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Category Archives: Academics
classes, degree planning, academic workshops, CPA exam planning and preparation
Fourth Year Wrap-Up
Now, I would not go as far to say that my fourth year is over, but I am in the extensive process of wrapping things up. Between internship paperwork, exams, registration and making my decision on my offer…I have been a bit busy.
Once you have completed your internship, your work to earn college credit is not over. During my internship, I was required to keep a daily journal. In addition to this, there are a few online questions that need to be answered for the Accounting Department. The answers are used for statistical reasons and are not difficult. Additionally, I am required to write a five-page paper about my internship experience. The paper is designed to discuss what I learned, what I wish I would have learned, as well as my likes and dislikes about my internship. All of these items are due at the end of the week so I have a few long nights ahead of me.
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Exams…yeah, we all have them. These count for 50 percent of my grade so they have a bit more weight on importance and preparation needed.
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Registration is one of the most dreadful days of the year. The stress of getting the best class times, the best professors or even into the only section available can be quite draining on the mind. I was up bright and early and sitting in my command center–the Mill Lab. I was running three computers, with registration, the UT course schedule, pick-a-prof*, and Excel running on several different monitors just to get this process right. It may seem excessive, but the extra effort is worth it.
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I will not go into the reasons why, but I have decided to turn down my offer for full-time employment with the Firm. It is kind of like a bad relationship break-up; a sickening feeling in your stomach when you are doing it but when it is over, you know it is the right thing to do.
I guess I will get back to watching Harry Potter…I mean, get back to studying for exams! 😉
Good luck to everyone else on exams and registration!
~Ciao~
Teamwork and the MPA
A reader identified as C.P. asked two good questions in the comment section of my last post. The comment date was April 1, but I can’t see how the questions could be part of some elaborate April Fools’ Day joke, so I’m happy to respond.
Questions: How often does one have the opportunity to work in teams in the MPA program? How important is teamwork to the MPA curriculum?
One of the most important skills recruiters look for in new hires is the ability to work well with others. My own pre-MPA work experience taught me why that is the case. When people work well together–when they collaborate effectively to accomplish a common goal–their work output improves in terms of quality and quantity. They also find more satisfaction in their work. At least, that’s how it was for us (my coworkers and me).
From my perspective, it seems that the faculty and staff of the MPA program clearly recognize the importance of teamwork, and for the most part, do a good job of incorporating group projects into the curriculum. Most of my classes have required significant group collaboration for team projects and assignments, and I’ve had good experiences with those groups.
I asked a few classmates to see if they agreed with my assessment. One of them, Brian Morgan, thinks professors should make a more concerted effort to teach the importance of collaboration rather than just assuming we’ll figure it out ourselves as we work together on team projects. I think some students could benefit from that approach, especially if professors were able to communicate how group projects in school compare to teamwork in your average job setting. Then again, I think most of us have learned by now the importance of collaboration, so in my opinion, doing more than assigning interesting group projects would be just icing on the cake. Some people like icing, and some people scrape it off (like yours truly). Continue reading Teamwork and the MPA
I’ll be back…oh wait, I AM!
Well…jeez. It had been a while since I have been on here. My apologies for the long absence, I guess with my internship over and a very basic spring break in good ol’ Nebraska, not much had really happened. BUT…I am happy to say that I have returned to the mother ship ( UT ).
Now that my internship is over, I am pretty much a year out from graduating. Wow, how fast four years has passed. I won’t be cliché and say it feels like just yesterday when I first walked the steps of the tower…but instead I would say it feels like just last month.
O, how glad am I to be back… the feeling of sunshine on my face, the utter bliss I am in when I am walking to class, and the continuous noise from the West Mall is like music to my ears. I guess some may be wondering what the life is like for those of us on our little “mini–mester. “ Continue reading I’ll be back…oh wait, I AM!
Questions and Answers – Classes
When I visited campus last year as a prospective student, two MPA students were kind enough to answer the many questions I had for them. I wanted to know their experiences with classes, their career aspirations and MPA tracks, their experiences with recruiting season, their perceptions of MPA students and professors, and just about everything I could think to inquire about.
In an effort to be similarly helpful to prospective and incoming students, I invite you to submit your questions by e-mailing (mpablogger[at]gmail.com) or leaving a comment. I’ll do my best to answer as many of your questions as possible, and will make sure to get input from other students if I don’t have a good answer myself. I’ve also been asked by prospective students to post on this blog more frequently. You got it.
To get us started, here are a few Questions and Answers about MPA classes: Continue reading Questions and Answers – Classes