I attended a conference and round table discussion focusing on international students, how to relate and the problems and stresses they encounter. One of the topics was “What do you wish someone would have told you before coming over” So I am going to address some of these issues.
 
1. You will either need a car or have access to one, unless you plan on living and spending all of your time close to campus downtown.
In other countries, like China, a car is not required or even reasonable. Everything is centralized and within walking distance. In Indianapolis, the city is vast and spread out. Most of the time, I-465 is the way to get to other parts of the city. We do not have a transit system or cab system in place, so either the bus (which can be very confusing) or a car is the main mode of transportation. So they wish someone would have told them that you will need to either get a car or find someone who will be willing to share.

2.  Housing, even though it is offered, is hard to come by. Please secure it well before coming over.
This may sound like common sense but what international students don’t realize is that IUPUI is smack dab in the middle of downtown. Housing fills up very quickly and have long waiting lists. We do not have building after building after building of dormitories. Personally, this is why I love IUPUI. It’s small and in the middle of it all. It’s so personal easy to navigate but I can see where it would be frustrating trying to secure housing.

I also want to address something the international students wish WE knew about them when they come over. They are very shy! This is for many reasons. The obvious…they’re in a new country. Some other reasons are their names can be very hard to pronounce and they may (even though they can speak English) have very thick accents. This keeps them from speaking up in class and from trying to make new friends. This affects their happiness here and their grades as class participation can be a factor. So they wanted us to know that they are very shy, almost painfully so. So, they have a hard time talking to and opening up to other students. So please welcome these students with open arms!!

Great Leaders SERVE

On March 25, the Dan Cathy, President & COO of Chick-fil-A, spoke at the Kelley School in Indianapolis on “Tools Needed to be an Effective Leader”.  Mr. Cathy provided reception with food and drink, followed by a presentation and a great networking opportunity with Mr. Cathy.  We had well over 100 students attend the event.  It was a great turnout for a great speaker, who is known for his high standards and moral character.

He began by focusing on the Chick-fil-A story.  How it was started and how it grew.  Some of the key points he brought out in this early discussion was remember to focus on high quality customer service and employee retention.  Chick-fil-A has an excellent retention rate.  Chick-fil-A has over 1300 locations in 37 states.

He quoted Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller’s book, The Secret:  What Great Leaders Know and Do.  In the phrase Great Leaders SERVE, you can breakdown SERVE into five phrases:

? See and shape the future
? Engage and develop others
? Reinvent continuously
? Value results and relationships
? Embody the values

To find out more about Chick-fil-A, visit their website at http://www.chick-fil-a.com/#story

Midwest Finance Association

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Midwest Finance Association meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

It was a great conference.  Have you ever wondered what academics would do at a conference?

This is a research conference.  As a research conference, I submitted a copy of one of my research papers to the conference.  Even though the conference was early March, I submitted my paper back in September.  The conference committee then reads the papers and decides what papers to allow on the conference.  For this particular conference, around 60% of the papers were selected for presentation.  The other 40% of the papers were rejected.  Some conferences have higher acceptance rates and some lower.  The selectivity of the conference submissions is one way to measure the quality of the conference.

Fortunately, my paper was selected for the conference.

At the conference I presented the manuscript, Demutualization: Determinants and Consequences of the Mutual Holding Company Choice.  The mutual holding company structure is a unique structure that some mutual thrifts (also called savings and loans) use to become publicly traded companies.  It is a relatively new structure, so not many people are familiar with it.  A mutual thrift is owned by its depositors, much like a cooperative.  The depositors vote to take the company public and sell stock in the company.  As a depositor in one of these thrifts, you have the right to purchase a new share of stock at the time of the initial public offering (IPO).  On average the stock price increases by 25 percent on the first day that the company is traded on the exchange.  A Mutual Holding Company only sells some of the stock, saving the other portion for a later offering, usually referred to as a second stage offering.  My coauthors and I document the stock returns from investing in these companies and provide explanations for why the company may choose a Mutual Holding Company structure instead of simply going fully public in a single stock offering.  If you are interested, see a copy of the paper at the following link.
http://www.mfa-2008.com/papers/MFA2008_Symposium%20Session_MHC.pdf

Another person at the conference reads and discusses my paper.  The job of the discussant is to provide critical feedback that will help the author in the publishing process.  As a discussant you want to be tough but fair, it is the only way to help the author improve their work.  My discussant was a member of the Federal Reserve Board which is one of the regulatory agencies for banks.  The individual gave some good feedback that my coauthors and I will use in writing the next draft of the paper.

