Carlson Student Blogs

Relationship with Advisor

2013-04-27T20:51:08Z

Six semesters at the Carlson School and I am still standing! I've had four internships, been a student leader on campus, studied in France, and managed to maintain a halfway decent GPA. I would love to say that this was all a result of my hard work and discipline, which is partially true, but I would not be giving credit where credit is due. I've been fortunate to have a guiding hand in my undergraduate career that has helped me get to where I am today. Who might that guiding hand be? None other than my undergraduate advisor.

I came into the Carlson School freshman year, fresh-faced and with eyes bigger than my stomach. I was determined to take the campus by storm. I was going to lead multiple student groups, work, and maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA. I expressed my ambitions to my advisor during our first meeting before the start of the year; he smiled, understandingly. He directed me toward student groups, campus jobs, and potential internship opportunities. He advised me to know my limits and told me to try to focus my ambitions in one direction.

His advice proved indispensable as I entered my freshman year. I focused my energy on one campus group and found a found a part-time job as a tour guide at my residence hall. I also concentrated on my studies. I ended up completing the year with great grades and a summer internship - as a freshman! My advisor's advice had helped to kickstart my undergraduate career in a positive direction.

Freshman year went smoothly, sophomore year, was a bit bumpy, on the other hand. My classes were much tougher. I was taking a full schedule of business classes for the first time; I was in over my head. My grades were starting to slip, so I decided to seek help. I meet with my advisor for advice - he seems to always have an answer for my questions and concerns. He recommended that I join a study group, attend professors' office hours, and gave me some advice on study habits. By year end, thanks largely to his advice, I had endured a tough semester with my GPA intact.

Now, as a junior, we discuss my career objectives. To be honest, I am still not quite sure where I want to be after graduation, but I am sure my advisor will be there to provide perspective so that I launch my career in the best possible way.

I've been at the Carlson School for almost three years now. During this time, I have had good semesters not so good semesters, and a few that fell somewhere in between. Through all of this, my advisor has been in my corner, guiding me along the way. For that I am grateful. My relationship with him has proved to be crucial to my undergraduate success. As I draw closer toward graduation day, I know that there will still be bumps in the road. But I also know that my advisor will always be there to help guide me in the right direction.

Technological Peace of Mind

2013-04-05T21:05:39Z

Coming to college as a freshmen, you'll be plagued with what seems like endless decisions. What dorm should I live in, how many meals should I buy per week, what classes should I register for, where the heck can I find extra-long fitted sheets!? And that's only the tip of the iceberg. There is a hugely important decision facing all college students that often doesn't get its due--What kind of laptop should I bring to college?

This might seem strange, but in a world where papers seem to be due weekly, all the professors are going green with online readings, and your new dorm friends want to constantly chat over Facebook having the right computing machine can be a difference between smooth sailing and endless headaches.

Thankfully for all us here at Carlson, the Carlson School has partnered with renowned computer-maker Lenovo to provide students with a little extra peace of mind. The Lenovo ThinkPad is offered to all freshmen as the Carlson School's supported laptop of choice. The Laptop Program provides students with a machine that is useful for school, work, and play. The ThinkPad comes fully loaded with the Microsoft Office Suite (a must for any college classes), and comes with a complete four-year accidental warranty Yes, that's right, ACCIDENTAL WARRANTY--Meaning there is complete coverage for any damage that comes to the device from slight mishaps (drops, spills, etc.) Which, if you've ever spilled coffee on your electronics (late night study session, it happens), you know how worth-while that can be! In addition, the Laptop Program is supported completely in-house, meaning there is a repair center located right in Carlson's Undergraduate Hansen Hall to accommodate any repairs or updates needed. This clears out a ton of stress--if you drop your laptop and something breaks, you can drop it off before class, and usually pick it up within one to two days, completely fixed, FOR FREE. If something heinous happens to your laptop and it is broken beyond repair, the program will replace your laptop FOR FREE. Good luck getting any other tech center to offer such a deal!

Also, as a ThinkPad user myself, I have been able to maximize my laptop's uses by connecting it to Carlson's wireless printing--I sit in class, pull up my professor's lecture notes, print, run downstairs at break, and wah-lah! Good to go! And since the Lenovo is a professional computing device, I am familiarizing myself with systems I will eventually be using when I graduate and become a business professional.

