Personal Updates/2011
From ThePlaz.com
These are my old Personal Updates from 2012.
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2/5/2012 IAP Personal Update
Classes start in only a few days. Let me give you an update about the semester past, my break, IAP, and the semester ahead.
Last Semester
Last semester was my best semester yet. I ended up with a 4.6/5.0 term GPA, despite taking the most units ever - 81 vs 79 last term. I got an A in 6.005, 15.387, 15.665, and STS.011. I got a A- in 6.034 and a B in 6.004 (just barely). I continued to struggle in math, squeaking by 18.03 with a C-. I went through 12.5 reams of paper - producing a 22.5 in stack, versus 19 inches Spring 2011 and 16 inches in Fall 2010. The typed and scanned notes from these class are now online.
Working out a System
Last term I recorded all of the policy and procedures that I have created to allow me to be as productive as I can be. I wrote down my time management, paper shuffling, studying, sleep, and food tips in Working out a System. I also proposed a "kanban" system which would help me and other students stay organized.
High School Papers
Over break I scanned many papers from high school. I scanned the papers I has remaining from 10th and 11th grade. These were the papers that had gotten wet in the flood. About 40% of each year got soaked. Luckily these were the years I had already scanned. I also scanned 9th grade files. Previously, I had added computer files, but no scanned files from 9th grade. 10th and 11th Grade had scanned papers - but most were scanned at pretty bad quality. The old files continue to be spread across image files. The new files continue to be large PDFs from my ScanSnap S1500. Unfortunately Scribd does not process files over 100MB, so you have to download the entire PDF. Look for the link under the Scribd preview.
I believe I forgot to mention in my last update that I added files from middle school. 7th and 8th grade now have typed assignments. I still need to scan my notes from then. Hopefully my basement does not flood again before that!
Chicago
I went to Chicago with Melanie the first week in January. Check out my photos from the trip. I went to the Planetarium, the Aquarium, the Field Museum, the Chicago Theater, the Willis Tower, a Bus tour, the Museum of Science, and the University of Chicago.
AltVil
Over IAP, I worked at Altman Vilandrie & Company as an analyst extern. I worked for 3 weeks on a data center due diligence. The last week I worked on the hospitality strategy for a major cable/satellite provider. I enjoyed the second project much more.
I am already noticing changes of how I look at a situation. For example at a HDC meeting last Wednesday, I felt like I was thinking more objectively about how to solve a problem. I thought about building an Excel model to solve a particular problem. I am also more confident with best practices. This was my first job truly in the "big leagues." I also feel like I am thinking more clearly. For example, I am noticing that I often start with a topic sentence that overviews the detail points and then I dive deeper into each of the points. Perhaps I always did that, but I seem to be more aware of it now.
My favorite part of the job was piecing the parts of the puzzle together. You're like a detective - always learning more information. And with consulting the whole puzzle starts fresh every month or two. I liked conducting the interviews and discussing the case with my coworkers. On the flip side, consultants are very aware about little issues - like how much to contact someone or phrase things. After seeing it, I think it does help in appearing professional and getting work done, but it is just something to learn. I think I certainly learned and got better at that as the job went on, but it irked me. It's just not my current personality.
I'm not sure what job I want to do after school. I still need to figure out where my competitive advantage is. So far I have tried coding, consulting, and next summer I will try product management again.
Disney
As I talked about in my last update, I have accepted a position at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online next summer. Parks and Resorts Online is the internet sales and marketing channel for the Disney parks, cruise ships, and guided tour businesses. I'm excited to get to work as a product manager. This has historically (ie. before MIT) been my dream job - so I will see what it is actually like. I ended up doing something similar at Deutsche Bahn on Touch&Travel.
I'm particular exited to get to work so close with Imagineering - which is the high temple of theme park design. As a kid I used to think a lot about experience design, floorplans, branding, etc to create an immersive experience. Disney is known worldwide as the pinnacle of branding/experience design. In middle school, I was involved in theater. After going to MIT and doing management consulting, I want to reinvigorate that creative spirit. Now, this is still a pretty much a "business job," but I hope to get to work with creative people.
ThePlaz.com
Speaking of what I have done before, I have written or tuned up many pages on ThePlaz.com about things that I have done in the past. I added pages or added content to pages about places I have lived, MIT committees, theater, and my websites.
Next Semester
I have planned out a draft schedule for next semester. I have 18 classes left to graduate. I have I have to take 18.06 Linear Algebra (it's about matrices); I'll probably do poorly on that. Next I'm taking 6.006 Introduction to Algorithms. I am particularly interested in this class because most of the computer programmer interviews ask these sorts of questions. I am also taking the required 6.033 Computer System Engineering. I have no idea what that is about - but it's required. I am also taking an AUS 6.813 User Interface Design and Implementation because it fit into my schedule and it sound the most interesting. On the management side I am taking 15.571 Business Strategy and the Role of IT, one of the classes for the Sloan IT concentration. In addition, I've been interested in how IT can help big companies streamline while providing better service. I am also hoping to take 15.053 Optimization Methods in Management Science. I can't make the recitation, so this would be the first class I drop. I am taking 15.301 Managerial Psychology Laboratory, a required, basic course 15 class that I have not managed to take yet. Rounding it out, I am hoping to get into 17.50 Introduction to Comparative Politics a HASS-D #4 class to fill the second of my 3 HASS D slots.
I am concerned that my schedule this semester is too heavy on math, which I have traditionally spent more time on.
That's all for now. It's time to get geared up for the next semester. --ThePlaz 16:57, 5 February 2012 (EST)
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