The paper is currently under review at a finance journal.  The journal has about a 10% acceptance rate, so it is difficult to get the paper published.  In finance, most of the top quality journals have around a 10% acceptance rate with some of the best journals accepting less than 5% of the papers that are submitted for publication.

At the conference, I also served as a discussant.  I discussed the manuscript Effects of National Recognition on the Influence of Credit Rating Agencies.  It was an interesting paper and I hope the authors found my comments useful in their next revision.

At the conference, I also look for new ideas and colleagues to work with.  As you hear the presentations of other people, new ideas for papers come into your mind.  Once I return, I usually start working on one of these ideas, or write some notes on the idea so that I can pursue it at a later time when I have completed some of the other papers that are currently on my desk.

Of course, I also enjoyed the great city of San Antonio.  Our conference was on the River Walk.  There are loads of great restaurants.  I focused on the Mexican cuisine this time, but also enjoyed some Irish food.  The weather was in the 70’s and sunny, a perfect time to enjoy a walk around on the river front and around the town.  Of course, one has not truly visited San Antonio unless if they “Remember the Alamo”.

All in all, it was a great mix; a few papers and presentations during the day, some great food in the evening, and perfect weather to visit the Alamo and a couple of markets.

I’m a self-confessed business news junkie.  It started in my undergrad days at Notre Dame when a group of friends and I used to print out archived copies of the Chicago Sun-Times crosswords puzzles to keep us occupied in some of our – shall we say, less exciting – courses.  After a semester we had exhausted the entire archive and, fortuitously, that’s when they started offering the Wall Street Journal free of charge throughout the business building.  Back in my day – which wasn’t even that long ago – the only way to read the news in class was by reading the paper itself.  It was an acquired skill, but after a couple of embarrassing moments, I quickly learned how to silently flip through pages in the back of the classroom – mind you, there was no Facebook and you would never be allowed to prop open a laptop during class.

While none of my professors – and certainly not yours – would have been too happy to find a student reading the paper in class – even if it was the WSJ – knowing what was going in the business world was essential in landing my first job as a financial analyst.  The first two questions I was ever asked were, “What impact will the terrorists attacks (9/11 was less than a month prior to my interview) on the economy?” and “If you were the President, how would you respond?”  It was my decisive response to this final question, not necessarily the answer itself, that I later learned landed me the job.

If you are business major, you’ve got to be aware of what’s making headlines in the business world.  The truth is that what’s going on in the business world is just as interesting – in my opinion, even more so – than anything in the world of television and entertainment.  Just look at the recent and ongoing story of the Bear Stearns collapse.  It’s a fascinating story on multiple levels.  You have:

    An 85-year old pillar of Wall Street essentially wiped out over the course of a week.
The government (your government) pledging $30B (yes, that is a B) of your money to secure risky loans.
    JPMorgan Chase buying a stock that was valued at $34 on March 14 and as high as $159 over the past 52 weeks for $2 (now $10) a share. 
    Several individual investors losing hundreds of millions of dollars
    Widely divergent opinions among analysts and the public, from “They saved the financial markets from collapse” to “We should have let them go bankrupt.  Those greedy b******s got what they deserved.”
This story examines some of the potential ramifincations of the recent turmoil in the financial markets: http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/17/magazines/fortune/investing/Tully_WallStIsBroken.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008031718

What happens on Wall Street in not confined to Wall Street.  The impact of the mortgage crisis and its ever-expanding fall out will hit just about every business, large or small.  Many will be hurt, some will benefit, and the more you know, the better you can position yourself as the candidate (or current employee) who can recognize opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis, anyone?) and help an organization navigate the changing economy.  And you are likely to be entertained.

Hey Everybody:

It is hard to believe we have less than six weeks until the end of the semester! It is the perfect time to be looking for a place to stay for next fall. No need to look any farther the KELLEY HOUSE is here at IUPUI.

This is a brand new opportunity for current Kelley Students and direct admits. Living on campus in a theme house such as the Kelley House will not only be a great opportunity to meet friends with similar interest and similar goals. It is proven that students who live on campus earn better grades than those who do not. You have all the resources literally available within minutes. You also have 43 other residents you can talk to about classes, homework, which professors to take, which classes to take, etc.

