Finance 401--answer Key

Multiple Choice (2 points each)
1.c	25.c	49.d
2.e	26.c	50.c
3.c	27.a	51.b
4.b	28.e	52.a
5.b	29.d	53.c
6.a	30.drop	54.d
7.b	31.a	55.a
8.cd(either)	32.a	56.e
9. a	33.b	57.d
10.c	34. c	58.d
11.b	35. c	59. a
12.c	36. e	60.d
13.d	37.c	61.a
14.b	38.c	62.c
15.b	39.c	63.d
16.b	40.d	64.c
17.c	41.e	65.e
18.c	42.d	66.c
19.c	43.a	67.d
20.c	44.b	68.a
21.a	45.b	69.c
22.e	46.b	70.e
23.d	47.ac
24.e	48.a

604 answer Key

Multiple choice-2 points each			True False 2 points each
1. A	26.c	51.a	1.f
2. C	27.c	52.c	2.t
3 D.	28.b(any)	53.b	3.t
4.D	29.c	54.b	4.f
5. B	30.c	55.2.78	5.t
6.A	31.b	56.a	6.t
7.C	32.a	57.b	7.f
8.D	33.any	58.any	8.f
9.A	34.d	59.a	9.f
10.A	35.b	60.d	10t.
11.B	36.b	61.a
12.C	37.b	62.b
13.E	38.c	63.c
14.ANY	39.a	64.b
15.C	40.c	65.b
16.E	41.any	66.a
17.B	42.b/c	67.b
18.D	43.a	68.any
19.D	44.e	69.any
20.D	45.c	70.e
21.A	46.d
22.B	47.d
23.B	48.d
24.D	49.a
25.C	50.b

TODAY! Buffalo Job fair

from career services:

STUDENTS... it's not too late!

You can still sign up to attend JobQuest '06, a regional career fair taking place this Wednesday. Employers from a wide variety of career fields will be seeking intern, summer, full- and part-time candidates.

JOBQUEST '06

Wednesday, November 1

3:00 -- 6:00 p.m.

HSBC Arena

Buffalo, NY

Please advance register with the Career Center, room 216 RC, and become eligible to win prizes at the event including $100 Visa Cash Card, Buffalo Sabres Tickets, and more! Transportation is available on a limited basis for those who need it. Stop by the Career Center today for more info. and to pick up your free, event parking pass.

Cases for MBA 604 5 week class

The following are the cases that we will be doing in class:

Adelphia--discuss agency costs, role of auditors
Manco-Open Book--A look at the Nexus of Contracts and info asymmetries
Grameen Bank-how the nexus of contracts changes in microfinance.
Barings Bank-the dangerous side of Derivatives

MBA 604-5 week class

Here are some of the links you might want:

Also I am scheduled to land at 4:30. So I SHOULD make it. However, if the plane is delayed, I may be late. Barb Russell will be bringing the test up. IN the event I am NOT there by 6:15, I will try to get in touch with her to allow you to start the test.

Sorry for all the problems. This has been one wacky schedule! I am in NYC right now. As of 4pm today I thought I had to stay an extra night and was trying to get someone to covefr both the test and the exam, but it worked out and I will be back!

Finance 401

CLASS IS CANCELED FOR THURSDAY.

I cannot find anyone to take both classes. We will make it up at a later date.

SOrry for any inconvience.

Flickr: The October 2006 Buffalo Snowstorm Pool

Flickr: The October 2006 Buffalo Snowstorm Pool-
Many pcitures from various photographers on the storm in Buffalo. Once again it shows the need to help out. If you can make it, please come help BonaResponds!! 11-5 iour HQ is in Lancaster Municipal Building. We will be going all over the area. COme on out! (leaving SBU at 9:15 on SUnday).

Director Ties Linked to Options Scandal - - CFO.com

Director Ties Linked to Options Scandal - - CFO.com:

"A company mired in the options backdating scandal is likely to have something in common with other companies caught in the scandal: a director who sits on the board of at least one other implicated company.

