Destination Johnson (or DJ as we call it) is coming up this weekend giving some incoming students a chance to get an inside look at the Johnson School community before they start school here in August. For some prospective students, its a chance to compare and contrast this school to others they may be considering accepting an offer from. In either case, its understandable when people loosely refer to this weekend as a "sell weekend" for the school. In my opinion, while that may be true to some extent, DJ weekend is more about meeting new people and finding mentors and friends in them who may be able to share valuable guidance and advice as you spend two years in business school.

My experience was absolutely positive, giving me a chance to meet some amazing people who have become great friends and mentors. For this reason, there were a few things regarding DJ that I want to share with you so that you too can walk away with an experience similar to mine.

1. Stay with a student host- I ended up staying the weekend with a close friend of mine at the Law School. Part of the reason was that I wasn't sure about the notion of being hosted by a student and staying at someone's place that I hadn't met before. After observing 2 years of DJ, all I can say is that there is absolutely nothing uncomfortable about it. A number of my friends here have hosted students and it has been a great experience for all involved. It gives incoming students a chance to establish a great bond with their host who shows them in the ins and outs of the school during the weekend, and for the host its a chance to share their experience with someone who is now in the the place where they were not long ago. Besides, the social and amicable nature of the Johnson School community really makes this a great experience.

2.Attend all the events as you never know who you may meet- DJ weekend 2007 had a forecasted storm that was supposed to begin Saturday night to Sunday morning. Initially I had planned to skip out on the Saturday night dinner at a students house and the party at the Museum given my long drive back to Detroit. However, at the last minute the student hosting the dinner changed my mind and I ended up staying for the dinner and the party. This was probably one of the best decisions I made in the last 2 years. At the dinner, I met a second year student who was in the same Immersion and career path as I and was headed to full time employment at a firm I wanted to work for. And the best part was that we really hit it off. Infact, he took me with him to the museum party and introduced me with other students with the same career paths who were both first and second years. This really gave me a huge advantage as I now had access to a group of people who can guide me even before I began school! As for the second student himself, he turned out to b one of the best mentors I had as I navigated the challenging course of banking internship recruiting in my first year. All because I chose to stay for an event that I almost skipped out on.


3. Introduce yourself to your prospective classmates- The biggest piece of advice I can give for this weekend is to not be shy and introduce yourself to as many people as you can. Everyone is in the same boat in an unfamiliar setting meeting new people. The best thing to do is introduce yourself to anyone and everyone you meet, especially your incoming classmates. A number of my friends met their roommates or best friends at DJ just because they introduced themselves to each other and hit it off. The advantage of this is that when you start school in August, its nice to have a familiar face or friend who is in the same boat as you that you can rely on to get through the challenges of the first semester.

The three points above are just the points I wanted to share with those of you attending DJ this weekend, as I felt they may be helpful. For those who are still on the fence, think of it this way. The cost is one weekend. The benefit is contacts who may become great mentors and best of friends.. For me, the benefit certainly outweighed the cost.

My classmates and I just returned today from a 9 day study trip to Colombia and I can confidently speak on behalf on my class that this trip blew our minds away! The trip would not have been possible without the leadership Prof. Sine who is an expert on the country, nor without the tireless coordination of two Colombian classmates of our ours, Santiago Canela and Margaria Blanco.

As part of the trip we got a chance to work on a week long project with a select group of students from Universidad de Los Andes who had to apply and be selected to participate in our project. Never have a I met a group of people so warm and friendly, who went out of their way on a daily basis to make sure we had an amazing experience in their city.

The days were long as each morning we all had to wake up between 5 and 6am. However, the early rise after little or no sleep at night was totally worth it given our schedule which kept us occupied throughout the day.

During the trip we met with the Vice President, Francisco Santos Calderon, who gave us a candid overview of the country, the region and the world in general. To meet someone in his position is not only a great honor but a tremendous learning experience.

We also visited a flower production and export farm. Flowers are a huge export for Colombia and it was a fantastic opportunity for us to see how one of the largest company's in this space engages in this business. Personally, I have never given flowers much importance, but given how many Pesos this business can generate, it certainly changed my mind.

Part of our trip was spent in two divisions of the sprawling Grupo Aval empire. We had a presentation at Banc de Bogota and then another a Porvenir S.A, a pension fund, that talked to us about the fundamentals of the local economy and how each business operates. We also learnt that Colombia currently offers a tremendous opportunity for investment. The impact of the presentations was such that I recall hearing some classmates after each section discussing potential investment opportunities in the country. The capstone of these visits was that we got a chance to meet Luis Carlos Sarmiento Guiterrez who is a 1985 Johnson School alum and is currently being groomed by his father (Luis Carlos Sarmiento)to run Grupo Aval.

Yet another one of the highlights of our trip was a visit to Caracol TV, the country's second largest TV channel. Here we get to see TV production practices and meet some local celebrities. Prof. Sine and some of our classmates were even featured in brief interviews on the morning talk show!

