GRADUATE STUDENTS OF NT

Just had an advisory committee meeting yesterday. It went well, but it showed me that I still have a lot of work to do before I can submit a publication and defend my thesis. For all my fellow grad students, keep grinding. It's not easy, but we'll get there.

Frank 7he T4nk said:

Didn't you still graduate with a high GPA?

You're on to better things anyways.

Click to expand...

3.5

i got some things in the works doe!!

its gonna take a while... but if i can turn some revenue, i'm gonna be

ElderWatsonDiggs said:

[COLOR=#red]First day of school at A&M. One more year till $110k a year Leggo!![/COLOR]

Click to expand...

what program are you in?

The TAMU people hit me up the other day...

Man do you dudes reuse your papers from an older class?

DCAllAmerican said:

Man do you dudes reuse your papers from an older class?

Click to expand...

I'm just starting but I definitely forsee myself doing this in the near future from my undergraduate work; I don't see why not.

sup nt fam, i'm considering grad school for master of science in finance and i have a couple of concerns. one is my low undergrad gpa which i think i can make up for with a higher GMAT. i'm thinking about taking some in-person manhattan prep classes, what are your thoughts on that. also, the program will cost about 50k :x , what did you guys do about the cost of tuition? i'm probably going to get a loan out and pray to get some scholarships. do anybody have any advice in that regards.

friscostylez said:

sup nt fam, i'm considering grad school for master of science in finance and i have a couple of concerns. one is my low undergrad gpa which i think i can make up for with a higher GMAT. i'm thinking about taking some in-person manhattan prep classes, what are your thoughts on that. also, the program will cost about 50k :x , what did you guys do about the cost of tuition? i'm probably going to get a loan out and pray to get some scholarships. do anybody have any advice in that regards.

Click to expand...

i got my MS finance.

did it in 2 years.. going part time and taking classes every semester.

got in w/ a dumb low GPA.

what school are you planning on going to?

WhatCanISay said:

strength of materials, thermodynamics

Click to expand...

**** these topics

WhatCanISay said:

My old notes are my pride and joy. Literally 100's of hours of work in each book.
I keep them incase I need to pull them out for a future class or simply for mirin' my work. (dead srs)

Things like geology

No way I'm writing over any of that.

Click to expand...

[COLOR=#Red]Little known fact about a subject most people look past when in college. Geology specifically Petroleum Geology is the only major besides petroleum engineering where a person makes over $100k PLUS signing bonus fresh out of school with only 6 years of school (Bachelors,and Masters). The crazy part is for most companies you are in training for at least a year, some 2 years. That means banking 6 figures right out of school and youre technically not even really working yet.

Biz degrees can make 6 figures out of school but not guaranteed, med school takes forever plus you only make around $40-$50k as a resident, Law school takes 7 years to complete if you include undergrad time and even then you have to go to a top tier school to break $100k.

The work isn't too hard and with a Masters degree you aren't working out in the field on oil rigs, you are in a nice office working with data collected out in the field with every other Friday off. [/COLOR]

Fontaine said:

i got my MS finance.

did it in 2 years.. going part time and taking classes every semester.

got in w/ a dumb low GPA.

what school are you planning on going to?

Click to expand...

I'm looking at USC, UT-Austin and Santa Clara. A couple of big things that is kinda bothering me are the 50k price tag and how they don't want you to work full-time while you're in school because it's an accelerated 1 year program. Did you just pay out of pocket? What are your thoughts on your MSF experience and how it helped your career?

DCAllAmerican said:

Man do you dudes reuse your papers from an older class?

Click to expand...

ABSOLUTELY. You can't plagiarize yourself. It would behoove you to work smart in that way. I reused an 'A' paper just last semester.






Just an update on my journey.... been pulling straight A's since day one and I'll be finished in the Spring. I've been putting in hella work. Staying late, helping others, really staying in the successful, networking mind-state. And I've been cool with all of my teachers. I really hope they ask me to speak at graduation. That's my tentative goal.