Joining up with the Laptop Program really helps minimize the stress guess work associated with purchasing a laptop. You know the Carlson School has picked this device specifically to help you succeed, and they are prepared to back you up should anything happen. How's that for technological peace of mind?

Learn more about the Laptop Program at Carlson's Website: http://www.csom.umn.edu/undergraduate/life-at-carlson/laptop-program.html

University Honors Program

2013-03-19T23:04:25Z

When you apply for admission at the University of Minnesota, you're automatically considered for admission to the University Honors Program (UHP). UHP gives students access to smaller class sizes, more challenging coursework, and unique academic and extracurricular experiences. I've really enjoyed my time in the honors program during my four years at college. I've formed great friendships with classmates in the honors program and strong relationships with professors in my honors courses. These courses give students a chance to learn more about the theory underlying what they're learning and how it is applied in the real world.

One of the most challenging and rewarding experiences you'll have as an honors student is writing an honors thesis. At the end of your college experience (generally during your senior year) you'll have the chance to tie together everything you've learned so far in college. You do this by answering a very interesting question. However, it isn't a question given to you by anyone else, it's a question that you come up with on your own. After forming your research question, you get the chance to work closely with a faculty member and conduct your own research to answer the question you came up with. You are responsible for reviewing academic literature on your topic, creating a study to answer your question, evaluating and interpreting your results, and identifying the implications of your research for the business world. In the end, the learning you achieve from doing your own research and writing your honors thesis is worth all of the time and effort you put into it.

Being a part of UHP has enhanced my college experience by connecting me to others who are equally passionate about learning and encouraging me to take on new and exciting challenges, such as writing an honors thesis.

Business Week

2013-03-19T15:21:44Z

Business Week at the Carlson School, there's nothing quite like it. During this week in the spring, hundreds of students, staff, faculty, alumni and recruiters mingle with one another and celebrate the school's close connections with the business community in the Twin Cities. It's a week of great events, fun opportunities to meet new people, and (you guessed it) a lot of free food for students.

Although the free food is great, there is so much more to Business Week (or B-Week) than that. B-Week is a week to celebrate the importance of business in our lives and to reinforce many of the great relationships our school has with companies across the Twin Cities. It is planned by a committee of students for all Carlson School students ("by the students for the students!"), and is one of our most anticipated weeks of the year. I've heard it described by others as a sort of 'Homecoming for Carlson,' and I think that description may have some truth to it.

Events during the week include daily breakfasts and lunches sponsored by corporate partners, events run by student organizations, an etiquette dinner, a networking event with young alumni, and the final Business Day Dinner. At this final dinner, we bring in a leader from the business community to speak with our dinner guests about their story in the business world. At the Business Day Dinner we also award our prestigious Students, Staff, Faculty, and Recruiters of the Year awards.

Attending Business Week is a must for Carlson Students. There is no better time to connect with and celebrate all of the amazing people around us.

A Tough Choice

2013-02-25T03:35:12Z

If you had asked me five years ago what I'll be doing after I graduate college, I would have said archeology. Four years ago, it would have been marketing. Three years ago, it would have been investment banking. Now, three months away from graduation, I'm an accounting major. My name is Erik and I'm a senior here at the Carlson School of Management.

Some of you might have wonder how I jumped from archeology to marketing to finance but ended up in accounting. I don't want to sound cheesy, but it was really a self-discovery process, which is what college is all about. One of my favorite hobbies is reading ancient stories from different cultures like mythologies. I thought I would want to study more about it when I come to college, so I wanted to major in archeology. However, when I started thinking about my future and what kind of work I would be doing, I didn't think that I would want to travel and do research all the time. My family then encouraged me to go to a business school so I have some where to start.

In 2009, I came to Carlson thinking that I would major in marketing and finance even though I didn't know what either of those majors entailed. I just thought marketing would give me a creative outlet, while finance would be more practical in terms of job outlook. After taking some classes in marketing and finance, I discovered two things. First, marketing is fun but I am not creative enough to be a marketing major. Second, finance involves way too much math and uncertainties which is not for me. At the same time, however, I took a few accounting classes as required by Carlson and I loved it. Love is strong word and you'll probably not hear a lot of people say they love accounting, but I really liked accounting. That was how I got to where I am today.

