We wrapped up the week on campus without much trouble. It's three months of classes for now -- econometrics and policy for the second year students. We'll be back together for weekly chats via the web-based software; there will be lectures to watch online, too.
Homework includes a combination of writing assignments, a term paper, equation computations and data modeling as well as a few other things that will come our way between now and March.
I'll keep you updated on our progress as we plow through these courses to kick off 2009!
Camaraderie and class.
If you're considering a graduate program, make sure it is structured so that you'll develop friendships with your classmates. That's my advice for today.
I started back to school a year ago, through the MAB program at Kansas State University, without a real clear understanding of how that aspect of learning would unfold. I knew the subject matter I wanted to study. I understood the expectations placed on a student enrolled in an executive track program. But I had not considered the impact of developing new relationships with other successful agribusiness leaders from around the world.
Twelve months into this program, I probably value that aspect as much as the knowledge I'm taking away from the courses. We are a cohort some 20 people large -- not very big compared to most classes for higher learning. And moreover, we're scattered to the wind, spread across the United States with a few coming from places in South America and Africa.
But just the same, we've become great friends. Every week for 11 months out of the past year, we've met up on Saturday mornings or Thursday evenings for lectures and discussions in a virtual classroom. We've shared phone calls, lengthy e-mail exchanges and virtual chat sessions working on projects, papers and homework assignments. We've delved into research together and produced group projects, using technology to bridge the hundred and thousands of miles that separated us.
And now we're friends. We have inside jokes -- laugh about stories and each others' commentaries. We discuss the day's issues and talk about our businesses and careers.
Learn where it's best for you. Seek out the program that provides what you need. But if you're investing a few years of your personal time and money, make sure the learning gives your more than just a diploma, too. It never hurts to make a few new friends along the way.
I started back to school a year ago, through the MAB program at Kansas State University, without a real clear understanding of how that aspect of learning would unfold. I knew the subject matter I wanted to study. I understood the expectations placed on a student enrolled in an executive track program. But I had not considered the impact of developing new relationships with other successful agribusiness leaders from around the world.
Twelve months into this program, I probably value that aspect as much as the knowledge I'm taking away from the courses. We are a cohort some 20 people large -- not very big compared to most classes for higher learning. And moreover, we're scattered to the wind, spread across the United States with a few coming from places in South America and Africa.
But just the same, we've become great friends. Every week for 11 months out of the past year, we've met up on Saturday mornings or Thursday evenings for lectures and discussions in a virtual classroom. We've shared phone calls, lengthy e-mail exchanges and virtual chat sessions working on projects, papers and homework assignments. We've delved into research together and produced group projects, using technology to bridge the hundred and thousands of miles that separated us.
And now we're friends. We have inside jokes -- laugh about stories and each others' commentaries. We discuss the day's issues and talk about our businesses and careers.
Learn where it's best for you. Seek out the program that provides what you need. But if you're investing a few years of your personal time and money, make sure the learning gives your more than just a diploma, too. It never hurts to make a few new friends along the way.
Econometrics?
I wondered what this course would be all about. With so little business background in my undergraduate studies, it was a term I hadn't seen before. Or at the least hadn't paid attention to.
Turns out this class makes a lot of sense. It's started out with a refresher of statistics. Everyone has been down that road to get into MAB (or has to cover a stats prerequisite during the early stages of the program).
We're covering a lot of material pertaining to regressions -- learning to judge the validity of data sets and population samples. It is very different from our other course, international policy, but fits really well with the types of things we learned in last year's courses.
Turns out this class makes a lot of sense. It's started out with a refresher of statistics. Everyone has been down that road to get into MAB (or has to cover a stats prerequisite during the early stages of the program).
We're covering a lot of material pertaining to regressions -- learning to judge the validity of data sets and population samples. It is very different from our other course, international policy, but fits really well with the types of things we learned in last year's courses.
It's different this time around.
This trip to Manhattan is definitely different than last year's sessions. The year two students can't claim it's easier -- but it is different. Less stress. Lacking the tensions. The courses seem more "do able".
