patrick.net

What did I miss?

Malcolm said the SD market has become unstuck and all hell will soon break loose. Casey evidently can make around $1000/month from Haterz. I think you could fund your kids education from Second Lifers if you try to generate a bit more animosity.

astrid Says:

> FAB What’s a top 5 grad school?

I should have wrote “Business School” since that is what most of my friends talk about when we say “grad school”. It is amazing how many kids start at GSB, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, and Sloan with liberal arts undergrad degrees and relatively low math skills…

This time it is different. The H1B quota is now back down at 65000/yr. I believe it was close to 200K/yr a few years earlier.

In fact, I heard that 60%+ of H1B hopefuls who applied *on the first day* for FY2008 was rejected. Will foreign students still want to study/work here?

The person (who shall remain nameless) that wrote that last thread asked that it be removed.

How could you have known that? I wonder. ;)

FAB,

Thanks. Though I do somewhat disagree on the substance. I took an investment finance class at Haas one summer and recalled it being relatively easy for this math near-illiterate.

My father has a physics Ph.D and we were talking about math and science last sunday. His view was that the average person does not need to know much math beyond basic geometry, algebra, and understand the basic concept of derivatives and trig. We agreed that the main missing piece from general education is basic understanding for statistics and logic, which is easy for even people of low math skills.

"I should have wrote “Business School” since that is what most of my friends talk about when we say “grad school”. "

I would never even think B School when I hear about grad school. For me it was physics...or math...or finally law.

The only problem in learning about statistics and probability is that it ruins the fun of gambling for the rest of your life....looks too much like homework problems!

His view was that the average person does not need to know much math beyond basic geometry, algebra, and understand the basic concept of derivatives and trig.

If everyone knows how to use the four-function calculator well (square root optional), the market will be more rational.

DennisN Says:

> The only problem in learning about statistics and
> probability is that it ruins the fun of gambling for
> the rest of your life….looks too much like homework
> problems!

I had a professor that called the lottery a “tax on stupid people that don’t understand statistics”…

I had a professor that called the lottery a “tax on stupid people that don’t understand statistics”…

It is about psychological framing. But I welcome stupidity tax. :)

Yah, I got glared at once when somebody said they were going to grad school, I asked what they were studying. When they said to get their MBA, I said "Oh, I thought you meant REAL grad school."

Business school IS a real grad school. There are disputes about whether JDs are real doctors though.

It is a school for graduates.

New thread: So, long, David!

"There are disputes about whether JDs are real doctors though. "

Interesting thought. Peter, why don't you let me try operating on you. Then we both will know the truth of the statement.

Dr. astrid's medical advice*

For any ailment, take a long and almost unbearably hot shower, then collapse into bed tightly wrapped in a comforter, sleep til much better or much worse.

* Does not constitute real medical advice.

GC,

More *medical advice*

Seek professional therapist to discuss your sporadic exhibitionism and unresolved issues about objectifying women.

* Not liable if so called professional therapist turns out to be an analrapist or is otherwise unqualified to provide professional therapeutic advice.

We should replace objectification with objectivism.

We agreed that the main missing piece from general education is basic understanding for statistics and logic, which is easy for even people of low math skills.

Statistics is not easy. Do not underestimate it. Even Einstein had problems accepting the Heisenberg principle. Hence why he later said God does not play dice :)

One cannot adequately understand statistics without multivariate calculus. I once inspired to become a logician, now I am more practical.

I had a professor that called the lottery a “tax on stupid people that don’t understand statistics”

We must have had the same professor.

But then again the stupid FB's must be laughing if the smart people get taxed to bail the stupid FB's.

getting my MBA was the worst mistake of my life

Huh?

getting my MBA was the worst mistake of my life

I have always thought Business schools were in the business of making easy money from the privileged few.

My rational goes like this. If I need to borrow $150 K to get a decent MBA, why not use that money to start a real business in the real world. If it succeeds well and good, if not, then you have learned more than you could ever have from an MBA class.

Harm,

I believe it prevented me from finding work in '02/'03 as I was percieved as too expensive. There was also no support from my school (intentially left nameless) while looking for employment. When I took the MBA off my resume I started getting calls and interviews. It could be coincidence but I don't think that's the case.

Also, I've had confirmation by a current coworker of the success via MBA deletion theory.

