BARCELONA, for the books and for the sun!

Sunday, June 11, 2006

I'm in!!!

I got an acceptance letter from IESE 3 days ago, along with another one from Boconni. Wasn't an easy decision to make. Boconni is offering me a scholarship, so the difference in the tuition cost is HUGE. But I always wanted to go to Spain. Twice in high school and college, I was so close to spend a few months studying abroad in Salamanca. Ha, now, finally I got the opportunity to send 2 years and at the same time to gain another degree. Wheeeeeeee! I'm waiting for IESE scholarship decision, but I doubt I'll get any. It's going to be quite a huge burden. Oh well, there are things that money cannot buy. And with all others, there is Master Card.

My parents are more excited about IESE and Barcelona. They have already researched online for places to visit, weather, and even hotels. They are already planning to come during my winter break. (They even know the dates.) My dad even researched the program and the faculty. Seems like he knows more of IESE than I do now.

Why IESE? This is definitely going to be the question in people's minds back in Taiwan. My dad, a b-school professor himself, hadn't heard of it before I applied. I hadn't heard of it until last fall when I decided that I want to get an MBA. Well, simply, I don't want to stay in the States. Spending 14 years in the States and another 12 in Taiwan, I think I'm ready for a change of scenary and go beyond the bubble. Taiwan and the States seem too easy for me. I mean, I can get by easily in different aspects. Not too challenging. I need something that can keep me on my toes. Guess this is the hazard of staying in one's comfort zone too long. Except for the tuition cost, everything of IESE is way too cool. Cool curriculum design, cool faculty, cool international diversity among students AND faculty, cool female students and faculty ration (still low but one of the highest among other European schools), cool course selection, cool career support and post-graduation placement results, cool bilingual degree requirement... and not to mention, cool location. My list of schools that I am applying is quite short resulting from my own long list of criteria.

The application process went smoothly, albeit a bit too long. (Well, that was my fault.) I guess I had a good strategy in trying to sell myself. Very different than what most people in Taiwan would do. (I should go into education consulting someday.) And the best thing that I like about the process was the VC interview. Seriously, it was so much fun. My first time doing a VC. No technical glitches. And I love my interviewer and her questions. Actually all of her questions were unexpected. (Not saying that I didn't prepare.) It was obvious that she spent some time reading my application materials.

Originally I was going to go back to Taiwan after my kayaking/camping trip in July. But because of the visa application process, I have to stay in the States to wait for my passport and visa. *sigh* I have been in Seattle since March. It's getting very boring here. Guess I will have to stay for another 2 months. Well, there are a few things I need to do. Get all the visa applications documents ready and fly down the SF to visit the consulate. (And of course, spend a day or two in SF.) Study Spanish. It has been four years since I last took a Spanish class. Need to review the vocab and grammar. As a language teacher-in training (I just had my last TESL class today) I'm trying to find the most effective way to improve my fluency ASAP. Cannot use the classic method. Automaticity. Automaticity. AUTOMATICITY. Going to take another improv class. And need to start doing some real business article readings. (Need to end my addiction to NY Times.) Oh yeah, and most importantly, send the deposit to secure my seat at IESE!