I'm not sure that the program is a lot different in the second year. I believe it is most likely that the students are different in year two. We have adjusted to the pace of the MAB program. We know it is possible to cover major economic concepts in four days of learning; we have experienced the process of dicing through many long chapters of a text book in just one week.
Moral of the story: year one is training camp and it pays off big. Year two keeps you in the game, but you're a seasoned player by the start of the season!
I'm not sure that the program is a lot different in the second year. I believe it is most likely that the students are different in year two. We have adjusted to the pace of the MAB program. We know it is possible to cover major economic concepts in four days of learning; we have experienced the process of dicing through many long chapters of a text book in just one week.
Moral of the story: year one is training camp and it pays off big. Year two keeps you in the game, but you're a seasoned player by the start of the season!
What's your international policy?
It's Monday morning. Start of the first session of 2009. MAB students from across the world have gathered in Manhattan. Year one students are about to embark on their journey into agribusiness education. Year two students are topping the hill, headed towards the downhill side of the program.
Today's first item of business is International Policy with Dr. Woolverton. It's a new topic. Different from the more mathematical courses we've had thus far.
We're a smaller group now, compared with our first trip to campus last year. But we're a mighty crew. A year wiser and mostly up for the challenge of year two.
I'll let you know how our first glimpse at international policy turns out.
Today's first item of business is International Policy with Dr. Woolverton. It's a new topic. Different from the more mathematical courses we've had thus far.
We're a smaller group now, compared with our first trip to campus last year. But we're a mighty crew. A year wiser and mostly up for the challenge of year two.
I'll let you know how our first glimpse at international policy turns out.
Back in Manhattan.
It's the beginning of year two. Today we start session #1 of the MAB program. One of the highlights of today's activities is meeting the incoming class and catching up with classmates.
We're only in for a few hours of meetings and orientation today. It's the calm before the storm; a week full of classes and lectures, projects and testing. Yes. Testing. A sneak-peek at the syllabus shows we're in for an exam by the end of the week in at least one of our classes.
Tonight we have a social activity with faculty and classmates in Aggieville. If you're unfamiliar with K-State's campus and the Manhattan community, the Aggieville region is the epicenter of "extracurricular" activities. A billboard in town advertises over 100 shops, restaurants and bars in the neighborhood.
Don't let the hectic pace of things scare you. The on-campus sessions include plenty of fun times and laughs, too!
We're only in for a few hours of meetings and orientation today. It's the calm before the storm; a week full of classes and lectures, projects and testing. Yes. Testing. A sneak-peek at the syllabus shows we're in for an exam by the end of the week in at least one of our classes.
Tonight we have a social activity with faculty and classmates in Aggieville. If you're unfamiliar with K-State's campus and the Manhattan community, the Aggieville region is the epicenter of "extracurricular" activities. A billboard in town advertises over 100 shops, restaurants and bars in the neighborhood.
Don't let the hectic pace of things scare you. The on-campus sessions include plenty of fun times and laughs, too!
Campus bound.
I'm headed back to campus tomorrow. It's a week in Manhattan, Kansas, as we kickoff the second year of the MAB program.
I feel good about the trip, excited to catch up with friends from the program. I am also anxious to start the next round of courses. We're tackling agriculture policy this session, which is one of my keen interests. I am hopeful that this course can shed some light on a thesis topic for me. We're also jumping into econometrics; I don't yet know what that means. But I'm optimistic that it will be a great learning opportunity. Tune in on Monday and I'll fill you in.
We're not the new kids on the block this go 'round. I'm packing light and planning on a lot of class time. I'll catch up on sleep when I return home in a week.
I'll try hard to keep things updated on the blog during this trip.
I feel good about the trip, excited to catch up with friends from the program. I am also anxious to start the next round of courses. We're tackling agriculture policy this session, which is one of my keen interests. I am hopeful that this course can shed some light on a thesis topic for me. We're also jumping into econometrics; I don't yet know what that means. But I'm optimistic that it will be a great learning opportunity. Tune in on Monday and I'll fill you in.
We're not the new kids on the block this go 'round. I'm packing light and planning on a lot of class time. I'll catch up on sleep when I return home in a week.
I'll try hard to keep things updated on the blog during this trip.
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