Jill Yellock

Faculty Women and Tepper Women Spring luncheon

Whoa!  I was late for the one faculty-student luncheon that I helped organize because I had a meeting regarding my upcoming trip to Eastern Europe (we leave March 10).  I actually entered the room to hear 2 of the featured women faculty members speak.  Their research is so interesting.  Also the “battles” that they shared during their faculty meetings with other professors were quite interesting.

This luncheon just proved once again how committed the people who work at Tepper School of Business are to students.  The female faculty encouraged us to attend these luncheons in the Fall and Spring of each year because these informal (outside of the classroom) interactions with students help them understand how they can put their resources to use.

This has been a very busy week, and the week of my LAST FINAL EXAM as a MBA student.  I started finals on Monday, and will finish my last final assignment on Wednesday.  Then I begin to prep for my trip to Eastern Europe.  (SO EXCITED!)

Don’t worry….I’ll do better posting information about that experience.  I know from my interactions with several of you that you are interested in study abroad information.  Fortunately, two bloggers, Rachel and I are going to be on the trip.  Stay tuned March 10 – April 8, we’ll have wonderful stories.  Actually, I think Rachel is staying a bit longer.

Blog you from Europe!

Women at Tepper Day

February seems to be the days of women at Tepper.  On February 19, we had Women at Tepper Day, and on February  26, we will have the Female faculty and Tepper Women luncheon (I'll give information on that in my next blog)

On Women at Tepper Day, it was fantastic to meet a relatively large group of women who are applying to Tepper School of Business.  All of the ones who I talked to seemed very intelligent and focused.  They all seemed to have a plan for their career progression. 

We surrounded them with support all day.  They attended classes, an information session, a special lunch designed for them to meet the Dean and Executive Director of our program.  We also had a closing reception for them to have another opportunity to meet students at Tepper.  It was fun, and our male classmates all looked excited that the class of 2009 might have more female representation.  Our goal is to have at 30% of each class to be women.

I think it’s possible.  In general, we believe is that many women don’t come to Tepper because we are such a quant oriented school.  Well, ladies, I am not naturally a quant person, and I survived!  I learned a great deal of the importance of analytics in business.  I actually felt more knowledgeable than many of my co-interns this summer when it came to technical analysis.  I hope that all women that are accepted to Tepper School of Business come.  You won’t regret that decision.

Second Year-itis (Senioritis)

Okay, I have been offline for a while, I'M BACK!  I have gotten into the 2nd year slacker mode.  I have finished all of my requirements to graduate, and now focused on interesting elective classes which have been great!  Usually, I schedule Blog updates for Sundays; it is usually my “chill-out day” that I use to, uh, think.

Well, lately, I have been out of town every weekend since Mini-3 started (in January).  I make it back in time to go to class, but no longer having weekends to “concentrate” on homework and stuff, makes Monday – Thursday tough.  I still want to get my work done for my classes, but I love having the freedom to finally spend time with my boyfriend, who goes to a Top MBA school about 4 hours away from Pittsburgh.

Fortunately, we both finish our MBA’s this year!  Yea!  Moreover, we have been enjoying the “freedom” that you earn when you are a second year, requirements done, with a job.  2007 has been a great year!  It was my first year as a MBA 2005-2006 that was the breaker.

I hope you all are ready.  The first year, you have to make many sacrifices.  Life as you know it comes to a pause (not necessarily an end).  You have to come ready to work hard and sacrifice a bit.  When you survive 1st year…..life becomes a walk in the park.

Well, must go!  I am about to go to gym to focus on getting my pre-MBA body back.  Yes, I gained the first year 20 pounds!  In addition (or better yet subtraction),  THE WEIGH GAIN MUST GO!  Besides, I am going to a beach somewhere in this world when I graduate!

May 19, 2007!  I will have my MBA diploma in my hands!  Yea!