Freeze said:

ABSOLUTELY. You can't plagiarize yourself. It would behoove you to work smart in that way. I reused an 'A' paper just last semester.






Just an update on my journey.... been pulling straight A's since day one and I'll be finished in the Spring. I've been putting in hella work. Staying late, helping others, really staying in the successful, networking mind-state. And I've been cool with all of my teachers. I really hope they ask me to speak at graduation. That's my tentative goal.

Click to expand...

You sure? They consider it academic fraud at my school if you reuse a paper for another class.

DCAllAmerican said:

Freeze said:

ABSOLUTELY. You can't plagiarize yourself. It would behoove you to work smart in that way. I reused an 'A' paper just last semester.






Just an update on my journey.... been pulling straight A's since day one and I'll be finished in the Spring. I've been putting in hella work. Staying late, helping others, really staying in the successful, networking mind-state. And I've been cool with all of my teachers. I really hope they ask me to speak at graduation. That's my tentative goal.

Click to expand...

You sure? They consider it academic fraud at my school if you reuse a paper for another class.

Click to expand...

Really? I wonder how? Have they expressed it in words exactly how they consider it fraud? Or is it implied? I mean, it's my work, I can use it how I choose. I suppose a lot depends on how you turn it in as well. A hard copy over a virtual copy. A hard copy would be harder to trace I suspect.

friscostylez said:

sup nt fam, i'm considering grad school for master of science in finance and i have a couple of concerns. one is my low undergrad gpa which i think i can make up for with a higher GMAT. i'm thinking about taking some in-person manhattan prep classes, what are your thoughts on that. also, the program will cost about 50k

, what did you guys do about the cost of tuition? i'm probably going to get a loan out and pray to get some scholarships. do anybody have any advice in that regards.

Click to expand...

I am in the same boat as you with the GPA but my Master will be in Food Science. Magoosh was very helpful for me, I do plan to score high on my GRE along with excellent letter of recommendation.

friscostylez said:

I'm looking at USC, UT-Austin and Santa Clara. A couple of big things that is kinda bothering me are the 50k price tag and how they don't want you to work full-time while you're in school because it's an accelerated 1 year program. Did you just pay out of pocket? What are your thoughts on your MSF experience and how it helped your career?

Click to expand...

i went to a much cheaper and lower ranked program.... so i paid out of pocket...

few more questions:

1. age? work experience?
2. plan on getting an MBA?
3. career plans?
4. where da yambs at in cali? i want one of them philipino, malaysian, or asian chicks...

Freeze said:

Really? I wonder how? Have they expressed it in words exactly how they consider it fraud? Or is it implied? I mean, it's my work, I can use it how I choose. I suppose a lot depends on how you turn it in as well. A hard copy over a virtual copy. A hard copy would be harder to trace I suspect.

Click to expand...

you cant reuse them because it goes against the integrity of the assignment...

only problem is they have to prove that you copied it word for word...

anybody that gets hit w/ plagiarism is a GODDAMB fool, though..

Like... you can literally take a paper, reword it, throw some of your own flavor in and BONG... you got yourself a new paper.

[COLOR=#red]I highly advise you guys seek out already successful mentors. A lot of the times they can help steer you in the right direction and help you to make more efficient decisions for your future. For example at one point I was thinking about getting an MBA after undergrad, as a matter of fact I actually visited Southern Cal's B School and spoke with an admissions counselor while I was on a business trip in LA.

My mentor gave me the advice of eventually furthering my education as a geoscientist because in his words "It's easier for a scientist to become a businessman than it is for a businessman to become a scientist." Now that I look back that made perfect sense...when I get on with one of these oil companies they'll pay for my MBA and then I'll have the opportunity to move into the executive ranks since I'll have both the science and business background.

I know we are all our own men and make our own decisions, but a successful mentor can help you be a better you.[/COLOR]

BTW WhatCanISay, that shiny mineral that's labeled #5 in your photo is Mica...I'm sure you got that one right

WhatCanISay said:

You can't be that general, when dealing with geology lol.

