End of the Quarter

The UN tour was not held last Friday. I had misunderstood the date and the tour will instead be taking place this Friday. I was positively surprised by that because a blizzard hit New York last Thursday, which made travelling a pain in the neck.

Things are really coming together now at school. I only have two more weeks after this one left before the quarter ends. I have two presentations, one test, one quiz, and a paper left to hand in. It sounds like more than what it really is.

Apart from attending the UN tour on Friday, I will also meet my girlfriend’s friends. We are going to have a dinner in their home somewhere in Manhattan. I hope to be able to study because my last exam for my new products development is next week.

I do not worry too much about this exam. I scored 20 out of 20 so far on the tests so I should be fine even if I get a D on the next test. However, I always try to do my best and I do not like to receive scores below A.

I have an assignment that is due today. It consists of an internal factor evaluation analysis. I personally felt that it was much more difficult to execute the internal analysis compared to the external one. It involves ratio analysis, core competencies, and other factors, which the company has control over.

It is difficult to find good and valid information for this kind of analysis. Unlike external evaluations where information about the economy, industry growth rates, and other external factors are easy to find, internal issues are not very well known and it therefore requires people to have greater analytical skills and extensive knowledge about the company.

I have a presentation tomorrow. I have been waiting to finish this presentation for weeks now and it will feel great to get it over with. My group works okay together but I would prefer doing it alone. For example, one of my group members emailed me today and requested some information to be changed. It is agonizing when someone asks you for changes a day before the presentation will take place.

I had a group meeting in my new products development class yesterday. We finally were able to assign tasks to everyone. Each group member was assigned something to do and we will meet again in about a week so that we can put everything together. We are six people in the group, which is quite a lot but that means each person only have to talk for about four minutes during the presentation. That is definitely a benefit.

UN

I got back my midterm in business strategy and policy. I was not too nervous about getting it back, but I was definitely excited because the midterm counts for 30% of the total grade. There are no make-up exams or extra credit available.

I got 98 out of 100 on the exam and this definitely felt great. I am pretty much safe now because there are no more tests for this class. Instead, we have a final project to turn in. This project will be created by putting all our weekly assignments together and I have been doing a pretty good job so far.

I do not have a class today and that feels great. I normally have organizational behavior on Wednesday but as I have said before, it is a hybrid class that takes place online most of the time. So far, I am in very good shape grade wise.

The professor posted an extra credit assignment last week, which I finished in about ten minutes. I believe most students spent more time than this to try to figure out how to answer the question. However, I found a few great sources online and was, apparently, the only student receiving the extra credit.

The professor posted an announcement today on blackboard telling everyone that I received the credits. This is very motivating although I did not really need it. I now have more than 100% for my total score in this class and I definitely feel safe in terms of getting an A.

I need to post an answer to a question on blackboard today, which is fairly complex. Other than that, I will relax when I come home. I have had a busy week and I definitely want to relax some before I start to work on required assignments.

I got tickets for Friday’s United Nations tour. I was able to get to school before the person in charge of the tickets left and this made me very glad. I am looking forward to see and hear what it is like inside the building and I hope to learn something along the way.

I do not think we will be that many attending the tour. I only saw a few other people on the list and this is a good thing because it becomes more personal that way. I am going together with my girlfriend and she was actually the one pushing me to get the tickets. Berkeley College offers great deals sometimes and this was certainly one of them.

Group Issues

I am having a few issues with uploading pictures at the moment but I promise that I will find a solution to this as soon as I can. I understand that many readers enjoy the pictures and if somebody has any special wishes for a picture, let me know.

It is finally raining. This is something I have been looking forward to because it helps to exterminate the snow. Like I mentioned before, I am looking forward to spring. It seems like this has been a very rough winter all over the world.

Sweden saw one of its worst winters this year with almost the whole country being affected by the snow. Trains are constantly cancelled and people have to deal with slush on a regular basis. It is interesting to see that Sweden many times deal with the snow in a poorer way than New York since Sweden is known for its cold winters.

I will get back my exam and assignment today for my business strategy and policy class. I am definitely looking forward to this. I am uncertain how well I did on the test but I do have a feeling that I got an A. However, this is very hard to determine since I have not had this professor since my first quarter and I do not remember how he corrects his tests.

