7: Wish

I wish I could read all applicants' "goals" essays before applying to bschool.

Scrolling: Doris Days - To Ulrike M. (original mix)

My computer seems tired. There is a lag between my pressing a key and the alphabet appearing on the screen. I just typed a whole sentence, but it hasn't shown up on the screen, oh wait, here it is! Phew!

I wish I could read about other people's goals because I can't find one of my own. I can't find one that I like. One that I'll stick to. I think of something, feel thrilled about it, start to type it up and then it doesn't come out well.

I don't feel like going to business school. Finance, economics, strategy, marketing, accounting, statistics, operations etc. So boring and so futile. I have a new goal now and they won't help. I want to meet people from another planet. Of course, I might not stick to this goal and go back to my earlier goal of running the Red Cross.

Looking back, I've always hopped goals. In middle school, I wanted to be a magician. After that, for a long time, I didn't have a goal. Then I wanted to write a new Operating System. Didn't last long. New goal: Make a new microprocessor. Too hard. After that I started thinking more down to earth, more practical. Instead of the destination, I started thinking about the journey. I started thinking about career paths. I chose a hardcore engineering path. Couldn't take it. Diversified into making omelets. Seemed interesting for a while but then I thought "what's the point?". Then tragedy struck - the hurricanes, the floods, the earthquake. I decided to make it my goal to help other people. Business school will teach me how to run the Red Cross. I don't feel like doing that either.

I am selfish. I want to enjoy my time here, not spend it helping others. Although I don't want to be here. I want to be on some other planet with some other people. I want to launch myself into space and get lost. Then I can just sleep or look. Look out of the window into space. I have been dreaming a lot these days and the dreams are amazing. I think they'll be even better if I am lost in space.

It's weird that I am thinking of space travel and extraterrestrial intelligence because I used to despise all that. I had no interest in all the balls floating around us or any of NASA's missions. Now I envy Neil Armstrong. Now I think it is better to read his recently published biography "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong" than write bschool essays. From David Copperfield to Neil Armstrong.

What I am really cut out for is an 8 AM to 5 PM job with an hour for lunch and weekends off. Come home and watch Seinfeld followed by Everybody Loves Raymond. Eat and drink. Have sex. Sleep. Die.

6: Fashion

Fashion sense of MBA students at Columbia University and NYU.

Scrolling: Union Jack - Water Drums

I visited Columbia University and NYU recently, both the same day. I don't believe in generalizations, so I'll be specific and say that the fashion sense of the two students I met at Columbia was better and more laid back than that of two students I met at NYU.

The bschool building at Columbia is swankier than its counterpart at NYU. The Columbia building doesn't have a security desk at the entrance, the NYU building does. Most of Columbia is like a regular enclosed campus. NYU doesn't have an enclosed campus. I liked both.

I attended a class at NYU. It was interesting. Surprisingly, I didn't want it to end. When I drink Coca Cola, I keep looking at the glass to see how much is left. As the level goes down, I take smaller sips, so that it lasts longer. Similarly, I kept looking at the wall clock in the class, I was wishing the clock went slower, so that the class wouldn't end.

I am now a bit motivated to work on my next application. I hope sleep doesn't come in my way.