Just letting you know what it was. Don't know why you're so insecure and defensive lol.

I'm an Engineer.

Click to expand...

[COLOR=#red]
Come on dude, why are you going there in a very positive thread. Far from insecure and defensive bro, I go to one of the top 2 petro geo schools in the nation with a 7% acceptance rate in the program no need to be insecure. You said it yourself the picture wasn't so clear is why I was general with my description of it as a Mica which it is.

But seriously why even bring negativity to this thread my dude?[/COLOR]

Fontaine said:

i went to a much cheaper and lower ranked program.... so i paid out of pocket...

few more questions:

1. age? work experience?
2. plan on getting an MBA?
3. career plans?
4. where da yambs at in cali? i want one of them philipino, malaysian, or asian chicks...

Click to expand...

1. 23 turning 24, i worked almost 2 years.
2. yes, i want to go to a top25 program so i wouldn't apply until 4-6 years down the road. the MSF is just to get recruited again.
3. this is a tough one, since I am always interested in so many careers but i find management consulting and private equality the most interesting and appealing careers down the road. Eventually I want to take over and rule the world but we are just talking baby steps right now
4. Pretty much any major city in cali and suburbans surrounding the city.

WhatCanISay said:

1) I was giving your school props when I mentioned that it was hosting the steel bridge competition.

I go to one of the top 4 engineering schools in my state, which include Princeton.

2) You asked me if I got it right with a " ", and I did. If I would've wrote "Mica" down he probably would've laughed at me.
Notice I said "not quite".

Then I told you why it was hard to determine the type of mineral it was, and you still felt like I was attacking you, when I was trying to work with you.
I'm not the one bringing negativity in this thread. I just write stuff down and people who feel intimidated by me take it in a completely different way.

That is not my fault.
Moving on.

Click to expand...

[COLOR=#red]Oh so now you think I was intimidated by you? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Thanks for the laugh homie, that was actually a positive thing you did.

For me to get to where I'm at now I've had to pass many Rock/Mineral labs homie and my Major GPA as well as Cumulative was a 3.9 As a matter of fact that's stuff that's done in GEO 101. [/COLOR]

friscostylez said:

1. 23 turning 24, i worked almost 2 years.
2. yes, i want to go to a top25 program so i wouldn't apply until 4-6 years down the road. the MSF is just to get recruited again.
3. this is a tough one, since I am always interested in so many careers but i find management consulting and private equality the most interesting and appealing careers down the road. Eventually I want to take over and rule the world but we are just talking baby steps right now
4. Pretty much any major city in cali and suburbans surrounding the city.

Click to expand...

ok...

sounds like you're where i was 2 years ago, except i didnt have any work exp and was a bit younger.

1. you're fine w/ your age and work exp, as most MS programs dont require you to have any exp and will be littered with younger kids who came into the program straight out of college.

2. since you want to go to a top 25, you should NOT spend as much money on your MS because you will be spending it on your MBA. the recruiting isnt as hot for MS as compared to MBA because those MBA students tend to have more work experience, but also a better set of skills.

a lot of the time, people that get an MS are either just doing it to get a grasp of Finance and want to dive deeper, or looking to get a PHd and teach later... due to the program being more technical.

MS programs are WAY more deeper into the finance topic than your MBA will cover, and it will have a lot of classes that you cant apply to the business world because it is so techinical. i took a class w/ a bunch of PHD students in the theory of finance.. it was :x

so, you dont HAVE to necessarily take an entire year off and go to an MS program because you're not going to get THAT much further in employment recruiting because the degree is so niche, and you dont have that much work experience.

3. an MBA would be best if you're trying to move into the top tier consulting firms because it's REALLY tough to get in if you dont have the internships or pedigree. its kinda like banking. its hard to just come in cold.

with private equity, its next to impossible (but not IMPOSSIBLE) to go straight in without some kind of IB experience because in IB, you get that transaction experience. you could possible come from a corporate development or top tier consultant role, but that's tough too.

4. good to know.