I am having difficulties with my group in my new products development class. Apparently, a sixth girl joined the group but only five people are allowed per group. No one wants to be the devil in this case, but is necessary.

We are currently trying to find solution to the problem. Personally, I think it is rather easy. The girl who joined as a sixth person should find another group. I do not know her so someone else will have to tell her this. I am still waiting for a decision to be made but unless something happen before Thursday this week, I will take things into my own hands.

It is a quite stressful situation actually. We only have four weeks to finish the project and not having a group yet or knowing what will happen is agonizing. I do not see fairness in kicking anyone except the sixth person out, especially since she quietly assumed that she was in our group. This is definitely a situation of poor leadership because no one has really taken control. I believe that it is just a matter of time before someone does just that.

Sun Tzu

I have not been as busy as I was last week, which has been nice, but I guess I have some caching up to do since I postponed a few assignments. Actually, my professor postponed an assignment but I usually finish them as soon as I can.

We watched a documentary about Sun Tzu last week in my business strategy and policy class. I have to admit that it was quite a slow film but it definitely had a few good points. Sun Tzu is the writer of the book “The Art of War,” which has been used, not only for war tactics, but also in business practices.

I was looking forward to get back my assignment and the midterm but the professor had not gone over them yet. This really disappointed me but I guess I have to give the professor a break since it was his birthday that weekend.

I was expecting to have a presentation last Wednesday. This presentation was supposed to take place two weeks ago but class cancelled due to the blizzard. The professor also decided to cancel last week’s class. The reason was that he felt that he could not penalize students because of the snowstorm. The first class we had, he set up a schedule and on what days we would have classes on campus. The presentation will therefore be postponed to March 3rd since last week’s class was not scheduled.

I am okay with this because I did not have much time to prepare for it. However, I do like to get things over with. It is also difficult sometimes to coordinate with my group members because we have classes at different times so the only way of communication is by phone or email.

My class in new products development went on as normal last week. We had three cases to prepare for and three chapters to read. That is a lot of pages to study especially since we had to read five chapters for last class to prepare for a test.

I skimmed through the pages and did not really go in dept on what was in the book. Other students did not seem to be better prepared, which was reflected in the discussion we had on our cases. However, most students always try to do their best so we were able to discuss some interesting points that touched subjects from that week’s chapters. It is all about being creative.

The Berkeley Advantage

One major advantage of Berkeley College is that of its location. This, together with its placement guarantees, offers students huge opportunities. Berkeley College has several campuses but the primary one is located in Midtown Manhattan.

There is also one campus located in Downtown Manhattan and a few other ones in Upstate New York and in New Jersey. I am attending the Midtown Manhattan campus, which probably, is the most diverse campus.

I am not sure if I have to say this but I will do so anyway. New York City is, without a doubt, the business capital of the world. Major companies are headquartered in New York because of its diversity, access to markets, and favorable operating conditions.

This means that students have huge possibilities of establishing relationships with these companies. Business people are seen all over the city and this is of huge inspiration to almost every student that I have talked to.

There are also major opportunities in terms of volunteer work. The International Organization arranged a trip to Haiti and many students volunteer at tax firms, parades, and Red Cross events. Volunteer work is important not only because it shows that students were active during their time as students, but also because it is a requirement for many graduate schools.

I have not been able to do any volunteer work because of my internship and job at Berkeley College. I do not see this as a problem though as an internship is import as well. Some students only focus on studying and only complete the required three month internship their last quarter. This is okay but it is definitely recommended engage in addition activities since it gives students an advantage.

Technology is another advantage of Berkeley College. The school uses the latest technology and has projectors in all classrooms. In math classes, it is also common for professors to use a certain device, which let them draw digitally on a small tablet while the picture is projected onto a big screen. This is very useful since professors can show all students how to solve certain mathematical problems.

Laptops are also available in the library. In addition, students are allowed to bring their own laptops and use them in classrooms so that they can take notes easier. Some students also bring digital dictionaries so that they can look up words during presentations and similar. Having access to the latest technology is definitely helpful.