I strongly urge everyone in Kelley to consider this exciting opportunity. We have many plans to make this the best living experience you will ever have! Call the Housing and Contracts office with any questions about how to apply for the Kelley House (317) 274-7200 or check out the website at www.housing.iupui.edu

I just wrapped up what I consider to be a very successful meeting with the President of the Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) Accounting Club.  A couple of weeks ago he sent me an email asking if I would be willing to give a presentation covering the nuances of the accounting recruiting process, with an emphasis on finding internship opportunities and navigating the application and interview process.  This meeting was our planning session for the April 7 presentation.

I bring this up because I’m well aware of the fact that there many current and/or prospective students aren’t aware of the breadth of services available through their school’s career services office.  We give hundreds of presentations a year, speak at every orientation and dozens of recruiting events, but if you’re not ready to think about planning your career, finding a job, or advancing in your current position at the time, the message can get lost.  It’s worth noting – however many times are necessary – that our staff can help with everything from revising your resume to changing careers to customizing a presentation for a student organization.

So what I’m saying is that when you need (or want) something – just ask us!  It’s that simple.  You’d be surprised at the range of topics we can cover - and if the CPO can’t address your needs or the needs of your organization, we can help find someone who can.  We can also customize any presentation or develop a new one from scratch to meet the needs of any student or professional organization – all we need is a little information – and to be asked.

On a side note, check out the initial email I received from the IUI Accounting Club President inquiring about a presentation. Not only is this an excellent template for requesting a speaker from within the university, but it’s perfect for recruiting an external speaker – say, a local executive.  On an individual level, you could use this as a framework for crafting a personalized email request for an informational interview.  It’s professional, personalized, and gives the recipient enough information to respond intelligently.  Use it as a guide and you can expect to receive excellent – and prompt – responses.

*And you are, of course, welcome to attend the April 7 presentation – especially current and prospective Accounting majors*

-----------

JR,

The IUI Accounting Association was wondering if you would be interested in being a guest speaker at our April club meeting at IUPUI.  Many of our club members have expressed an interest in learning more about accounting internships.  Specifically, our members would like to get insightful tips on how to prepare and attain internships, the “do’s and don’ts,” and what to expect.  Naturally, we thought of you as our first contact.

The April meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place on Monday, April 7, 2008 during 4:30-5:30pm at the new Campus Center in room CE 305. This room is reserved from 4:00-6:00pm so there is plenty of time to setup for the presentation.  In addition, we have the media podium reserved (i.e., PC, DVD, Projector, Screen) in case you have a PowerPoint presentation.  You would have the majority of this time (i.e., 45 plus minutes) to give your presentation.

Moreover, I wanted to give you a little background information on our members/meetings. Our meetings are open to all the entire student body and we generally have a good turnout. Many of our members attend to learn about opportunities available to them with the major they are pursuing. In addition, the club tries to give students an informal, relaxed atmosphere for students to network and meet with accounting professionals. Hence, this is really our club's main function--to help students become aware of accounting opportunities and reach their career aspiration.  Therefore, any advice or experiences you can share with our members on ways to succeed as an accountant will be very much appreciated.

It has finally arrived!! I am excited for spring break this year. Not only will I turn 21 over break this year, but I am going to bring it in the best way possible. My birthday is on St. Patricks Day. When I found out I would be studying in Europe, the first trip I booked was for spring break. After talking to a friend back at home, I decided there would be no better way to bring in my 21st than to do it in Dublin. It will be a great time. I am excited to celebrate my birthday and St. Patricks Day in Ireland. From Dublin I am going to Paris for 3 days and then returning to Barcelona for the last few days of break. I have a lot of traveling to do from now until the time I get back. Other than being stressed out from making travel arrangements, things are going pretty well! I love Europe. I am not ready to come home. I have a month left so I have to take advantage of everything. Well considering I have to be at the airport in 3 hours, I should get going. I do not want to miss my plane. Have a good break!! Make sure you come back to check out pictures from break!

Since I started my graduate school work last fall, I’ve taken the courses of taxation, financial accounting, and business law.  I particularly enjoyed tax courses, since they are so practical that I can immediately take advantage of the knowledge and information I got (I love saving money on taxes just like everyone else!).  “Estate and Gift Taxation and Income Taxation of Estates and Trust” was another class that gave me useful information.  I was aware some of the disadvantages of not being a US citizen and keeping my status as a permanent resident.  The quickest example of such disadvantage is the right to vote.  I, as a permanent resident, obviously have no rights to vote.  From this estate and trust course, I learned that disadvantages exist in the area of taxation, too.  The course taught me the importance of being proactive as to estate planning.  Maybe I should think twice what I want to do about my nationality. 