As I took more classes in accounting, I started becoming more interested in it, especially in tax. I had the opportunity to learn more about tax during my internship last summer, and it is definitely something that I can see myself doing for at least the next five years.

I do want to mention that just because I chose accounting doesn't mean that I have stopped doing what I like. Since I came to the university, I took a lot of different classes ranging from personal leadership to Greek mythology to the evolution of dinosaurs. Although none of these classes were in my major, being at the U gave me the opportunity to explore different topics and the chance to do something different in my free time.

What I'm trying to say is, finding your major will take some time, and it is okay to take different classes to see what you're interested in. You never know what you might find and fall in love with. Carlson offers a variety of majors, and you can also do a dual-degree with other majors from different colleges. There's no need to rush to find your majors!

The Big Choice

2013-02-17T02:17:18Z

So you've done it all. You've taken tours of all your potential schools, heard hundreds of statistics and student testimonies, filled out endless applications, and been accepted to your dream schools. Congratulations! You're just a step away from being a college student! Too bad that this final step--the picking the right college step--is the hardest of them all. But it doesn't have to be! There are ways to calmly and objectively figure out which college is the right one for you.

For instance, when I was a senior, I was accepted to my big three colleges--the ones I just had to go to at all costs. When making my college decision, I decided to weight the pros and cons of all three schools, even taking twenty minutes to write out a list for each school. Some factors to consider: school location, school size, school programs available to you, cost of attendance, living situations, and many more. Whatever is important to you should play a factor in your pro-cons list!

Now, as much as I believe in this list method, if there's one thing I've learned about choosing the right college, it's all about fit. Fit means that when you walk around campus, you're happy to be there. You're in a place where you're a valued member of the community, where you know you belong. Figuring out the fit of an institution isn't as hard as you'd think! In fact, many schools (Carlson included) welcome potential students to shadow current students to classes, to really feel the vibe of that school. I was able to shadow students during my decision process, and it was then that the University of Minnesota really just clicked with me. It was this gut-feeling that guided me to become a Gopher, and to this day, I'm one-hundred percent certain I made the best choice and got the best fit for me personally.

And so I challenge you! Make your lists, explore your campuses, dig down deep and think about what you're really looking for. If you do, you'll discover you knew what college was the right one all along!

Navigating the Career Fair: Lessons in Persistence & Experience

2013-02-15T04:10:03Z

I know we've all had that moment -one of the first few weeks of the semester where we are scrambling to edit our resumés, start having our friends & the Undergraduate Business Career Center set us up on a handful of mock interviews, dry cleaning dress clothes all in order to be adequately ready for "THE CAREER FAIR!"

I remember back to my freshmen year, it was a windy spring afternoon and I decided to be bold and try and attend the career fair. Adequately dressed up in my "Suit & Tie" (Justin Timberlake approved) I hustled over to TCF Bank Stadium to attend the career fair where all of my upperclassmen peers were all anxiously trying to land that desired internship/full time job.

As I entered, I remember scrambling to put myself together, making sure I was as ready as possible going up the escalators to the DQ Club Room. By the time I got to the top, my heart had dropped. You all know the feeling, your first career fair...that overwhelming feeling from the unbalanced ratio of recruiters, suits, students, and swag. As soon as I started walking around, the nerves started kicking in. At least for me, everything I was supposed to know prior to the career fair was going out the window during my initial conversations with different recruiters. An overanxious handshake, too much eye contact, and a lot of comments and questions about how "The weather is so nice!" Although I may have made many mistakes during this initial experience, I learned a lot of valuable lessons that have propelled me into becoming a more seasoned undergraduate student that finally understands some of the correct behaviors of successfully navigating a career fair. It is all a learning process that comes with repetition, learning from experiences, and a little luck. After your third or fourth career fair (when hopefully you are a junior or senior), you should be completely confident in your actions and stroll through the fair with authority and spunk!

After attending a few career fairs, here are 4 key tips that I have learned that can help you successfully navigate the career fair with success and poise.