Trip to the United Nations

Berkeley College’s international division is arranging a group tour of the United Nations. I have never taken this tour, although I know that most tourists have. I definitely plan to attend together with my girlfriend because the price is very reasonable.

The tour will take place on Friday and I hope to get tickets soon. The problem is that I will have to go to my school to pick up the tickets. The person in charge of the event is not available after 5 PM and I can only be there after 5.30 PM because of work.

I went to Berkeley College’s Facebook page today and asked the international division how to solve this. This is a great way to communicate with the school. They usually respond within hours and sometimes within a few minutes.

I should get back my midterm for my business strategy and policy class tomorrow. I am definitely looking forward to this. I will also get back an external factor analysis that I completed. I am currently working on an internal factor analysis so getting back my external assignment will definitely help me to decide whether I should continue to work in the same way or not.

Merging the internal factor analysis with the external analysis pretty much serves as a SWOT analysis. However, the factor analysis goes more in-depth by putting weights on the mentioned criteria. This helps to decide whether the business in question is above or below the industry average.

It is definitely an interesting class and I am positive that what we learn will be very useful in future job assignments. People can actually make a lot of money by working as strategic analyst. It involves heavy research and distinctive analyses, which this class prepares us for.

We will discuss a case in tonight’s marketing logistics class. The case is six pages and comes from a real business. The article deals with supply chain management and is definitely interesting. I have not gotten the chance to write down notes and key terms from the case yet but I will try doing so before the class starts today.

It feels like the spring is getting closer. We had 44 degrees in the city today. Unfortunately, it is forecasted to snow again in a few days. I am definitely getting tired of the winter and I am looking forward to sitting outside eating lunch or studying. What I am not looking forward to is the summer, which always is way too hot in New York.

Berkeley College

I want to talk some more about Berkeley College and the “Berkeley Advantage” as we call it. I have talked about language and math requirements and a conclusion would be that it should not be seen as a problem.

The biggest reason for this is that most students have been studying English for at least two years. There are some students from countries that do not teach English in school. These students have therefore taken private English classes for about one year or more. Their English is not perfect but that is why they go to school.

Berkeley College understands that English is important to master and that most students need help to polish their vocabulary, accent, or fluency. Courses therefore focus on much more than just business theory. Courses like oral communication, writing skills, and literature are all included either as electives or requirements.

Another advantage is Berkeley College’s guarantee of finding internships to all students. This is not just a goal. It is a fact. All students are offered an internship. A separate division helps students to build their resumes, practice for interviews, and locate an attractive business.

Over 90% of students last quarter found a job within their major after graduation. It is important to remember that we are in an economic recovery these days so these numbers are particularly remarkable. Unemployment is marginally less than 10% and to have nine out of ten students employed after graduation, is an excellent result.

The international division at Berkeley College is also exceedingly helpful. They guide new students and help them step by step. Students sit down individually with advisors their first quarter to make their schedule. Everything is explained and all questions are answered.

Berkeley College also has organizations that are run by students. One organization is the “International Organization,” in which I am the treasurer. We organize events, trips, and meet new people every week. Students from all over the world are members in this organization and everyone brings something new and interesting to discuss.

Atlantic City

I went to Atlantic City with my girlfriend yesterday. A roundtrip only cost $20 from Chinatown and the ticket included a $50 voucher that could be used in two different casinos.

Atlantic City was smaller than I thought but I guess it looks more spectacular at night. The casinos and people definitely reminded me of Las Vegas though. I hope to go back there again soon.

It was not possible to redeem the vouchers for cash. Instead, we had to play the slot machines for $25 and a table game for the other $25. I actually won $26 at the slot machine and my girlfriend won another $10.

After gambling for a while, we went to check out the buffet. It was definitely not bad and had a lot of great dishes to offer. I particularly liked the freshly cut lamb and the mashed potatoes. Other dishes that we enjoyed included mussels, pork wings, fish, cake, and ice cream.

We actually did not plan to use the other $25 vouchers because that would require us to gamble another $25 in order to use it. However, I came up with an idea on how we could liquefy our two remaining vouchers.

The idea was to have my girlfriend bet on black while I bet on red. That way, we would almost secure a victory. One of us would, of course, lose but the other would win $25. That way, we would only lose $25 of our own money while the other would get back $75.