That’s the finding of a new study by The Corporate Library, which concludes that “the practice of backdating stock options may have been spread by word of mouth, through the conduit of directors sitting on the boards of more than one company.”"

OE-Study abroad

http://oe-studyabroad.org/

From Today's Notice Board

Sorry that this is cross-listed and has no finance content, but like I said after Katrina, some rules are made to be broken:

BonaResponds to Buffalo

Come help the Buffalo area recover from the worst natural disaster to strike the US mainland since Katrina. BonaResponds will again go to Buffalo this Sunday (10/22) and next Sunday (10/29).

We will be working in several sites. Most work is picking up downed branches, but there will be work at base headquarters (logistical and administrative etc.) Added brownie points to anyone with chain saws and chain saw experience.

Headquarters will be the Town Maintenance Garage in Lancaster (Broadway and Center streets). From there we will spread out across the region until regrouping at 5 p.m. for a short meeting and returning shortly after 7 p.m.

We expect to leave the Murphy and Plassmann parking lots at 9:15 a.m. Please car pool. We hope to have a few vans available as well, but no guarantees.

Dress to work: boots, work gloves, and old clothes. And you will want to bring dry clothes and a change of shoes for after (trust us on that ;))

Like all BonaRespond events, this is open to everyone! Help spread the word. Have your friends from other schools meet us.

Having seen it first hand, we can say it is really bad up there and many people have no way to move the downed trees that are on their properties. Additionally, community groups, parks, and schools are in desperate need of help.

As an additional incentive (if more is still needed), BonaResponds will knock $10 off the price of the spring break trips to anyone who works at least 5 hours in Buffalo (and if any donors want to match or add to that please e-mail us!)

While reservations are not required, they will make our planning much easier. Please e-mail BonaResponds@sbu.edu.
For more information check out BonaResponds.org

ALSO IF YOUR FAMILY WAS AFFECTED BY THE STORM, PLEASE E-MAIL US AND WE WILL TRY TO SEND A TEAM THERE AS WELL.

If you can't go but would like to help, we will accept both money or food donations. (Home-made cookies? Brownies? Or even just a loaf of bread for sandwiches would help!)

MBA 604 5week class IMPORTANT update

We will NOT be having the test this week!! It will be Friday of next week.

Also since so many of you work until 5:00 I think I will go with what some other classes have decided and go 5:30 to 10:00. And then 8:30 to 3:30 and we will not take lunch (or will work through it...maybe we can get pizza or something? (we'll talk). And it goes without saying we can be flexible so if you can not make it until 6:00, well, we will just figure out a way around that problem.

...plus of course there will be some online material to make up for any missed time. AND of course (and this is really an important aspect that is often overlooked, the way I look at class is that it never ends. So no matter when you finish this class or the MBA program itself, you can still obviously ask me questions and get the blog info to stay up to date in finance, so the artificial 5 week period really does not bother me much.

What do you think?

MBA 604 5 WEEK

Well I guess I didn’t miss a class afterall.

First of all, I hope you are all ok. If there is anything I (we) can do please let me know. On Sunday BonaResponds will be coming to Buffalo to do whatever we can. If you have any ties with church groups (any denomination), community centers, high schools, you name it that could use our help, please email BonaResponds@sbu.edu (not me since I am still in Utah and hope to be back late Saturday.

As for class stuff….well I received the following from SBU:

"Class for the remaining three weeks will need to be adjusted in order for us to make up the contact time required for a three credit course. Please plan for a 5:00-9:00pm meeting for each of the next three class meetings, and please extend the Saturday classes until 4:00 pm. Alternately, adjustments to your teaching plan that involve a significant online component may be an option. Either way, we need to provide adequate instructional time to our students."

Which sounds very unappealing. I know we have to do something, BUT…asking you to be there at 5 on Friday and stay until 5 on Saturday seem a but much. I am open for suggestions. Email me.

