stats on the MBA Class of 2014

The Complete 2014 Business School Ranking has been released, and can be found on this link. For the first time ever, Harvard is not part of the Top 5 and Duke is No. 1! (Also check out how they were ranked.)

It's interesting to see this snapshot of the graduate class I'm part of, courtesy of Bloomberg BusinessWeek. For those of you concerned with the money you have to shell out for your MBA, the ROI of the school could be something to look at.

And, no, I didn't get that $1M signing bonus.

What Business School Does for Your Career 

By Jonathan Rodkin and Francesca Levy November 11, 2014
(Actual infographic can be found on the title link above.) 

Graduated, started a job, now crossing fingers for an H1B

So -- this is it.

Been working for a couple of weeks now after a melange of events that included graduation, out-of-state vacation trips with my parents and my boyfriend, relocation to another state, and lots and lots of packing. I cannot emphasize enough how stressful packing and unpacking can be -- I've been in two temporary apartments in two weeks, and it's really, really awful.

How can Americans be okay with this nomadic lifestyle?! I'm just not used to it.

I've received my first paycheck, and I still have to find a long-term apartment, buy my own car and start another checking account. Depending so much on checks (to purchase a car, to pay apartment deposits) is another thing to get used to.

I'm really proud and happy that I've finished my MBA in flying colors - academic honors, no debt, some extra money after all the vacation expenses. I spent a little more than Php2.5M of my own money; the fellowship plus the money I earned from my internship and my part-time job took care of the rest of my expenses.

I'm a living testament that, yes, it is possible to get your MBA abroad without incurring debt or relying on your family for financial support. Of course, there was a pretty steep price for me to pay - and it started way before I set foot in America, from my very first paycheck.

Now, I'm ready to move on to the next stage. Hopefully, this time next year, I'll have the good news of having an approved H1B work visa. And from there -- who knows?


Thank you very much for supporting my blog and reading my posts. I'm signing off for now,  but will be available to answer questions. Just shoot them at my email pinaymba <at> gmail <dot> com. Thank you once again, and good luck to all Filipino MBA applicants!

Graduation Pics

www.flickr.com

In the Philippines, it's practically a tradition to take graduation portraits before you graduate. Students give wallet-sized portraits away to their friends, writing dedications at the back, and put up larger-sized pictures in frames at home. In the US, I found out that it wasn't as much of a big deal. (At least for grad students.) Why? Because the portraits are so expensive!

The portrait booth was tucked away into a corner during the grad fair. I had to go around twice before I found it. Unlike in the Philippines, there were no make-up artists or hair stylists to assist you. I had asked the photographer how much the portraits would cost, and he was sort of dodging the question. He just told me to let my parents pay for it. Since there was hardly anyone lining up at the hard-to-find booth, I was able to take my time with my portraits. I waited for the link that he said would come, which would take me to the ordering website.

I was really surprised with how much the portraits cost! Since I only had this experience with one provider, I am giving out a disclaimer. But here is a sample of the listed packages:

• Set of 8 wallets - starting at $29.95
• 1 8x 10 photo - starting at $29.95
• 1 5x7 with a presentation folder - starting at $14.95
• 2 5x7s with folders and a jpg of your image - starting at $64.95 (Value Package)
• 1 8x10, 2 5x7s, 8 wallets, folders and a jpg of your image - starting at $79.95 (Standard Package)
• 2 8x10s, 2 5x7s, 4 3x5s, 8 wallets, folders and a jpg of your image - starting at $94.95 (Premium Package)
• 2 8x10s, 4 5x7s, and 8 Wallets - starting at $89.95 (Mix & Match Value Package)
• 1 10x14; 3 8x10s; 10 5x7s; 24 Wallets - starting at $179.95 (Mix & Match Premium Package)
• Single image download (with $10 to spend at an online photo site) - $59.95

The Mix & Match packages mean that you can order different portrait poses from the set you had taken. The rest are only for a single portrait pose. Again, these are only a sample of the packages available; there are more options to choose from.