However, when we approached the table, we were told that with the vouchers we had, we could only bet on the number 1-19, even numbers, or the color of red. This definitely changed things and we were suddenly exposed to the risk of losing $50.

However, we decided to go with it and my girlfriend actually won while I lost. So, in practice, our strategy was successful and we were able to liquefy our vouchers. It pretty much paid for lunch in other words.

We plan to go back to Atlantic City in the spring. It was too cold for a walk on the boardwalk this time although that was something that I really wanted to do.

Contemporary Teaching

I just came home from my new products development class. The test was definitely something else this time. Instead of actually having a written exam, the professor encouraged a discussion, while most of us thought he was just asking us for topics that he would later test us on.

No one really understood the professor’s intentions the first hour of class. However, as time went on, my group started to suspect the purpose of the discussion. It was actually a really interesting class to participate in.

It felt like a very contemporary class. It was almost like one of those movies where the professor comes up with an excellent way of teaching. I feel that this class is getting more and more interesting. The professor is definitely on top of his game.

I quite honestly felt a little upset in the beginning of the class when everyone was yelling out suggestions to the test. I thought that many suggestions were vague on not very well composed.

I felt that many students were not thinking through their suggestions and to me, it complicated things. I felt very confused in the beginning about various topics and what I had read in the book did not seem to connect with what students discussed.

However, I talked about this and together, we all reached truly important conclusions. It felt like all of us met half way, and we were really able to come up with excellent answers to certain issues.

What is interesting is that the professor knows this. This class could not have come at a better time in my schedule. Most students have a thorough understanding of marketing and the professor’s incentive is clear: to teach us how to think like a marketer.

This is truly working. Our discussion really involved topics that were mentioned in the chapters that we were supposed to study for the test. Although the book talks a lot about certain concepts and forecasting methods, it is important to remember that everything is tentative and that most methods are estimate.

It is therefore important to learn how to think like a marketer and know how to come up with the best ways of evaluating, developing, and launching an idea. This is a class that goes beyond of what any textbook can teach students, and it is a truly interesting class to be part of.

About Berkeley College

As mentioned earlier, I would like to talk about what future Berkeley College students should expect from the school. I get many emails form people who are worried about whether they have the right qualifications or not. I can tell people right now that most persons do.

Many worry that their English is not good enough. This is, many times, an unnecessary thought. Berkeley College has excellent English classes and also offer free tutoring for students who need help with any of the classes he or she is attending.

Before classes start for new students, they will have to complete one test in match and one test in English. This is nothing to worry about. Falling below a certain point level simply means that student has to take one or two extra courses in that subject. In addition, these grades will not be reflected on their transcript or affect their GPA.

These tests simply serve as guidance to Berkeley College and, most of all, students so that they will be ready for more demanding classes in the future. For example, I did not do well on the math test because I am simply not that good in math.

However, the extra class added to my scheduled helped me to understand the basics of what we would be working with in future classes. This helped me to quickly adapt to classes that otherwise would be very difficult for me to pass. I have taken all required math classes now and I got an A in every single one of them.

Many are also worried that they will not understand the textbook material. Therefore, I wanted to share with you a typical textbook that is used at Berkeley College. On Amazon, people can peak inside a book to get a taste of what it is like. You can access it by clicking on the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Small-Business-Management-Launching-Entrepreneurial/dp/0324827830/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265907445&sr=8-1.

It is perfectly normal not to understand every single word in the book. Not even Americans do that. As an international student you may have to use a dictionary so that you can get used to words that you were previously not familiar with.

Classes at Berkeley College are small with approximately twenty-five to thirty-five people per class.  This is a great advantage and allows for direct communication with professors. In addition, the professors are very experienced and are always ready to help students succeed.

I will try to post more blogs in regards to this topic. I know that many people wonder about these kinds of things and I definitely plan to talk more about requirements and what people can expect from Berkeley College.

Blizzard

A blizzard reached New York yesterday. I was told to stay home and to not go to work, which I was okay with since I have a test tomorrow. The storm will not end until early morning tomorrow so I will work from home.

I may have to go to school tomorrow evening though. I actually hope that the campus is open because I would like to do the test so I do not have to worry about it over the weekend. I do not feel very prepared for it though.