One suggestion maybe I could put up audio from past classes and then have an online

St. Bonaventure University:

St. Bonaventure University:

: "REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN ON-CAMPUS RECRUITING
All students interested in participating in on-campus interviewing must:

** Register with The Career Center by opening a free, SBU College Central Network account and post a current résumé to it. The site is located at: www.collegecentral.com/sbu. For information on how to navigate College Central Network, click HERE.

** Submit a separate, hard copy résumé in person to The Career Center, room 216 Reilly Center and sign a 'Statement of Intent to Interview' form for each company with which you are interested in interviewing.

** Attend an 'On-Campus Recruiting Orientation' in to be eligible, if selected, to particiapte in an interview. You must attend an orientation before you sign up for an interview.
(Fall '05/Spring '06 recruiting-orientation participants do NOT need to attend again. All"

CareerJournal | Job Interviewing Tips - Job Interview Tips - Job Interview Techniques

Looking for a job? The Wall Street Journal's Career Journal is a definite site you ust check out!

The Job Interviewing Tips are especially good!!

It is full of great advice as to how to answer interview questions, what to expect, and even how to follow-up afterwards. A MUST read!!

MBA 604 questions

Questions from a couple of MBA students (I renumbered them for ease of use)

1). Will we know what the format is like for the test (Ex: Multiple Choice, Short Answer, True False)?

Uh, yes...all of the above...and probably throw in an or two essay too.

2) Will there be some type of review sheet posted because there has been some major confusion on what things might be on there and what will be tested (More specific than “up to this chapter”).

No. A good portion of learning (rather than memorizing) is to determine what is important. Sorry, I realize it is not as easy, but in the long run it will make you learn more and that is the goal.

3) Especially if there are three ways to do the same thing like three formulas or extra formulas you might have used in class but are not in the book. If the extra formulas or information is to be on the test will you let us know ....

Without knowing exactly what examples you are speaking of, I am confident that any "extra" formulae will get the same answer as those in the book. In that light, I do not care how you get the answer (short of cheating ;) ).

As for information that is not in the book, if we covered it, it will be tested. Indeed, if I were to say only things from the book, I would be embarassed by my lack of effort!!!!! A text is one portion of a class. If I were to merely follow the text, my EVA (Economic Value Added) would be close to zero.

4. Also if we get to make cheat sheet for the test can we use both sides and what are the other limitations for it?

Front of page (8 inches by 11 inches). It will be turned in with the test and you will get it back for final.

5. I have been practicing with the quizs that are online for the book but have noticed that they are for the 6^th edition not the latest edition (7^th which we have) but have no quizs online for it. In the 6^th edition they emphasize different things and the chapters aren’t in the same order.

Sorry I missed that! I just changed it, but rest assured there is not much damage. Chapters 1-5 are very similar. In fact if you could do the 6th edition, you are in good shape as it was a tad more difficult.

Overall the coverage is pretty close and the math etc are the same.

As for whether you should be submitting the quizzes...nah. If you want, but by grad school that sounds too much like busy work. I would however so them.

and then a question from another student:

What chapters are on the test?

Chapters 1-8, 12.

BTW as a bonus to those who have read this far:

You can submit multiple choice questions and if it is accepted, then you will get an extra 1% on the test. Of course you SHOULD also get it right, so that is a double bonus :) and yes you have to submit an answer, and knowing me, I would give the added hint that the more challenging of question, the higher the probability of inclusion.

U.S. homework outsourced as "e-tutoring" grows - Yahoo! News

U.S. homework outsourced as "e-tutoring" grows - Yahoo! News:

"Private tutors are a luxury many American families cannot afford, costing anywhere between $25 to $100 an hour. But California mother Denise Robison found one online for $2.50 an hour -- in India"

I signed up with something like this (for free) for the class. Let's see what happens. Stay tuned!

