The Feeling of College in the Fall
Tuesday, September 12th, 2006As I have mentioned a few posts ago, it’s getting chilly in the air around here in the mornings. It feels REALLY good, especially after the summer we have had. There is a lot that comes with the return of chilly mornings…the changing color of the leaves, sweaters and college.
Every so often, I check out my alma mater, Binghamton University and their School of Management. I see they have built a new field house, a clock tower and some new dorms. I am not sure if I would recognize the place if I visited.
I had a very good experience in Binghamton. I transferred in as a sophomore and stayed for two years and then returned a year after graduation for the MBA program. When I went back, the business school had a new Dean and a new direction. I thought it was on the right heading, because things seemed to fit similarly with the reading I have done on MBA programs. The Dean had a tough, disciplined approach. We certainly did learn a lot during that year…some of which I apply every day.
I will always remember the very first day we met each other. It was during an orientation. No classes had started yet. We (the students) were asked to complete a short case study with a few questions to answer. We were so cocky…you know, in the new MBA program and all. We walked with a certain swagger. The Dean was up on stage and began going over the case study and asked a few questions. We were doing alright until the very end, when he asked, “Well, what course would you suggest for this company?” We all had so many useless answers based on nothing but opinion. Really, there was only one correct answer, and it was based on the figures given in the case study. No one came remotely close to being correct. We all learned an important lesson that day…don’t just make stuff up because of certain perceptions. If there are truths in what you are dealing with, rely and base your decisions on them. He knew we would overlook this and I am sure that is why he made us go through it.
Every so often I miss going to college. If you think about it, (and anyone who has graduated will tell you this) life is pretty easy during those years. Basically, you get up, go to classes, come home, study and chill with friends. I always wonder why so many people never leave their hometowns to enjoy this. I know I am over simplifying the experience, because when I was in college, I thought things were much more difficult than what I just described. One thing is true, life is adventurous during those times, with new people, new classes every 15 weeks and new challenges at every turn.
Perhaps I will take another walk through SUNY New Paltz.