I started to prepare for the test today. Basically, I only have two days to study for it and this time the test will cover five chapters. I do not want to judge the test before taking it like I did last time. I will study as much as I can and I hope to remember as much as possible.

I may go to Atlantic City this weekend. My girlfriend turned 21 yesterday and I want to take her out to a place with an age limit. We will try to find a good weekend package around Chinatown in Manhattan because they usually offer cheap bus rides that include chips that are valid at certain casinos.

I bought her an ice-cream cake yesterday. It was the second time I had that kind of cake actually and it is definitely one of my favorite kinds of cake. I believe it was made by Carvel and I will definitely get another one as soon as there is another occasion to celebrate.

I was supposed to have a presentation tonight in my organizational behavior class. However, Berkeley College closed the campus because of the weather. The school was open earlier today but the blizzard got more serious later in the afternoon, which was the reason for the cancellation.

I feel a little lucky that the blizzard showed up. I had a lot to prepare for this week and studying for three tests is not easy to do. Instead of having a few hours after work, I now have two full days to study. This will certainly help me to achieve better scores on the tests.

I am planning to post a blog to talk a little about Berkeley College and what people should expect. I get many emails from people who are worried about not being good enough or are having troubles finding housing. I would like to talk a little about this because it seems like many, especially Europeans, feel unnecessarily insecure about studying abroad.

Swedish Prejudice

There was a huge snowstorm closing in on the East Coast a few days ago. Luckily, New York City only experienced a couple of inches of snow. It is really cold these days though and I believe there is more snow coming in later this week.

It is funny how intensely Swedish newspapers cover events in the United States. Every time something in regards to stormy weather or craziness happen, Swedish news channels are all over it. Sometimes, I even read about something in New York in a Swedish newspaper before I hear about it in the local news.

I do not know if this is good or bad but I do feel that Swedish newspapers are drawing an unrealistic picture of the United States. People in Sweden only hear about the very unique news and I have definitely noticed an un-American opinion that is based upon this.

Many Swedes see themselves as very open-minded people. The truth is, many times, the opposite. While it is considered racism to say anything negative about minorities, it is generally accepted to publically claim that Americans are stupid, fat, or crazy.

This is probably the number one thing that bothers me about many Swedes. What these types of prejudiced people do not realize, is that much of what they claim is based on the flow of information from news media, which in general is very anti-American in most of Europe.

The hate against America grew even further after SAAB got into trouble. SAAB employs thousands of workers in Sweden but has, for many years, suffered net losses. This caused GM to consider terminating its subsidiary. However, a possible deal with Spyker may keep SAAB alive. Many Swedes are still furious on the way GM handled the situation. Most people are not considering the possible threat of competition and the sharing of valuable technological standards.

I do not care whether Swedes have a negative opinion towards certain decisions. After all, everyone should be allowed to express their free opinion. However, narrow-mindedness, anti-Americanism, and straight-out racism is not acceptable. Many Swedes need to wake up and consider reversing their standpoint on stereotyping people.

I actually believe that most of these Swedes do not realize that they are being judgmental. Over the years, it has almost become acceptable to stereotype Americans and to be prejudiced against them. This can, most likely, be explained by the social democratic media and other general biases.

Huge Surprise

I got back my test in new products management last week. I have never gotten this surprised by a test result before. I was almost certain that I would get a B at most. Instead, I received 100 out of 100. It was of great relief to me and after I went over the test a second time and read the professor’s notes, I saw that I actually had a few good points here and there.

Before my professor handed the tests back, he asked what students thought about it. Ironically, most people who got an A, complained about the test, including me. The people, who I assumed scored lower, told the professor that the test was fair and that they felt prepared for it.

These people got very quite after the tests were handed out, which I thought was pretty hilarious. We have another test this week and I actually feel that it is a bit harder to prepare for because the chapters contain several different topics instead of a few big ones.

The only thing my professor told us students about the test was that it will be different and that we will make the tests ourselves. I, therefore, have no idea what he is planning to do. I have typed down my notes and key terms from the book so I hope to be able to learn as much as possible before Thursday when the test is taking place.