Quiz and Project for MBA 604

I will hand back the quiz but the project is not done yet...

Also be SURE to bring calculators tonight...

From Career services

Please remind your students of the following résumé-submission opportunities taking place now. Students need to drop off the necessary materials to the Career Center by the due date, in order to apply:

Wednesday, Sept. 27 -- THE BONADIO GROUP -- Accounting majors

Wednesday, Sept. 27 -- ASSOCIATED HEALTH CARE -- ALL majors

Thursday, Sept. 28 -- BUFFAMANTE, WHIPPLE, BUTTAFARO -- Accounting majors

Monday, Oct. 2 -- M&T BANK -- Accounting, Finance (with significant accounting coursework) majors

Tuesday, Oct. 3 -- MANNING & NAPIER -- Finance, Accounting, Economics majors

Wednesday, Oct. 4 -- CHILTON INVESTMENT -- Finance, Accounting, MBA majors

Additional details about these recruiting opportunities is available online at: http://www.sbu.edu/go/student-services/career-center/students/on-and-off-campus-recruiting/index.htm.

Also, anyone who did not attend an ON-CAMPUS RECRUITING ORIENTATION within the last year (F'05 - present) and is interested in participating in On-campus Recruiting this year, needs to attend one of the following 45-minute sessions taking place in the Career Center, room 216 RC:

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 27 -- 12:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, Sept. 28 -- 3:00 p.m.

(These are the last sessions being offered this semester!)

Please contact the Career Center, room 216 RC, x2384, if you have any questions

Quote of the week

"No one keeps up his enthusiasm automatically. Enthusiasm must be nourished with new actions, new aspirations, new efforts, new vision. Compare with yourself; set your teeth and dive into the job of breaking your own record. It is one's own fault if enthusiasm is gone. [S]He has failed to feed it."

Papyrus (as quoted in The Book of Positive Quotations by John Cook)

Some suggested problems for MBA 604

I was asked for some suggested problems.

Here you go:

from Chapter 4:

The Chapter review and self test problems (p 112)

I really like the concept review and critical thinking questions. These would be excellent to do in study groups! They demonstrate, among other things, that growing firms often have cash flow problems.

In Questions and Problems pay particular attention to
3,4,9-13,16,20,21, 22,

Want a real thought provoker? try #31.

hope these help!

reminders

Just some fast reminders

1. No class or office hours today...I am just leaving for a meeting that will take the rest of the afternoon.

2. The Oreck speaker is at 7:00pm today AT JCC in downtown Olean

3. Don't forget the valuation videos

4. Tomorrow is the Deloitte information meeting. DEFINITELY PLAN ON GOING!

5. Need a great line item on your resume? Come to tomorrow's 11:45 BONARESPONDS leader meeting. It really is like running a business and you can make a huge difference.

WSJ.com - In the Lead

Another article that shows it is not the school you go to that matters as much as how hard you are willing to work!

WSJ.com - In the Lead:

"The college diplomas of the nation's top executives tell an intriguing story: Getting to the corner office has more to do with leadership talent and a drive for success than it does with having an undergraduate degree from a prestigious university.

Most CEOs of the biggest corporations didn't attend Ivy League or other highly selective colleges. They went to state universities, big and small, or to less-known private colleges."

And later:

"What counts most, CEOs say, is a person's capacity to seize opportunities. As students, they recall immersing themselves in their interests, becoming campus leaders and forging strong relationships with teachers...."

Thanks to Rich for pointing this article out to me!

Team work from the Buffalo News--Buffalo Bills example!

Yeah I know, this link has very little finance content at first glance, but I think it is relevant and besides, remember everything fits in finance. (And it has nothing to do with the fact that it is about the Buffalo Bills ;) )

Buffalo News - Bills buying family plan from Jauron:

"We were together. We had like a family,' Villarrial said. 'We didn't let anything separate us, we didn't let anything get in our way, and we just stayed focused. And that's what Marv [Levy] and Dick have brought to this team is that family togetherness. With a GM and a coach on the same page, it's nice. We win together, we lose together and no one's better than the other person....'