To conclude our trip in Colombia, all the students had a presentation with the companies they were assigned to work on a project with. My team, which comprised of 4 Cornell and 2 Los Andes students worked with Colpatria, a division of GE money on a sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. This project allowed us to dig deep in local coporate culture and practices and gave the company executives a new perspective on initiatives they were considering.

After a hectic week of 14 hour work days followed by social activities that went on into the night, a small group of us from Cornell went on to Cartegena where we spent the weekend learning about the beautiful historic city and basking in the sun by the beach.

The above were just a brief recount of the trips highlights. But, the real value add was in the personal impact we all experienced as part of this trip. The study abroad put us out of our element and challenged our conventional thinking by exposing us to a different culture and style of work/life. We learned more than we could imagine about industries we would never have thought of. But most importantly, we all learnt that when a person is engaged in something that is exciting and fun, they will never find themselves bored or tired, regardless how little sleep they have had the night before.

The Colombia trip was a 9 day challenge with the two themes of knowledge and fun combined together. It made me realize that if we all can find career's that offer a similar experience on a weekly basis, we can definitely find a continuous state of happiness.

As we all know these are desperate times in the economy and the effect it has having on business schools around the nation is that the percentage of students securing full time employment is declining. And so it is understandable if students are concerned about the outlook for summer internships and full time employment.

But this concern should not translate into giving up hope and not trying at all. I have come across many people who seem to have the attitude that its not worth wasting energy, looking to secure employment right now because there is nothing out there. I would have to disagree with that thought even though I realize its easier said than done. This is the time to try even harder, push through the barriers and get in front of employers to show that you are indeed a good candidate willing to go the extra mile...even when times are tough. Because when the market does pick up, you want the employer to think of you before anyone else.

If there is anything I have learned at business school, its that relationships matter and persistence pays off. This is the time to be persistent and establish those relationships because you never know when the current economic situation will take a u-turn.

I want to give the example of a classmate of mine who in my opinion is one of the hardest working individuals I have ever met in my life. We both worked together to secure a summer internship at a bulge bracket investment bank. And while I considered him as one of the better prepared candidates, luck unfortunately wasn't on his side when summer internship offers were made in January 2008.

If it were anyone else, they would have probably been shattered by that outcome given how much time and effort is invested in securing such an opportunity. But he wasn't. The very next day he went back to the drawing board and persisted for the entire spring semester, calling every possible financial advisory firm you can think off, heading down to NYC more times in a week than you or I could imagine (I'm sure he needed to change the oil in his car every month!). There were times when I even told him to consider other career paths, but he always turned down my advice saying that this is what he wanted to do. In his quest to secure an internship and build his resume while doing so, he even started doing freelance financial modeling work for a small firm in the Midwest. I just couldn't understand where he got his drive and motivation from.

After months of hard work and trying every avenue, he finally managed to secure an internship at a boutique financial advisory firm. I was extremely happy that things worked out for him and now hoped that he would receive a full time offer.

He ended up having a great summer and did exceptionally well but because it was a small firm, he wasn't either offered or denied a full time offer. He was told that they would take a look at the economic outlook and let him know later in the year or sometime in 2009.

So in August of 2008, while his investment banking classmates had some closure regarding their post graduation opportunities, he went back to the drawing board and started figuring out a plan to secure a full time position. Again the weekly trips to NYC started and phone calls and emails to maintain relationships and locate opportunities continued. Even as the the economy proceeded to take a nose dive, his level of hope didn't.

I remained in awe at his persistence and drive. Even amidst all the negativity, my friend never gave up hope and remained determined towards achieving his goal. And he did. Two weeks ago, he finally got a call from his summer employer, who was blown away by his persistence, extending him full time employment. Can you imagine? Getting a job at a financial institution at a time when financial institutions are primarily focused on layoffs!

All I can say is that his drive and hard work paid off. All through 2008 he never gave up and he always sought out opportunities to make contacts. If someone from NYC agreed to spend 15 minutes with him on the phone, he would drive down to NYC so he can spend those 15 minutes in person, only to drive back right after.

This is a story that highlights the importance of persistence, hope and the value of not giving up. Just keep trying. If you really want something, go after it and don't let the noise around you sway you.

When I was 5 years old, I used to have a poster in my room that read " you never know what you can get away with unless you try". Looking at my friend, I can certainly say that not only did he try, but he got away with a job at a time and in an industry when most would think its impossible.

I haven't come across any other town in the US that, for its size, offers as many places to eat as Ithaca does. I guess in the freezing weather like that of Ithaca, there really isn't much else to do than eat!

So if you enjoy dining, the number and variety of restaurants is simply staggering. Whether you are craving a burger or Southern fare or even the healthy vegetarian option, there is something for everyone.

So, rather than describe each and everyone, I am going to list my top 5 favorite places to eat in Ithaca and encourage you to try them in case you haven't (and no, i dont get a free meal out of this even though my Negotiations Class has taught me otherwise...)