I was trying to decide whether to content myself with a 5x7 photo (the cheapest option), which I could then scan, but my sister persuaded me to order the 8x10 photo. The prices above are labeled "Starting at..." because you had to shell out more for glossy pictures, for retouched pictures, etc. I chose the matte, non-retouched photo. But I didn't account for shipping (around $6) and taxes!

I procrastinated on ordering because I couldn't get over the price (the gown, cap and hood had sticker shock too). When I finally did (I got the 8x10 photo), I received a coupon code for free shipping! Gah. But I had made a mistake in my order, so I had a valid reason to cancel it. Then I reordered with the free shipping code.

When I got the picture by mail, I saw that they didn't follow the instructions in my order. So I complained, and they sent me another photo for free. A few days later, I had two more photos in my mailbox! I didn't realize that they had sent me the first one by mistake (they had confirmed that they cancelled it anyway). Needless to say - with three portraits for around $30 - I was a very satisfied customer.

10 weeks 'til graduation

Random thoughts today:

> Monday morning, and it's our spring break!! Break started last Friday for me.

> Met an MBA alum on my way to the library. He's an international student who's switching jobs after not-even-a-year. He's going to join a startup after working at a small financial consulting firm. He says he "likes small companies." I wished him good luck!

> It's break, yes, but I am working in the library. It's nice, however, to be working in the library -- getting paid and getting fed (lots of extra food from dissertation camp) -- when most students are away.

> Must remember to get my new I-20 from the International office and mail my OPT application today!

> Need packaging tape to mail a textbook rental back. Ebay in the US is a blessing. There's stuff there that's cheaper than Amazon, Walmart or the dollar store.

> Spending more than I usually do on food with friends, and stuff like ski pants. Trading money for (affordable more-value-for-your-money) memories.

> I need a US driver's license!!! Aaaahhhhhh. Parallel parking, I'll beat you today!

> Double points for Bing Rewards today! Followed it up with Swagbucks! (for more info, follow this link.) I think I've earned around $50 so far with these two sites. Not bad!

> Wondering what to eat for mid-afternoon "lunch."

> Can't wait to know how much my tax refund will be; my tax appointment's next week.

> Wonder what ever happened to No Debt MBA? She stopped writing on her blog since she started her internship. I had been reading it before I came to the US back in 2012. Did she accumulate debt during her second year? Hmm.

> Yes, I'm graduating soon, and I'm feeling lazy, like the stereotypical second-year MBA. Cannot wait to start earning again!

Final stretch!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Now that it's 2014, I'm facing the final stretch -- one semester left before graduation! I'm patting myself on the back for doing well so far, especially on my finances.

It hasn't been easy working while taking my MBA, but I'm nearly done. I've just gone through a highly stressful quarter of academics - with 12 hours of work a week thrown in - and am highly gratified to earn a near flat 4.0. (Yes, I do look at my grades as a way of challenging myself; anyway, I paid good money for my education! As long as I have actually learned something, I'm fine with an A-. Conversely, I feel bad earning an A on a very easy subject where I learned nothing at all.)

I've spent more than Php 2.3 million of my own money so far on my MBA; it amazes me to have spent so much money! (Imagine if I got my MBA in AIM or Ateneo instead!) I am truly grateful for my scholarship, my part-time library job and my internship; without these, I would be drowning in debt right now or probably not be taking my MBA abroad at all.

I'm spending the holidays with my family in the Philippines, and it has been really good to be back. I was able to score a round-trip ticket for the very low price of $1,330-something, in exchange for arriving home on Christmas Day. Not that I mind that much. After all, I still get to go home. (It's just too bad that winter break this year is so much shorter!)

Enjoy the rest of the holidays, and email me at pinaymba@gmail.com for any questions! (And no, I'm still not saying what school I'm in right now.)