As the spring semester is almost half over, it’s time to pick classes for summer and fall.  Believe it or not, the day of my graduation will come quickly, and I will soon start working full-time.  But, before that happens, there is still plenty of stuff that has to be done.  Choosing the right classes, keeping up with the classes, researching for my career, networking, studying for CPA exams, passing the exams, and so forth...  I am still not sure, after a couple of major career changes and years of education (and for that matter, it’s still ongoing), whether I will be able to finally get “my dream job”.  Or does such thing really exist?  Or do I deserve to earn it?  

Someone said to me that we all are doing soul searching no matter what we are looking for.  She said that all the efforts you’ve made (and speaking myself, I am still making) will someday get you where you feel it’s a good fit for you.  It may not be something you dreamed of, or even thought of.  That’s fine.  Satisfaction comes in a variety of ways, and it can change over time.  While worrying about what will happen later, I just do what I can do now, and enjoy my endeavor.  The important thing is having fun while doing.  I know that’s the key to making the magic happen. 

February and March have turned out to be the months I thought they would be. When I planned my schedule this semester I planned on enjoying four day weekends for the last time in my life. However, it seems that every week I end up filling my Thursdays and Fridays with all sorts of random things. Not that I am complaining because most of them have been fun trips like going to Colorado or going to Florida, but the fact is I have not had time to truly just relax without any worries.

I did get the chance to go to the University of Florida last week and attend The Emerging Leaders Conference. The trip was amazing.  There were nearly 70 students from 16 different schools in attendance.  The weekend consisted of four key note speakers and many breakout sessions. In my opinion the best speaker we had was a man by the name of Steve Farber. He is an expert in business leadership and spends most of his time speaking to various business groups around the country. He is the author of two books and working on his third. I hate to do free advertising for someone, but he truly was an amazing speaker. His website has tons of great free information www.stevefarber.com.  We also had the opportunity to listen to speakers from GE, Symantec, Siemens, the CEO of Zoe’s Kitchen, and many other business leaders. All of the speakers had very interesting views on leadership and the future of business. One of the best sessions that we had at the conference did not involve any speakers. We had the opportunity to sit in a group of peers from 15 different leading business schools and discuss our culture. We were able to bounce ideas off each other and learn ways to improve our schools. We discussed different types of clubs, various extracurricular activities, teaching styles, and class room settings just to name a few. 

I was and still am honored that I was chosen by the Kelley School to represent us at the conference. Three other Kelley-Indianapolis students attended with me and we were all able to take away new ideas and great memories from the conference. I hope that the school stays involved with this type of conference and that other students get the opportunity to attend one of these in the future.

Gee, can you believe it is time for spring break?  Seems like the semester just started.  However...the cold has been here forever.  I hope those of you who are going somewhere warm lots of fun.

Me, I am taking the week off work, but am studying.  I have a big paper due at the end of the semester and want to get started on it.  I figure a week should be a great start!

I do plan to have a little bit of fun and getting some things done that I don’t get done while working.  It should be a nice time.

I hope you all have a great week and come back ready to finish the semester!  Be careful on your trip and don’t get sunburned!!!

"Hoosiers are nice, but this (business) isn't a tea party; it's a rugby match." We heard a lot of great insights and advice from a panel of CEOs at the Annual IU Kelley Business Conference this week. But this quote -- advice received by IU alumnus and successful entrepreneur Cathy Langham -- keeps playing in my head. Sure, it's descriptive. And, in my experience, it's also true.

Some days it definitely feels rough out here. But after what I lovingly call my "Kelley kind of week," I'm really inspired by what an amazing resource the Kelley School can be whether you're a student, a prospective student, alum or member of the business community. So, ask questions. Seek advice from faculty and alumni. Take advantage of all the programs available to you through the Kelley School. I think you'll find yourself in better shape to play this rugby game known as the business world. What do you think?

By the way, in case you're wondering what a "Kelley kind of week" is for someone who isn't a student... it's representing Central Indiana at the alumni association's national board meeting; a dinner honoring the newest Kelley Distinguished Entrepreneur Award winner and inductees into the Kelley Academy of Fellows, a breakfast with Dean Cochran and Dean Smith hosted by the Central Indiana alumni assn. chapter, the Business Conference, and a reception and meeting with the Kelley Indianapolis Women's MBA Alumni Advisory and women MBA students. It was a blast!