I also have a test in business strategy and policy. I typed my notes and added a few key ideas from the test book. I think I have a great study sheet but it will still be difficult to prepare for due to limited time. The test is tomorrow and I work that day as well as today.

I am actually planning to skip tonight’s class in marketing logistics so that I have more time to study for the test. Tonight’s class will not be particularly important and I think I can catch up by reading the textbook.

I also have a presentation on Wednesday. I have not and will not prepare very much for it. I feel confident about the topics and I have already created PowerPoint slides for my group. Instead, I will study as much as I can for my test in new products management. I hope to be able to remember everything that I typed down but it will definitely be challenging.

What is good about this class is that the professor is trying to teach us how to think like a marketer. In that way, students can score okay on the tests by just knowing marketing in general. Of course, there will be specific models to remember but as long as students know the broad use of it, they should be fine.

Presentation

I do not have to go to school today. As mentioned earlier, my organizational behavior class is a hybrid course that takes place half of the time online and the other half on campus. This is actually a very convenient way to study.

I do have to finish a few assignments after work though. I need to finalize a PowerPoint presentation and I also have to post to initial responds on the online blackboard. I hope to finish this in an hour or so because I really feel that I need some time to relax.

I will have two tests next week. One is in my business strategy and policy class and the other one is in my new products development class. I do not worry too much about the business strategy exam because my professor is extremely good at structuring his tests.

However, my new products development class will probably offer another test characterized by vague and unorganized questions. I have not gotten back my old test yet but it will hopefully be returned tomorrow.

Having two tests the same week can be challenging especially if they are extensive. I will prepare by typing down all my notes and key ideas from the textbooks. My second test in new products development comes just two weeks after the first one. Yet, the second exam will cover four chapters.

This is not easy. Part of Berkeley College’s advantage is that students can graduate early because of the quarterly semester system. However, this means that we have to go over material much faster than other schools and this can be particular challenging at times.

I do not have much time to do anything for the upcoming weekend. Both my girlfriend and I have to stay home and study. I am okay with this actually because we have been quite busy for a few weeks. I hope to be able to focus on my two tests and a presentation. I will try to study more efficiently for my new products development exam now that I know how the professor designs his tests.

I am still on a diet, although less healthy than before since after my girlfriend came back. I have not worked out for two weeks though so I will try to exercise three days in a row this weekend. I have lost twenty pounds so far and it feels great to be able to wear my old pants again. My personal experience about weight loss is that it does not have to be a mystery. Eating fewer calories than you consume will lead to weight loss and it is as simple as that.

Vague Questions

It has been a while since I posted a blog. The reason is a busy schedule, as usual. I had a test in new products development as previously discussed last week. I mentioned that it covered seven chapters and was particularly difficult but that I was not certain of how hard the professor would make it. I know now after taking it that it was very hard.

The professor had told students that it would be a short-answer test that would consist of definition and brief explanations of different models etcetera. This turned out to be incorrect. Most questions had to be thoroughly explained and most students therefore considered it to be in an essay format.

The professor had also told us that it would not be difficult. It was easy for him to say who actually made the test. These kinds of situations really bother me. If a test will be difficult, do not tell people that it is not. It just makes students unhappy.

I have not gotten back my test yet so I do not know what grade I will receive. Luckily, the test only responds to 10% of the grade so in theory students can get a zero on this test and still have a chance on getting an A. This is a calming way of thinking because I really do not think I will get a good score on this test.

I also finished a couple of assignment last weekend. One included an External Factor Evaluation Matrix. This was for my business strategy and policy class, which I really enjoy. This assignment is actually not due until next week but I wanted to finish it early so that I will have time to study for two upcoming tests.

I feel really happy with my assignments for this class. The analyzes are interesting to process and I learn a lot about the company that I chose. Methodologies include to read annual reports, SEC filings, secondary research, and to use databases that provide journals, articles, and such.

I also finished two quizzes for my organizational behavior class. This class is also interesting and we talk about major issues that can arise in a various amount of businesses. These issues include ethics, equality issues, and other diversity related concerns.

I think I did very well on the quizzes. Unlike, my new products development exams, these tests asked questions that were clear and well structured. I have never understood professors who try to trick students into failing exams. It simply does not make sense since all we want to do is to learn more.