'It makes a big difference,' Villarrial said. 'If you're a family you don't want to let down your family member. When you mess up a play you get more mad at yourself and you make yourself better because you just felt like you let your whole family down. That's what he brings to it. It's kind of funny in a sense but it's true. '"

It is also my view of most things. Call it family, call it team, call it a class, call it whatever. I am constantly amazed how well it works (see for instance the success of BonaResponds, 2001 Bears, Twins in almost any year, even Handson). When people on a team come together: they try harder, they gain confidence (quit being afraid to speak out or take chances), and they cooperate.

Success then comes to everyone and not just a few select "super stars". These ingredients lead to a successful team or organization.

While it does sound stupid, that is the same attitude that can develop within a class. Think back to your best class (probably just happened, right :)). But seriously, everyone is paying attention, answering questions etc. It is not just a few top students. EVERYONE gets involved. This leads to everyone coming to class prepared (including the teacher) since no one wants to be the reason the class is slowed or held back).

The business world and the job market, like football, are very competitive places, but like in football, being part of a group (be it a study group, a class, or better the whole university) can bring out more from everyone and result in wins (more learning, better job placements, and oh yeah more fun) than if the class is full of students largely in isolation from each other.

So don't be afraid to speak out in class or be a bit creative in your projects. That is how you (and the rest of the team/class) will get better.

And by the end of the semester, you will be totally amazed at how much you learned and how suddenly finance makes more sense than you ever thought possible!

CollegeJournal | Find a Career Path

This is plus for the SBU sports minor if I have ever seen one! ROdney is scheduled to do the sports and Econ class in the spring. Definitely recommended!!

CollegeJournal | Find a Career Path:

"The NFL's finance chief used to work for Goldman Sachs. Its top two marketing executives were at General Motors and IBM. Its lead television negotiator ran sports for ABC and ESPN. The chief operating officer of its cable network handled finance for NBC's West Coast entertainment division. The head of its international division was a marketing executive for the liquor company Diageo....

If you're going to have these franchises that are worth north of a billion dollars, you're looking at it really as the business of entertainment, the business of intellectual property, the business of turnstiles," says Ms. James. "This is a very sophisticated time. It's not a back-slappy time." The booming supply of sports-related jobs extends well beyond the teams and leagues."

Deloitte coming to SBU this FRIDAY!

I know several people who have worked here and all but one loved it. Good opportunity.

INFORMATION SESSION: DELOITTE ERS (McLean, VA)

FRIDAY, SEPT. 22

12:30 - 1:30 P.M.

ROOM 211/213 REILLY CENTER

Alums employed with Deloitte Services LP, McLean, VA, will be on campus to share information about career opportunities with the company. Currently, they are accepting resumes for the following openings:

*INTERNAL AUDIT and ENTERPRISE RISK SERVICES -- Accounting, Finance, BIS, MBA, Math and Computer Science majors.

Internal Audit services include:
• Co-sourcing Specialized Services
• Design Strategic Plan
• Outsourcing
• Reengineering
• Strategic Assessment

ERS Consultant professional responsibilities:
• Establish working relationships with client personnel
• Review client accounting and operating procedures and systems of internal control
• Apply concepts of risk assessment
• Design and perform tests of internal controls
• Provide recommendations for improved controls and enhanced business efficiency

All eligible and interested students are encouraged to attend this presentation. *Please submit your resume to the Career Center, if you'd like to be considered for these positions.

Nike case for 604

I have had several questions regarding the Nike case.

So I will attempt to answer them:

Yes- the entire project is due.
Yes-you can work together in groups.
No-you do not need to forecast every line item. Use large groupings (ex. CA, TA, CL, TD, E)
Yes you very well may have different numbers than other groups.
One-every group only needs to turn in one case.
Industry analysis can be found from Yahoo or MSN or anywhere else. Just be sure to cite it.