A milestone event passed this week with little fanfare: 800 days until graduation.

I’m not sure how or why it happened but a couple of weeks ago I was pondering my future (and I suppose my past) and began to think about what life was like without school. Overall, I’m enjoying the program and I’m definitely learning a lot but it’s beginning to take a bit of a toll. I checked the Kelley website and figured out that graduation is in May 2010 and that is a long time from now.

It’s not like it was a secret. The curriculum is available online and the “2.6 year” length of the program was prominently mentioned during orientation. However, much like the amount of study time involved, there is a fine line between merely acknowledging such facts and recognizing their impact on your life.

Talking with several of my friends in the program I’ve heard the term “burn out” quite a bit lately. If we were freshman basketball players or NFL rookies, it would probably called “hitting the wall”. Whichever cliché works for you, I’m feeling it.

Earlier this evening, I took a midterm exam in Financial Management. Last week, I took a final exam in Microeconomics for Managers. Both tests were among the hardest that I’ve ever taken and I’m relieved I’m past them (though I’m not sure I want to see the Finance grade). That means it’s officially Spring Break and I’m glad to have slimmed my non-family commitments to just “work”, if only for a week or so.

While the skills are no doubt valuable, I’m the type of person that finds Econ and Finance very draining. Other than prepping for the GMAT, I’ve basically ignored long-hand math since high school. The only math class I took in undergrad tested via #2 pencil and bubble sheet. I’m not a numbers guy and when, like tonight’s exam, you take away my Excel I can downright struggle.

Thankfully, with the arrival of Spring Break we’re more than half way through the “hardest semester” of the program and that much closer to the classes I’m passionate about, like strategy, marketing, leadership, law, etc.

Here’s to the next 799 days!

In my last post I mentioned I went to an interview for a position at Cummins and since then I have decided it wasn't for me and so I turned it down.  I just started a temporary position at Smurfit Stone Container in the accounting department.  This is really strange for me since I just graduated as a marketing major.  But the things they're having me do are pretty easy and just deal with mostly invoices, payroll, and journal entries.  I took this job with the understanding the position would last "two weeks or until further notice."  Until further notice?! Who KNOWS when that could be until!  However, that is okay with me because Columbus really doesn't have much to offer in the way of marketing jobs.  And by taking this temporary position, it allows me to be flexible in leaving when I'm ready to do my internship in Florida for my events management certificate. 

But...how did i get here?! Smurfit Stone is a factory that makes cardboard boxes.  Everyday when I walk in to work, I just think, "man...how did i get here?!"  It's definitely not where I pictured myself right out of college.  But I understand that it is temporary and that soon enough I will be doing what I truly want to do-- which is manage and market big time events at resorts, cruises, or sports events like the Superbowl.  

Lately I have been craving pizza a lot and I think I know why. .  .when I smell the cardboard at Smurfit-Stone, it reminds me of delivery pizza (strange...I know!!!)  So, in addition to working in the accounting department, I am helping do things called "waste management reports" while the person who normally does them is away on sick leave.  The reports aren't hard to do but the thing I like the least is that I have to walk into the factory area to get these report sheets.  I always feel like all the guys in the factory are staring at me while I grab the waste reports as fast as I can.  Oh, wait, no... the thing I hate the MOST about my job is that sometimes I have to page some of the factory managers.  You may not think this is a big deal but I honestly am HORRIBLE at paging people over the loud speakers.  I somehow always manage to really mess up what I say.  I'll give out the wrong extension for them to call me back on (it's the same extension...137...but I always mess it up).  Or I'll end up paging someone who isn't even scheduled to work until another shift.  I know I'm new and I'll catch on soon.  They really need to hire a receptionist to cover the phone lines.  I'll be in the middle of crunching a bunch of numbers on an invoice and I'll get interrupted by the phone ringing or someone at the front desk ringing the bell.  It's really annoying.  I actually don't mind the job that much but I really am glad it's "temporary" (however I'm not sure just how temporary it is).

Have you found a place to live next fall? Well I have an exciting opportunity to present to everybody...

Kelley House is on its way and will open Fall 2008!!! This is a very exciting opportunity to live on campus and be with approx. 40 other students just like yourself. For those of you who do not know or have not heard about KELLEY HOUSE let me explain. Kelley House is a theme house located in the campus apartments. This theme house is currently taking applications for the Fall 2008. Every person living in the Kelley House will be in the Kelley School of Business or at least planning to be in Kelley. There are tons of advantages to live in the Kelley House.

