A Cker's exchange experience

amarkiu

Dear all,

To response byebye00's request, I would like to share part of my exchange experience with others from a CKer's eyes. Before I upload some of my words, I would like to have the following declarations or requests.

1. The words are shared with my classmates, who chose not to come to my school or who chose to stay at CK. (*This year 30% plus CKers chose to go overseas for exchange, some vacancies from Em lyon are not used up.)

2. In some of the articles, you may find that I mentioned CEIBS, but no comparision but the friendship between the students from two schools. (* Yoyo and Anli are my good friends, who are from CEIBS. Yesterday, They prepared food for us and the girls from both CEIBS and CK formed a team and had an excellent dance performance in Darden annual International Food Feast. I am so proud of them.)

3. I really wish that my post can help boost the confidence of those who want to pursue an MBA in China and who want to apply CK MBA program. (* The reason why I wrote these words just to response to CK's culture, which is ABC. Appreciate, Benefit and Contribute. If you appreciate CKers or appreciate CK in any aspects, we welcome you join us. After you join CK, you will benefit a lot from CK's network and resourses. After you benefit from what CK can bring to you, do remeber to contribute back.) I benefit from the exchange opportunity and I would like to share the words as my contribution to the community.

4. After you read the essay, please give me some feedback, It is highly appreciated. (* If you want to view more, please do give me some support on my post.)

Please give me more understanding, everyone view the world with his/her own lenses. This is called Diversity! I appreciate the diversity very much.

With my best regards,

Mark

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-10-9 5:40:56编辑过]

amarkiu

All my posts are in English, if this brings some inconvenience, I beg your understanding. The whole series would be about 20 essays. Thanks for your support!

Pre-Study ( On my way to Darden)

Connee arrived my place at 6:30AM in the morning as scheduled. However, the plan proved to be not as conservative as what we thought. In fact, we did not have too much margin to do other things. The security check at Pudong airport was very strict. Elaine’s cosmetic accessories were forfeited. Later at San Francisco, Connee’s medicine received the same fate. Fortunately, Sophia and I did not have much trouble in this issue.

There are something interesting happened on our way to school. At Japan NRT airport, there was an exhibition to show the travelers what are the differences between the original one and forfeited one. However, I really did not detect any major differences. At San Francisco, we almost run out of time to capture the plane. Only after did Connee decide to give up her medicine, we could possibly make it. Another rush hour! The girls were very good at sleeping; I believe it is a strong signal of good adaptability. The language proves to be a concern for all of us; the air plane broadcasting can hardly be understood. The voice speed is faster than what our professors’ in the class and the tone is slightly different. 

I arrived Washington DC airport at 10:00PM. However, my friend did not show up at airport. When a lady approached me and asked me whether I am Mark, I was a little bit surprised. She immediately explained to me that my friend was trapped in New York and could not come to pick me up. Although a little bit disappointed, maybe that’s another reason for me to visit the Big Apple between the courses. Mr. Sun and his wife kindly arranged me to live with them. You do not know how I appreciated all the kind help they make for me.

I arrived Darden at 1:00AM but could hardly fall into sleep, because almost all the surroundings are very attractive for me and maybe the time lag also played a role here.

 Yesterday, I passed by many great cities. Shanghai, Tokyo, San Francisco, Minesodapolis and Washington DC. Among all the cities, Minesodapolis left me very deep impression. The city combines itself with many beautiful lakes organically and the co-existing injects the city a very lively spirit.

 Sun’s couple told me many useful suggestions, but it takes time for me to digest all the good suggestions. Of course, more unknown places are waiting for me to explore in the following four months.

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-10-9 5:40:18编辑过]

amarkiu

The days before the Semester started.

May go to swimming pool today. The internet access proves to be a big problem. It is hard to get food, which triggered the bad experience the early of February. (* I could not find food during spring festival.)

 My roommate Zac is an exchange student of Darden B-school as well. He is from Melbourne University B-school, from which Caroline graduated and he is a lawyer focus on infrastructure etc. He likes to do sports very much and before he came here. He spent several days hiking around. My other two flat mate were Scotts and Evanton, who came from New York and New Jersey respectively.

 I tried to pay a visit to Darden B-school in the morning, but there was nobody around during the weekend. Then I tried to take an exploration around. However, without a map’s guide, I did not want to continue my aimless adventure. I did not manage to get a swim trunk at Wal-Mart and K-Mart, because it is considered out of season. However, I still have to do some shopping, such as buy a boiler so that I can enjoy green tea instead of pure cold water.

 At 6:30 PM, I finally met Jody, Julia, and Stella and we went out to have a dinner with other boys who live with me. On our way to the eating place, we passed by some grandiose buildings, which belong to not only UVA but also the world. The buildings at UVA are world heritages like Great Wall in China. Thomason Jackson’s statue stands in front of the buildings and is always trying to tell the people pass by the story of this school at his hometown. The eating place is quite nice and with a reasonable price, I mean about the same price of same quality service in Singapore. (* I did not have the experience to eat western food in China.) The atmosphere of the dinner was really nice and we made joke each other. However, I missed some points when Zac and Evanton talked something about lawyer life in US and Australia.