1. The Heights Cafe- This in my opinion is the finest restaurant in Ithaca. Perfect place for a romantic evening or a celebration, the restaurant offers excellent steaks and seafood and desserts that will leave you drooling. If you have a big appetite and are feeling adventurous, try the Signature Steak. The only thing that beats a 30oz steak is the idea of trying to finish it.
2. Madeline's- I would say the menu of offerings is similar to the Heights, but there there are certain items that are almost like fusion food. From a price standpoint I would place it below the Heights but the quality is certainly on par. Try the lamb and you wont be disapointed. For desserts they have a seperate display from which you can choose... and believe me, no matter what you choose, its amazing!
3. Taste of Thai- I have found that it is hard to find good Thai food outside of NYC, but this place really is on par with a lot of the restaurants in the city. Definitely try the Tom Yum Soup and the Panang chicken.
4.Plum Tree- My thoughts on Sushi and quality are similar to those on Thai food. But Plum Tree is a place that not only offers a delicious selection, but everytime i have been there, it has had a vibrant and energetic crowd. Great place to go in large groups of friends to have a good time. And yes... they do have Sake bombs!
5. Glenwood Pines- Last but not least is my all time favorite. Nothing raises your spirits like a Pinesburger after a finance exam or an interview that just didnt go well! Try it and you will love it. Enough said!

My list is limited to just five but a few noteworthy mentions that I liked are Moosewood, Maxies Supperclub, Just a Taste, Joes Restaurant and ZaZa's.

So when its freezing out, and there isnt much else to do, eating is always a great option!

Its great to finally have things in order after a brief period of uncertainty and be back blogging on this site. The uncertainty occurred due to the demise of Lehman Brothers, the firm I had spent my summer at and received a full time offer from. As things were unfolding I was a little concerned that the outcome may not turn out as I had initially expected.

The last two months turned out to be a fairly challenging time for me. Starting recruiting again is not a fun process, especially after making plans on doing things I had missed out on in my first year due to recruiting. But, it was during this recruiting period that I learned about the true meaning of the collaborative community at the Johnson School.

When things initially were up in the air regarding my offer, I reached out to a number of alumni to figure out what my options were. Everyone of them was willing to offer guidance and lend a helping hand. I was even approached by some alumni and offered a chance to interview at firms I had never considered before. The Career Management Center was also working to help us (there were three of us in the position) find opportunities by contacting alumni.

As I started to consider a variety of options, my classmates guided me on what each option meant, helped me prepare my pitch and conducted mock interviews. With all the uncertainty, given the support I had around me, I always felt that things would work out. The Johnson School community really was there to lend a helping hand when I needed it the most.

In the end, I am very fortunate to have had things work out as I received an offer from Barclays in Investment Banking. While I continued to see through to completion some of the opportunities that came my way, I ultimately accepted the Barclays' position since it was something I knew I would enjoy. I couldn't be happier with the outcome because I really believe that while there is a level of risk associated with employment in the financial markets today, its times of uncertainty like these that really shape the future of an industry and to be a part of such a change is an opportunity that comes by once in a lifetime.

What a week this has been... 2 storied Investment banks no longer exist as they once did; the market made wild swings all week in what can only be described as erratic behavior; the government decides to bail out public companies in a $700 billion aid package, further pushing the US national debt from $10.6 to 11.3 trillion. According to one of the sources I had come across that amounts to roughly $82,000 of national debt per US tax payer.

Wow.

So my only thought around this is the moral hazard this creates. Yes, I do agree that some sort of bailout package is much needed especially for a company like AIG that insures everything from lives and cars to oil rigs. I mean the last thing you would want is your insurance company to go under when you need them the most... but here's my point, isn't this setting some sort of precedent about risk taking by public companies? I mean to me it suggests that if I was a CEO I can take on a little more risk than I should because if things get really bad, the government has my back.

Amidst this turmoil it has been great to have a class at the Johnson School titled "Financial Markets and Institutions" taught by Prof. Maureen O'Hara. The class and Professor have been held in high regard by students and was recommended to me when I was considering the Johnson School, but only now that I actually am in the class do I realize how great it is. It is completely applicable to the current situation and the best part is, given the situation over the last few weeks, Prof. O'Hara has tailored the class by dedicating the first 40 minutes of each session just to discuss the current events and her views on why they are taking place and the side effects to be expected.

I was told second year was going to be an amazing experience but given the events of the recent weeks its been fascinating to note that while history is being written, I have a chance to think about it and learn from different and unique perspectives thanks to my Professors at the Johnson School.

I am currently a second year student originally from Karachi, Pakistan. I moved to the US when I was 18 to begin my undergrad education at the University of Virginia . I graduated with a double major in Psychology and Economics, but, because I am a bit of a car fanatic, I started my career at General Motors. In the four years I spent at the company prior to B-school, I worked in a variety of functions ranging from manufacturing and marketing to business development and strategy.
I chose to return to business school to switch careers and begin a career in investment banking with a focus on the auto industry. Cornell was an easy choice given its strength in the banking career track, its collaborative nature and smaller size. My first year was simply amazing and I am looking forward to a similar second year experience.