1. Make sure to do your research prior to attending the career fair. Nothing is more embarrassing than going up to a company with no idea in what they do, or having nothing to talk about. Make sure to learn a bit about what the company does, what industry they are in, and potentially some of the positions/internships they are hiring for. This will allow you to look prepared and be primed to land at least a first round interview.

2. Tidy up your suit and tie and dress business professional. The career fair is for you to sell yourself as a prime candidate to a plethora of companies. This is a time for you to try and stand out, but not from the way you dress. Make sure to clean press your suits, clean up your shoes, and iron your clothes. Consult your friends before you go and get their honest opinions on how you look, and to boost your confidence. Finally, when you walk in there, pump yourself up with whatever makes you confident (Personally, I listen to some of my favorite songs - throw on some Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie, it's the perfect pre-career fair song, I guarantee it).

3. Make sure to attend the career fair by yourself and take a few minutes to plan out a strategic approach to the fair. It's perfectly fine to walk to the career fair with your friends and have them help you up your confidence prior to attending, but once you are finally there make sure to take independent routes. Ultimately, your interests/career goals are going to be different than your friends, and you do not want to follow each other around the whole time. This will minimize the effectiveness of the event and potentially cause you to be perceived with a lack of independence. When you arrive, take a floor plan of where all of the companies are. Circle & create an effective route as to how you will attend the fair. Save the most desired companies that you want to potentially work for with later time slots. In doing so, you can practice your conversations with other companies, and be completely ready to knock your conversations out of the park with your most desired companies once you are warmed up!

4. After holding a genuine and engaged conversation with a recruiter make sure to thank them and get their contact information. Although this may seem simple, it's really easy to forget to simply thank someone for their time. These recruiters are taking time out of their busy schedules to come and talk to you so make sure you express your sincere gratitude in their investment in you. Also, make sure to get their contact info so you can follow-up with a thank you and next steps. Generally, the rule of thumb is to follow up within the next 24 hours if possible, and at latest 48 hours. In your thank you, try and make it as unique as possible by writing about a defining moment in your conversations with them so they can remember you by the conversation you had. Recruiters talk to hundreds of students and you have to find a way to stand out. This is one of the easiest avenues for you to do so.

These are just some of my personal experiences and ideologies that have worked for me over the last few years. Everyone has their own strategies, but the most important thing is to be 'you' and let yourself stand out as a young professional!

Surviving Minne-Snow-ta

2013-01-29T15:56:13Z

Real talk. Minnesota, like any other Midwestern state, receives its full range of seasons--the greenery of spring, the splendor of warm summer days on the lake, the explosion of autumn leaves, and yes, the expected freezing temperatures and piling snow of winter. For the unprepared student, winter in Minnesota can be a shocking and chilly experience, but for those of us that come prepared it's an opportunity to turn the bleak cold into a winter wonderland.

How to prepare: Layers! Hats, mittens, waterproof boots, scarves, long thick coat! Don't feel weird if you feel as wrapped up as the Abdominal Snowman--we're all in the same boat!

Here's me rocking the winter wear! Look at how WARM I look!

Honestly, there's no denying that Minnesota gets cold and snowy in the winter, and many students bundle up and survive the winter just fine. But, we're not trying to survive--we want to thrive! And that depends entirely on your attitude and how you choose to look at the winter. Winter provides a great opportunity to bond with those in your dorm--with the blizzard blowing outside, you're not going anywhere, grab some board games or a movie! It helps keep you focused on your schoolwork--not getting distracted by the desire to run around outside. And even more, winter is FUN. Minnesota has championed it as our official season, celebrating it with such events as the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the Red Bull Crashed Ice Event, the Holidazzle Parade and more. In addition, every day has the potential to celebrate with a wide variety of winter activities such as dorm-wide snowball fights, sledding, ice skating, skiing (cross country and downhill), ice fishing and many more! I've lived my entire life in the Minnesota winter tundra, and have successfully survived/thrived 20 years by going out and DOING things!

So embrace the winter for all that it offers and let your sunny positive attitude keep you warm for the months to come!

LeaderShape!

