The Next Stage: Part 3 - The Long List

Creating a list of possible programs is a labour of love. It is a time when all the possibilities are spread in front of you like toys on Christmas morning. Do I want to go to Harvard? Put it on the list.

At this stage anything is an option, but those options need to be pared down to  more manageable number. Certain biases are apparent in my list. I am partial to schools here in Florida, in San Francisco near two of my friends, and in my home...Canada.

There are schools that will always be on any list of mine, just because it is a dream to attend them: McGill, Stanford, Berkeley.

Without further delay (in alphabetical order):

The Long List:

• Arizona State University
• M.Sc. Business Analytics
• Auburn University
• M.Sc. in Information Science
• Boston University
• M.Sc. in Computer Information Systems (Database Specialization)
• Carnegie Mellon University
• M.Sc. Business Intelligence & Data Analytics
• Cornell University
• M.Eng in Data Analytics
• McGill University
• M.Sc. in Computer Science
• North Carolina State University
• M.Sc in Analytics
• Northwestern University
• M.Sc. in Predictive Analytics
• Queens University
• M. of Management Analytics
• Stanford University
• M.Sc. in Computer Science (specialization in Analytics)
• University of California, Berkeley
• M.Sc. Information and Data Science
• University of Cincinnati 
• M.Sc. in Business Analytics
• University of Florida
• M.Sc. Information Science and Operations Management
• University of Ottawa
• M.Sc. in E-Business Technologies
• University of South Florida
• M.Sc. Management Information Systems
• University of Tennessee
• M.Sc. in Business Analytics
• University of Toronto
• M.Sc. in Applied Computing
• York University
• M.Sc. in Business Analytics

This list can certainly grow. There are some which were on my initial Long List for IT/IS degrees that are not on this list, for example. But this is an excellent starting point. This will be updated as needed.

The Next Stage: Part 2 - Graduate Programs

As I hit the final 60 days of my undergraduate career, I find myself looking forward with a great deal of excitement. I'll be honest: This is a really fun time for me. It's full of hope and passion, mixed with a little nervousness. I've got some pretty successful role models in my life and I hope to make them proud. They range from my eldest sister who got her MBA at Canada's #1 program, my 'older brother' who was "cold-called" recruited to work for Stanford's IT Department, to my high school best friend who took graduate mathematics at the University of Chicago.

As I said, I've got some big shoes to fill.

Programs

I love to learn. In a recent interview, I was asked by someone at Disney what I would choose to do if I could do anything and money was no option. I thought this was a great 'final question' in the interview, and I had given it some previous thought. For me, the answer is two-fold. 

First, I want to be part of a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) - something much bigger than myself. During my answer I came up with the phrase "something that I can wrap my heart around." I think that describes it best. 

Secondly, I would want to remain in graduate programs for the foreseeable future. This is not to say that I never want to get a "real job." That couldn't be farther from the truth. 

In compiling my "long list" of graduate programs, I have found so many variations on the theme that I want to take them all. While I know that's not practical unless I hit the lottery (I don't even play), it's still a nice thought. 

In the hopes of being realistic, I have narrowed the field down to these choices:

• M.Sc. in Information Science with a concentration in Data Warehousing or Database Management
• MBA with a concentration in Information Technology, specifically as it relates to Big Data
• M.Sc. in Anaytics with an emphasis on Data Mining
• M.Sc. in Statistics with an emphasis on Forcasting

Part 3 will be the "Long List" of schools. Stay tuned...

Thoughts on the Next Stage of the Journey

This will be my first post which really points to where I thought the blog would primarily be focused. It's about the future - specifically mine as it relates to school and career options.

I'm (finally) graduating in 79 days, not that I'm counting down or anything. I will be getting a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida - Go Gators! After so many stops and starts in my college career, having taken classes in more schools than I'd care to admit, I'm finally at the end. I've succeeded beyond my most optimistic predictions, and it's time for the reward.

I'm looking forward to walking across that stage and receiving my empty diploma case (seriously? What's up with that?). I'm ready to start the next stage of the journey.

More classes.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

After so many, many, many years trying to get one degree, why would I immediately want to get another?

I actually like school. I never would have believed those words would come out of my mouth until I got to the University of Florida. For so long I've had absolutely crappy professors who couldn't care less about the students they were churning through their poorly thought out classes. Sure, I've had some incredible ones, but I could really count them on one hand before UF and still have fingers left over. What's worse is that all of them were back in high school.

Florida is different though. Not all of the professors are amazing. There have been a couple stinkers in the program. But so many were the kind of "Dead Poet's Society" professors that really bring out the best in you. They challenge you to do more than you thought you could. There's also a great support network of students who really want to succeed. And that's not an environment I ever want lose.

So I've determined that I'm going to apply to graduate schools. I'll take a breath after graduation. Go on a cruise and enjoy Christmas. Find a better job because now I can check that box that says "Degree?". But then it's time to study for the GRE or possibly the GMAT.

Now I just have to pick a program.

79 days. #GatorGrad2013