Only other thing I remember answering is that you do not need to do every ratio but you should have AT LEAST ONE from each catergory...

hope this helps!

Axiom Valuation Solutions - Business Valuation Services for Owners & Advisors

Axiom Valuation Solutions - Business Valuation Services for Owners & Advisors

It looks VERY likely that I will have to miss class on Thursday. In lieu of class, I would like you to either

A. go to teh Oreck presentation at JCC at 7:00 PM
B. Watch this series of videos from Axiom Valuation

They will be testable.

Interviewing tips

Interviewing for Accounting & Finance Majors -- A Demonstration & Discussion

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20

5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

ROOM 211/213 REILLY CENTER

All students are invited to attend this program which will simulate a typical interview experience. Find out what to expect in an interview by watching an employer/student role-play of the situation. Ask questions and get advice from an alum who's a professional in the field. Please sign up in advance with the Career Center, if you plan to attend this program.

Please contact the Career Center, room 216 RC, x2384, if you have any questions.

two updates on things

1. The BonaResponds local service day went very very well! If you missed it, you really lost out! Stay tuned for next one! Here are some pictures.

2. I can not log on to my notebook computer so I can not upload the class audio. If anyone has any idea how I can unlock a locked computer, let me know :) thanks!

IT's TODAY!!!!

Hope you can make it out! Even if it is late...we'll be working until 2:00 and then having a picnic. Come on out to Walsh High School!

St. Bonaventure University: BonaResponds plans countywide service day

St. Bonaventure University: BonaResponds plans countywide service day:

"ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y., Sept. 11, 2006 — The BonaResponds team has scheduled an Allegany-Olean service day for Saturday, Sept. 16. This will be the group’s second local workday this month.

BonaResponds volunteers will be broken into small groups, along with other local service groups, and assigned throughout Cattaraugus County. Some sites include the village of Allegany, Allegheny River Valley Trail, the Cattaraugus County SPCA, St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Olean Historical Society, Olean General Hospital, the St. Bonaventure University (SBU) campus and Mt. Irenaeus."

If you can come out to help or if you want to donate, just let me know! :)

Need a laugh?

FRom the Onion

LeBron James Amazed At 21-Year-Old's Ability To Stay Up All Night Studying For Physics Exam | The Onion - America's Finest News Source:

"CLEVELAND—21-year-old LeBron James, who skipped college to make millions of dollars in the National Basketball Association, was amazed to find out that someone his very own age, Case Western Reserve University junior Michael Washington, had the ability to stay up all night studying"

Click though for more of story.

Clarification on Assignment for MBA 604

A few students have asked so...

since we did not get as far as I had hoped, only sections 1A and 1C will be due tonight.

The rest will be discussed and collected next week.

HOWEVER, I do want you to think about how to do the forecasting. There will be a discussion of it tonight.

Hope this helps!

What are you doing Saturday?

Build your resume, network, meet new friends, have fun, get in line for a scholarship for our future trips to the Gulf, oh and you will also be doing great work that will help the local community and make you feel much better!

Sounds like too much? Well, come out and find out!

THIS SATURDAY (SEPT 16, 2006) BonaResponds will be meeting at 8:00 AM at
Archbishop Walsh (Behind Subway--turn at AJs/Friendly's).

Sign-in will be in the entrance area. Volunteers will then be directed into the gym where there will be tables set up for volunteers to "pack a lunch".

At about 8:15 we will have a brief "meeting" where we will explain the day. We are asking for people from each site to be at this meeting. We will then break into groups and go to the various work sites.

(Note if people show up late, we will still find places for them, but they will likely have no/little choice as to where they go).

Some of the sites include: St. Bonaventure University, Allegany River Trail, St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, the Village of Allegany, SBU, Trail creation on State Forest land, Olean Historical Society, Olean General Hospital, Allegany State Park, SPCA, and Mt. Ireanous.