*It will be a honor to live in the Kelley House, remember approx. 40 spots are available.
*There will be no need to worry about PARKING on campus. You will be in walking distances or you can ride the shuttle
*The convience of living downtown
*No need to wake up extra early to get to school, you will be less than a mile from your classes
 *The apartments are fully furnished. I mean FULLY! Full washer and dryer, kitchen, couches, chairs, microwave, refrigarator, full size bed, full bathroom, t.v. stand, compter desk and chair etc.
*You will have a connection with Kelley Faculty. Faculty will have events with residents.
*Kelley Advisors are going to come to the Kelley House for advising
*Tons of programs are being planned for the Kelley House, resume workshops, competitions, guest speakers, Indians and Pacer games, market simulator competition, Pie in the face, community service, movie nights, game nights, decoration contest....... etc*Last but not least a GREAT RA ----- myself :-)

We are currently planning move in day. The faculty will be helping residents move in. Who would like to see the Dean and the Chair along with Advisors carry T.V.'s, laptops, and clothes? This is a once in a life time opportunity. You will be able to give the faculty work and they wont be giving you any work!

The following links will help you find more information about the Kelley House and also how to apply for the Kelley House.
Check out the website on IUPUI campus housing:
<a href="http://www.iupui.edu/~sldweb/housing/">http://www.iupui.edu/~sldweb/housing/</a></p>
Please visit the following link for information regarding Kelley House:<br />
<a href="http://www.iupui.edu/~sldweb/housing/reslc/kelley.html">http://www.iupui.edu/~sldweb/housing/reslc/kelley.html</a></p>
If you do not currently reside in Campus Housing please visit the following link to apply:<br />
<a href="http://www.iupui.edu/~sldweb/housing/docs/Housing_Application.pdf">http://www.iupui.edu/~sldweb/housing/docs/Housing_Application.pdf</a></p>

All questions regarding the application, facilities, fees, etc. should be directed to IUPUI's Office of Housing and Residence Life: 1-800-631-3974 or <a href="mailto:reshalls@iupui.edu">reshalls@iupui.edu</a>.</p>

Teaching in South Korea.

I encourage every student to consider how they can internationalize their college experience.  Take a class that includes a trip to another county.  Even better, spend a full semester at a university in another county.  Go to France, Spain, England, China, India, Australia, you name it, but experience a culture other than our own.  It will be an experience to remember and open your eyes to another way of thinking.

As a college student, I did not do an exchange program, but I did spend 40 days traveling Europe.  An experience I will always remember as one of the best times of my life.  I saw over 25 cities, learned about culture, about history, and met a great deal of new people.

Well, this summer, I’m taking my own advice!  I’ll be teaching at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.  Fortunately, their classes in the summer program are in English, because I currently only know a word or two in Korean and probably mispronounce them horribly.

The program is six weeks long.  Classes are taught on Monday through Thursday, giving a series of long weekends to travel the country.  I plan to see many of the cities in Korea and go to some of the national parks.

I’ll teach Financial Management.  It is equivalent to our F301 course, but without the ICore project.  I’ll present the course in a slightly different manner for this international audience, but I’ll cover all the same material.  For an international audience, I plan to start with the chapter on International Finance, then present the rest of the material.  This way, I can switch between different currencies to emphasize that Finance is really the same in every country, it’s just a different currency symbol that is in front of the numbers.

Initially, I thought there were be a language barrier in going to Korea, but based on talking with our Korean exchange student and several friends who have been to Korea, it has a low language barrier.  All children are taught English and many Koreans are eager to speak English.  Even some of the signs around the county are in English, making it easier to get around.  I do plan to learn a little Korean to get around the city.  I think it’s a sign of respect to learn about the language of the county you visit.  

If you are interested in Korea, I encourage you to consider this exchange program.  You’ll spend six weeks in a beautiful county.  International Dimension is one of the areas where all Kelley students must complete 6 credit hours.  Participating in an exchange program is one way of meeting this requirement.   See a Kelley advisor for more details on how courses from the program can transfer.

A couple of links might be helpful.  The following link provides an overview of the Yonsei exchange program
http://summer.yonsei.ac.kr/introduction/wel.asp

This link provides a listing of the courses that are taught (in English) in the Yonsei exchange program.  Click on the course area, to obtain a listing of courses in the area of study.
http://summer.yonsei.ac.kr/program/courses.asp

Go international with your degree.  You’ll have a great time travelling and gain an experience that will set you apart in your interviews.