I would say you just go to a cheaper program that you can afford without taking a complete year off from work with missed salary. you can still obtain the knowledge and save a bunch of bucks b/c the MBA is what's REALLY going to count.

the MS will be a good resume booster, but it wont hurt you if you dont get it.

i got the MS because i had NO prior finance experience, and it helped me get into my current corporate finance position, but I think i would have gotten it no matter what program i was in,. They just liked me and needed cheap labor. haha.

with two years experience, you can do a part time program in 1.5 to 2 years from a cheap regional school and really learn what you want to learn...

from there, you can take 3-6 months, study and knock your gmat out the park... by then you'd have a full 5 years experience and be a prime candidate for a NICE MBA... and not be in debt a bunch more.

there's no reason to take time off from school twice.


my plan was similar to what you want... i'm halfway through and this knowledge is what i've gathered from internships, networking, different blogs, recruiters, and bankers themselves...

my plan was:

1. fresh out of undergrad, i went straight into the MS program
2. i was able to secure a financial analyst job at a fortune 15 company 1 year into the program b/c i was going part time, and was able to network
3. i graduated WHILE working. boss was super understanding of days i had to leave early to make it to class, like at 4:30. corporate finance is really chill except for closing times so that's why i was able to do it. if i would have been an IB analyst or something more demanding, it may have taken me more time to finish.
4. i plan on going into a top tier MBA program in 2 to 3 years. by then my rezzy will have
-an MS in finance
-4 to 5 years of post graduate experience
-3 to 4 years of corporate finance experience
-a promotion at my job (they really like to see that stuff)
-a small consulting firm that i created post graduating with a couple classmates

5. use the MBA to transition into the IB... they come in as post grad associates. many guys tend to leave IB pretty quickly b/c they weren't expecting it to be what it was, and it isnt as glamorous.... plus you will have to be watching over cats straight out of undergrad that's been doing the job longer than you. its a tough relationship, but i'm willing to try and fight though it .

or

5a. us the MBA TO transition into consulting. both are REALLY competitive fields so you cant go in undecided... because i would be competing against guys who have actually BEEN IN IB for 2 to 4 years already...



another route is to get the CFA... its WAY cheaper and really valuable. its a good resume builder and might be a cheaper, yet valuable option that will show you a lot of love to recruiters. it will help more if going into IB, then PE.

i've tinkered between taking it and not taking it... but it can be REALLY valuable. if you go the MS route, you will start to build your network... CFA is strong, but again, you're doing it by yourself.

however, you enter into a different world when it comes across a company's or PE firm's desk because you do have it...

the MBA is how you make the transition, though.. CFA wont do it...

I think it's funny how you guys cite such obscure "top 10" rankings, but anyways, what kind of engineers are you guys? I'm an EE and started in power (About 3 yrs ago), recently transitioned to program management, hoping to be done with school in about 5 yrs (masters of eng + MBA) and move on to either energy/tech firm management or consulting (will let the MBA and experience guide me to an extent).

We'll see, but for now I'm grateful for working with an employer that pays all of my school bills.

Just throwing it out there but I think location can play a significant role in career development (if you take advantage of it), since I've been in DC, I've been exposed to A LOT, and this area is far from a thriving market for engineers

Also agree about having the engineering/science foundation as a launching pad to business related careers, although executive level relies heavy on leadership and soft skills as well

WhatCanISay said:

Didn't know GEO 101 existed, but ok.

Don't even know how to respond to that lulz.
Don't laugh too hard "homie"

Take the L. You tried to sound educated in a particular field, and failed. I'm not even a geologist and I would never make such an ignorant statement.

Click to expand...

[COLOR=#red]Let me reiterate something Mr 4th in the State Engineering program I got accepted into a Top 2 in the NATION program that is highly selective. Sit and think on that. I also got recruited to come to Columbia's Climatology program which in case you don't know is an Ivy League school. Yes I'm just dripping with ignorance. If you're so smart why didn't you go to a better school bro? 4th in State isn't much to brag about to be honest. Just sayin [/COLOR]