2013-01-23T22:55:11Z

So I want to let you guys know about another opportunity offered to Carlson students here at the U. It's the awesomest thing--LeaderShape. During January of last year, I attended the LeaderShape Institute, hosted by Carlson and the College of Science and Engineering. All I knew is that it was a 6-day program and that for some (pretty good, apparently) reason, every person I asked that had attended the year before said it was amazing. Not much more than that, though. Hm.

But hey, why not? So I left my home in Milwaukee a week before our winter break ended, packed up some clothes and snacks and was on my way. I got on the bus to camp Iduhapi. But I apparently chose the one with all of the Science and Engineering students, not Carlson. Oops. I imagined that as my first faux-pas of many that would be coming over the next 6 days. Thankfully, I ended up being very wrong.

Leadershape is a program that pushes people. It's open, and faux-pas are not really possible. For the last 6 years, the Carlson School and the College of Science and Engineering have teamed up to provide this program to 30 of their students every year, and this combination of students is great, especially with the collaboration and idea-sharing Leadershape is all about. The atmosphere created by the Leadershape program is one of a safe environment. Students can share all of the ideas, values, and passions they believe in. The different viewpoints brought by the students of different U of M colleges and backgrounds make for a rich environment of discussion and debate. These aren't the kind of discussions you find every day.

I feel like I grew more in those 6 days than I've done in a semester, and I often think fondly about the lessons I learned and conversations I had. Even though it wasn't always easy, I got insight into ways of thinking I had never thought about before, inspiration to do something meaningful, and a connection to so many wonderful people, both here in Carlson and across the river at the College of Science and Engineering.

If you want to look into it more, here is the link to Leadershape's Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/LeaderShapeOrg

At the very least, they have great quotes and stories of people's Leadershape experiences!

I hope you check it out, and get excited that you could have such great experiences here at Carlson and the University of Minnesota! :)

Back in the States

2013-01-16T03:12:18Z

After spending 4.5 months studying abroad in Lyon, France, I am back! America, home sweet home. My time in France was amazing. I went to several countries, visited 21 cities, and met very interesting people from all over the world. I had so many adventures and experiences I do not even know where to begin. I went to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, a town-wide wine release in Beaujolais, France, nightclubs in Berlin, swam in the Mediterranean in Barcelona, Spain and saw a "Big Sean" concert in Paris. I crammed much fun into one semester, and a few sentences do not do my experience justice.

The school I studied at was excellent. I took some excellent business classes, such as international finance and European economics; I also got to meet student from across the globe. I was in a program composed of international students and was able to learn from and make friends with some very intelligent and fascinating people. Through interacting with people from all over the world, I learned to embrace other cultures and to carry an open mind. When I was offered a chance to eat escargot (snails), I took it - and they were delicious!

My time in Europe was memorable, to say the least. It provided me with new opportunities and allowed me to gain an understanding of life - and business - outside of our borders. When you come to Carlson, study abroad for an entire semester. Leave the states behind for a while and learn what it means to live like the French or Chinese. Just GO and do not think twice about it.

Spacious, bright, friendly faces, relaxing. These are only a few of the words that describe the Carlson School of Management and Hanson Hall building. Both of these buildings were built and designed for Carlson students so that we could have a quiet place to study, do group work, and even catch up with friends.

My name is Erik Lean, and as a senior at Carlson, I have spent most of my past four years in these two buildings, and I have enjoyed every minute of it (even on those long nights doing group projects or studying for finals!). Looking back at all of my memories here at Carlson, there are so many things that I'm going to miss once I graduate.

I remember when I first came to the U of M as a freshman. I had classes all over campus in all different buildings, and it was a bit intimidating trying to navigate through all them all, especially in the winter. That's the nice thing about being a Carlson student. By the time you're a sophomore, you along with all your classmates and friends will have most of your classes in either Carlson or Hanson. Better yet, both buildings are connected by a skyway, so you'll never have to go outside in the winter.

Some of my favorite memories about the Carlson building were late night study sessions in the breakout rooms with friends. Breakout rooms are small meeting rooms in the Carlson and Hanson buildings that Carlson students can reserve for studying or group projects. There are dozens of them with all different sizes. I remember one semester when six of us stayed there until 2 am, ordered pizza, chatted on Facebook (when we should have been studying), and got some McDonalds. It was a blast.