Hopefully people will begin "rolling out" at about 8:30.

We want to have everyone back by 2:45 for a BBQ and "wrap-up"/reflection period--this will be very similar to Handson with each group reporting in on the work they did.

Great Quote!

"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action---Frank Tibolt"

Answers left unaswered in class

Having listened to last week's classes (both 401 and 604) a few comments and answers:

The Dow Jones Industrial Average's divisior is .12

A list of NYSE specialist firms can be found here, the price of a NYSE seat can be found here.

Hope these help!

jim

Office hours on Monday

Office hours will be canceled this Monday (September 11th) because of the Finance Club trip to Rochester.

Sorry for any inconvience. Please email me any questions.

From Career Services

From Career Services:

Attention Accounting & Finance Majors

Deadlines for resumé submissions for on-campus interview opportunities are quickly approaching. The following are some of the recruiters who will be coming, and the dates that resumes are due for internship and full-time positions :

PricewaterhouseCoopers : Friday, Sept. 8

Insero & Co. CPA's : Wednesday, Sept. 13

Ernst & Young : Thursday, Sept. 14

Deloitte & Touche : Friday, Sept. 15

Freed, Maxick & Battaglia : Tuesday, Sept. 19

DeJoy, Knauf & Blood : Wednesday, Sept. 20

Information about these companies and their application requirements are available on the Career Center's On-Campus Recruiting Page at: http://www.sbu.edu/go/student-services/career-center/students/on-and-off-campus-recruiting/index.htm

Also, the deadline for sign-ups to attend the Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co.'s Open House has been extended to Monday, Sept. 11. Accounting juniors and seniors are encouraged to RSVP in the Career Center, room 216 Reilly Center, or to career@sbu.edu .

Does Ivy League Matter?

From the WSJ's College Journal:

Question: Does going to a very prestigious college really make a difference in landing a good first job, for example, on Wall Street?

Answer: You don't necessarily need a Rolls Royce to get you where you need to go.

There's nothing wrong with attending a prestigious school. But don't despair if you don't have a super-pricey diploma.

It's possible to get to Wall Street without an Ivy League degree. "More important than the school you attend are your grade-point average, extracurricular activities, as well as your interest in and knowledge about business," says Rachel Radway, managing editor of WetFeet.com, a San Francisco-based research and publishing company focused on careers and management.

Deutsche Bank recruiters, for example, visit more than 40 university campuses in the U.S., less than half considered "Ivy League," in search of candidates for its analyst program.

These universities are chosen based on academic reputation, their historic hiring relationship with the school, and degree disciplines, says Kris Peters, head of university recruiting at Deutsche Bank.

She adds that the bank's hiring criteria "is based entirely on the skills that we think lead to success in our businesses," among them educational background, as well as experiences that demonstrate leadership, work ethic and teamwork.

"As long as you've done well at a school with a decent reputation, you will be a good candidate," says Ms. Radway. She emphasizes the importance of references, summer internships and relevant coursework to gaining a foothold as an entry-level job candidate."

P/T Real Estate Opportunity

We do not have a real estate class at SBU, but here is an opportunity to work part time and get some real estate experience and to work flexible hours.

Oversee 4 apartments (2 duplexes). Rent, record rents, make sure rents are paid, clean up as necessary, etc.

Pay is 10% of collected rents.

Resume to jim

Class Codes for Clickers

PLEASE BE CAREFUL when adding yourself to the class. If you are wrong (i.e. you enter yourself in the wrong class) it is very difficult for you to change and you will have to do this through the kind people at einstruction.com.

So after being sure what class you are in, you go to einstuction.com and enter the following code (you go to St. Bonaventure University ;) )

• Finance 401-01: Class Key: G23207B621
• Finance 401-02: Class Key: H23208B338
• MBA 604: Class Key: I23206B812

We will be having first quizzes this week, so please register as soon as possible. :)

Thanks!

jim

Welcome back!