 So far is so enjoyable and I believe that I can get much more from the exchange experience than what I expected. I want to strongly encourage our next batch student take the opportunity to explore the world. Although it is just a start or even before the start, the feeling is amazing!

 

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-10-9 6:06:11编辑过]

amarkiu

The first week at Darden
    

I have spent one week at Darden and have 4 classes so far. During the week, we have many meetings and we have two more meetings with free lunch next week.

The academic operation management is really good. Although the study life is very busy, but you still can find enough time to prepare for the next day classes. I take four courses this quarter. Namely, Valuation on financial market, Sustainable Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Operation Strategy, General Management & Operation consulting. Everyday I have two classes and I can use my full night to prepare for the next days classes. There is about two hours break between my classes. Even I am not well prepared, I still can use the two hours to get myself ready. However, so far I always get myself ready one day before the class.      

I have to say that CK’s professors are really good. The professors here are just as good as CK's professors, not better. You can take Prof. Li Wei's course as a reference. While the students here are quite different from us. The class participation is really hot here. I can seldom catch a chance to express myself. Normally, you need bravely raise your hand for 5 to 10 times to get a chance to speak out. However, I always missed the good time to share with the class my opinion. The only exception was in Sustainable Innovation & Entrepreneurship course. In the class, I was able to say something about the recycling water practice in Singapore. That's the only time others heard my voice. I am pushing to get myself involved into the class participation more deeply. Generally, professors here speak faster than our professors and students speak even faster than professors. I did not encounter problems on understanding what the class is going on, but I did get huge challenge to open my mouth voice out CKer's opinion. My solution is to prepare the case better and so that I am more confident mentally.  

I am looking forwards to the next week's study.

I have to say that CK’s professors are really good. The professors here are just as good as CK's professors, not better. You can take Prof. Li Wei's course as a reference. While the students here are quite different from us. The class participation is really hot here. I can seldom catch a chance to express myself. Normally, you need bravely raise your hand for 5 to 10 times to get a chance to speak out. However, I always missed the good time to share with the class my opinion. The only exception was in Sustainable Innovation & Entrepreneurship course. In the class, I was able to say something about the recycling water practice in Singapore. That's the only time others heard my voice. I am pushing to get myself involved into the class participation more deeply. Generally, professors here speak faster than our professors and students speak even faster than professors. I did not encounter problems on understanding what the class is going on, but I did get huge challenge to open my mouth voice out CKer's opinion. My solution is to prepare the case better and so that I am more confident mentally.  

I am looking forwards to the next week's study.

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-10-9 6:18:40编辑过]

harriersky

Thanks for sharing those useful information. as a prospective MBA student, I would like to see any valuable information in term of present the MBA life, no matter where are you came from.

Please give us some background info about yourself and this exchange experience. As a CK student, do you need beat other classmates to take this opportunity to go to Darden? When you choose your modules for this quarter, do you have same right to pick up the  module compare as home student? also, you mention about your flatmates in your essay, what kind of accommodation they can provide? 4 people share a room or you can have your own room?

Moreover, Darden has good reputation about their case study, if a MBA student can't speak out their opinion during the class, most likely you are waste your money and time on it. sounds like you guys don't have much opportunities to present yourself so far, I know you guys might be a group of good students of CK, as a chinese, I would like to see you guys pay more attention to show yourself in the class, Let them know, chinese students are the best of best in the whole class.

Thanks again for your essay and looking forward to see more!

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-10-9 7:32:17编辑过]

amarkiu

Dear Harriersky,

Thanks for your comments.

First I would say, to choose means to give up. To choose for exchange means you give up the opportunities other classmates who choose to stay have, such as job interview opportunities and the classes conducted by those famous professors who have more insight on China issues.

Second, I prefer not to disclose all my backgound and information. Some information will be just shared among the best friends and other CKers. If you want to know about me, join CK's round table gathering held for prospective applicants. I am sure you will meet many Ckers and applicants there.

Thirdly, definately I got no ability to make you and others know everything about my experience. Please just take my essays as bonus. Do not try to pick all the information from me, it is beyond my ability. Moreoever, my words are biased and you need form your own opinion based on Masaic informtion.

At last, I guess all the Chinese students study at Darden would have no confidence to say that we are the best. Very frankly, most of the Chinese students at Darden are still trying to struggle for suvival well, rather than excel among others. Movreover, just as what I said I appreciate diversity, no one will dominate the class.  so no argue about who is the best, either for person or for school. Just share some words I read at Darden.

From diversity comes learning. From learning comes understanding. From understanding comes excel.
    

[此贴子已经被作者于2006-10-9 8:01:36编辑过]

bestone

支持长江MBA交换同学上述务实的态度

tonychu1975

Hi Mark,

 

amarkiu

Tony, Thanks for your support. I wish you have a happy mid-autumn festival in Singapore. Mark

foever

Hi, Mark, this is Franky. Thanks for your sharing.We are always behind you!