The best thing about Hanson is hands down the Starbucks! Yep, there is a Starbuck inside the building so you don't even have to go outside in the winter to get your coffee. Right before class every day, whether it's 8:00 am or 3:30 pm, you'll see students, professors, and staff all lining up to get their daily dose of caffeine. I am also one of these caffeine enthusiasts. Whenever I need to meet with someone, we just meet at Starbucks for a chat over coffee. It's so convenient.

These are only a few of my favorite things about Carlson and Hanson. There are so many more memories that I could go on and on, but I figure you might not want to hear me ramble on for too long. If you want to know the rest, we would love to give you a tour of our facilities!

Hanson Hall Atrium

Oh, The Places You'll Go: Carlson Study Abroad

2012-11-11T20:36:01Z

"You have a brains in your head, feet in your shoes You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..."

Dr. Suess' quote always makes me think of how fantastic the opportunity for an international experience is for Carlson students. Below are some of the experiences that my friends and I have had.
Summer after freshman year spent 3-week program in Mexico studying intermediate spanished followed by a 6-week program in Spain studying linguistics and art.
A semester during junior year spent in Vienna, Austria with weekend trips all around various countries in Europe.
A semester during sophomore yearspent in Ecuador over sophomore year
A semester during junior year spent in Kenya. Camped under the stars on "pride rock" from the Lion King.
2 weeks in Cape Town, South Africa during winter break of junior year

That last one was me! I got to see the African sun set from the top of Table Mountain, pet a cheetah, stand eye-to-beak with an ostrich, see penguins lounging on a beach, and experience the bounty of the beautiful wineries the western cape. Any study abroad experience whether 2 weeks long or 1 year long can be an incredible one. Here are some things to start thinking about:
How would you fit it into your schedule? Summer after freshman year is an awesome option. Many of your peers will take a semester during their junior years. Students who want to pursue multiple majors or degrees may find themselves strapped for time, and that a winter break program or a two-week program in May could be best.
Do you want to finish a Carlson requirement or study something totally unique? For example, many of my friends took a required Accounting course that had a two-week winter break trip to Argentina, or a Human Resources class that takes a two-week May trip to Australia.
What might be the cost of this program? My friends who went to Europe definitely spent a bit more than they would have for a semester at the U of M, but my friend who went to Kenya spent far less than she would have for a normal semester. My South Africa program was an extra 5K or so on top of whatever tuition I was paying.
Special note: Carlson offers tons of scholarships and financial aid for study abroad! The school will find a way to make it possible for you to complete this requirement!

And finally, the most important question:
Where do you want to go? When you combine the U of M's Learning Abroad Center with Carlson's Global Institute, you are looking at options of over 300 programs from 70 countries. No choice is a bad choice!

Clearing the Chaos of the Career Search

2012-11-10T01:36:17Z

As a sophomore looking to score an amazing internship for this summer, I've found myself flung into a whirlwind of resume reviews, career fairs, database searches, and endless, endless applications. For someone experiencing all this for the first time, it can be more than overwhelming. Luckily for us, Carlson provides us with a resource to make sense of all the chaos--BA 3000 Career Skills Class.

All students in Carlson are required to take this one credit course, and when I say "required" I mean this class cuts through all the noise and confusion, helping students learn step by step how to make themselves the most appealing candidate possible. So far this semester we have studied the art of perfecting a resume, writing a cover letter, speaking to various recruiters, professional interviewing with companies, and learning career "dos and dont's" from guest speakers.

In addition to all this amazing information, I've also learned how to navigate the Undergraduate Business Career Center's "Edge" system, the online career database available to Carlson students. I now know how to search for job postings, set my preferences to tailor to my major and interests, apply for interviews held within the Career Center, register for career-building events, and see which companies have taken a peek at my profile. In having and using this resource, I've been able to calm down (just a little bit!) about my career search. BA 3000 has taught me how to shape myself into the best possible candidate, selling my experiences and passions to increase my business opportunities. I walk out of that class every Thursday ready to suit up and take on the recruiting world--and with all my career know-how, those companies had better watch out!