Hi everyone (both old and new)...

Today begins a new school year at SBU.

New School years are always both exciting and frightening. Think back and remember your first day of school. Or first day at a new school. Or to your feelings waking up today getting ready for today. The excitement tempered with inner butterflies of nervous anticipation.

To keep those "inner butterflies" in perspective consider:

The year ahead will be full of new learning, new opportunities, fun, and friends. It will also have its share of hard work, long hours, sadness, uncertainty, and needless worrying.

Let us work to ensure that the good trumps the bad. That we take advantage of our learning opportunities while not letting our fears get in the way. That we remain upbeat and positive in the face of uncertainty and challenge. That we are caring with others and that we treat others as we would like to be treated.

If we do these things, then assuredly this will be a great school year!

Quotes etc

As this blog is more informal and mainly for students, I think I will go back to the newsletter tradition of including quotes on a regular basis...

* Adapt or perish, now as ever, is Nature's inexorable imperative"---H.G. Wells

* The greatest obstacle to happiness is to expect too much happiness---Bernard de Fontenelle

* If you want to do something, do it!---Platus

As quoted in The Book of Positive Quotations by John Cook

sleep and memory

Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Snooze or Lose: Memory Retention Enhanced by Sleep

"Sleep aids memory. Whether tested in animals or humans, studies have shown that sense memories--such as learning a certain sequence of dance steps--take root more solidly when paired with adequate rest. Now new research shows that so-called declarative memories--such as a sequence of facts--also benefit from slumber, especially when subjects are challenged with subsequent, competing information."

Looking for a one credit course?

From the Chautauqua Institute:

A dynamic new partnership has created an exciting new opportunity for you and your St. Bonaventure colleagues and students this summer. Jamestown Community College and Chautauqua Institution are collaborating to offer “College Credit at Chautauqua,” a series of one-credit courses based on lecture themes at historic Chautauqua’s Institution Amphitheatre.

Each of the courses will include an introductory class, five Amphitheater lectures, five post-lecture classes of approximately one hour, and a wrap-up class. Students completing the course(s) for credit will be required to complete a writing assignment in addition to class and lecture attendance. Each course is offered at a special tuition rate of $44 for New York state residents and $80 for non-residents. Each student will also be assessed a $75 fee for Chautauqua Institution gate and parking passes for each course.

Please note that Week Eight (August 14 -18) focuses on “Business and Finance: America and the Fiscal Future,” and whether the American economy will boom or bust. Does America lead the world with innovation and a resilient and productive economy or is America ‘running on empty’ as the world’s leading debtor nation? What are the effects, if any, of the aging baby boomers, the development of alternative energy sources and the birthrate? What are the likely effects of tax policy, state and federal spending and the strength of the dollar? The week will also explore the financial health of major markets and developing economies around the world and their relationship to the United States economy. Scheduled guest speakers include Paul Solman, Phillip Marineau, Richard Bernstein, and US Rep. Michael Oxley.

To register for this unique educational experience, call 716/376-7500, ext. 2332.

Spreadsheet errors

The Unknown Professor over at FinancialRounds has an interesting article on spreadsheet errors. We can all benefit from looking over our spreadsheets!!

There are no magic bullets, but much good advice!

Lack of jobs lead to people leaving

From NY Times:

"In 13 counties that include cities like Buffalo, Syracuse and Binghamton, the population of young adults fell by more than 30 percent. In Tioga County, part of Appalachia in New York's Southern Tier, 42 percent fewer young adults were counted in 2004 than in 1990.

"Make no mistake: this is not business as usual," Robert G. Wilmers, the chairman of M & T Bank in Buffalo, told his shareholders this spring. "The magnitude and duration of population loss among the young is unprecedented in our history. There has never been a previous 10-year period in the history of the upstate region when there has been any decline in this most vital portion of our population.""