Paul

GC, maybe HBS woman was frightened of you :)

I think the networking thing is what Ivy league and MBAs are all about. My school probably is not the best for that and I am not a big networker. This is probably why when at a cocktail party in those lean years, I would tell people I couldn't get work and they looked at me like I had a third eyeball in the middle of my forehead!

I thought business school is mostly about networking.

Maybe I'm a little biased.
A decade ago, armed with a graduate degree I was told by my corporate colleagues that I needed an MBA to start a new business. Being a Geek then was not sexy. Anyways, quit my job and started a new business. It went under after 2 years. Started another one shortly after that and it has been the best thing ever. I was probably lucky the 2nd time round.

I think the value of MBA networking might be important to those looking for corporate jobs as senior managers and future CEO's. But for Entrepreneurs starting new business models and products, you need skills and brain power more than a network.

In my industry, Nuke Power, a MBA will help you get up through the ranks beyond a shift manager. It will not sub for an ABET engineering degree with a SRO license. You *gasp* actually have to have some skills to make the MBA worth something.

Shift managers are basically the top dog of the plant when the plant manager/VP is away. He is the ultimate guy in chanrge of the plant when it comes to license duties. In the end a MBA is just a little extra thing to tack on a resume to make you stand out against the others. Honestly a BS in engineering with a SRO license is a very good combo to have and is the catch all requirment to advance.

GC,

LOL! How little you understand me. If my boyfriend would truly be happier as a janitor or a farmer or an theoretical mathematician, I would support him -- possibly even financially, if I thought he could be a brilliant scientist.

However, he is quite fond of managing money (he saved almost $150K in six years with a relatively modest salary) and likes good food and we agree he would thrive in a more challenging environment, so investigating financial engineering (so he could make up his mind before enrolling) makes more sense. Furthermore, he's not THAT brilliant or THAT lazy, so why bother waste a lifetime in academia.

GC,

Also, might want to talk about unresolved regret about not taking that pre-IPO Google job...*

But really, I admire your life. You work very little and at a job you somewhat like. You make enough money to live comfortably and spend lavishly on food. You went to the university my father would likely have attended if he wasn't interrupted by the Cultural Revolution. You seem to have enough friends and associates and attention from relatively attractive women. You have a great life!

*not constitute therapeutic advice, blah blah blah.

FAB is an advocate of the top 5 biz school or you're out theory. I have no experience so I can't tell.

Depending on where you work, big law firms are a little more forgiving about law schools.

astrid Says:

> FAB is an advocate of the top 5 biz school or you’re
> out theory. I have no experience so I can’t tell.

I've always said to try for a top school (even top 20), but if an English major wants to go in to business I think they can learn something at any business school (even a JC at night paying $5 a unit)...

Here's an interesting tidbit - a potential scam related to the housing bubble has hit the "fortress," including Palo Alto, Portola Valley, and Los Altos:

http://www.mercurynews.com/realestatenews/ci_5898867?nclick_check=1

Harm,

Also, I’ve had confirmation by a current coworker of the success via MBA deletion theory.

Paul,

Interesting. I had almost the exact same experience after I completed my MS in the early 90s. It seems to work against you when you are a fresh-out-of-college neophyte and not a member of the "Club" (you know, the families who tend to join Skull'n'Bones, get their names in the tabloids, etc.). I wasn't getting any callbacks at first, then got the same idea, took it off my resume and started getting called. I left it off for several years, until I started going for more senior positions.

Once you have significant real-world business experience under your belt, I think your MBA will come in handy, but probably not before then.

GC,

I don't think you understand my boyfriend or me very well. That's all I have to say.

lazy people are the most helpful ones in times of crisis.

If you can find a way to motivate smart but lazy people, they are your biggest asset.

On somedays, talking to my boyfriend is akin to banging my head against a wall repeatedly. I accumulate a headache and absolutely nothing happens.

Peter P,

Smart but lazy people are a pain in the ass to manage. Even if you get them momentarily motivated, they're liable go back to their lazy ways.

The bright side is that they're often too lazy to look for more renumerative work.

I guess stupid but lazy people are even worse. Followed by stupid and hypercontrolling people. Followed by stupid, hypercontrolling, passive-aggressives -- maybe that how my boyfriend sees me (okay, so this might be a bad day for me).