Saturday, September 25, 2010

AMP is about more than your coursework

Don't get me wrong, AMP is mostly about your coursework. The amount of material you will cover is incredible in breadth and applicability.

But there is another element that should not be ignored with AMP and that is making the alumni connections that you will draw upon for the rest of your life.

Try to make it a point to get to know each and every member of your cohort. The level of talent in the program is nothing short of incredible and the diversity of skill sets will floor you.

Today we had a speaker that is a graduate of the AMP program and is great success story. He has started his own business and is receiving funding from DARPA. DARPA, guys.

One of the many things that I picked up from the optional lunch session (Attend every session you can, get to know every speaker that is approachable) is to surround yourself with talented people. In my short 10 yr career, I can tell you that my most productive period of my life was when I surrounded with a small, elite and talented team.  Mr. Pak is no exception. Through personal contacts and through his alumni network he was able to venture out on his own, overcome and be successful.  It's a great story, a familiar refrain and excellent reinforcement.

Also, great run Friday night and then some quality time with the cohort. It was one of those rare, magical fridays where the homework as squared away. Looking at the schedule, that won't happen again for a while I think.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Risk Homework

We are looking good for homework in both classes so far, but I suspect I am overly optimistic. Just kind of waiting for the realization that we missed something.

One thing I would like to point. Professor Haimes is very prominent figure in his field. The man knows his stuff and is an asset to us all. Since he both figuratively and literally "wrote the book" you can reasonably be assured that everything from class is in the book, which is quite nice.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Practical Application

There are many things that you will learn in AMP that will have practical applications. For example, probability has helped me have a better grasp of how people respond to energy initiatives. Network has given me several practical tools that I would feel comfortable breaking out in the workplace. Intro is especially relevant.

If you attend AMP and you apply yourself, you will soon find yourself applying AMP to your daily job.

Several times this past week I have used the SA technique. I could tell it was a little aggravating to others, but I took the time to go through the analysis. Questions such as "What is the goal?" "How do we measure this?" "What problem are we really trying to solve here?" are systems questions and I feel more comfortable asking and have become to appreciate. What are we really trying to accomplish today?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Charlottesville

Homework for the next weekend is actually going well so I have a minute to share my thoughts on a couple of things about AMP that are worth mentioning.

If you didn't go to UVA undergrad, the AMP experience may make you regret that decision in that Charlottesville is absolutely gorgeous. Granted, we stay in sponsors, go to Darden and eat in Abbot which is a far cry from the undergrad life per se, but it is still worth mentioning that the atmosphere is absolutely phenomenal. As in, I get excited about going back.

The food is really, really good. It deserves an entire paragraph call out.

So there you have it. You have an atmosphere that I look forward to coming to every other weekend.  You have material that is challenging and engaging. You have world class professors.

You will find that your cohort members are quite impressive as well. Just last weekend the seminar lecturer made an off hand comment about "they haven't gotten space travel there yet" and one of my members stated, in all seriousness "that's what I am working on." Seriously.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Study Hacks

If you aren't up on the Study Hacks blog then this may be the best tip for you yet.
http://calnewport.com/blog/2010/03/15/how-to-become-a-star-grad-student-james-mclurkin-and-the-power-of-stretch-churn/
Start there and then keep reading. Make sure you read the part about knowing how well you should know the material. If you can teach the material, then you know it well enough. Don't just learn it well enough to turn in the homework. If someone comes to you for help, and you know that they have put some time into it and they have the general idea, then you have a moment of synergy. Take that moment to teach it to them and  you will both benefit. Then let that person teach it to someone else.

In the medical field they call this watch one, do one, teach one.

AMP kicks hard

Alright, this is hard to share. I put everything I had into probability and the best I could do was a B. That was/is a very hard pill to swallow.

Take heed the warnings given by professor Smith and Mrs. Harrison. I mean, I've done some things in my life. This was humbling.

Do you know how to calculate conditional probability? If not, then you need a refresher course. There is no shame in that.

Do you know how to calculate an anti-derivative, a partial derivative and how to integrate by hand? Then you need a refresher course in calculus. Take this before you come to amp. I knew all of this at one time, perhaps back in the late 90's when I first took these courses. Your success in AMP / probability will be compromised if you have to re-learn these things at the same time as you are learning new material.

Also, if you cannot put a matrix in row reduced echelon form, you will have trouble. Thankfully, I remembered this sweet trick.

And you should know that I am writing this @ 4:30 AM.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

pick a good problem for risk

other groups were done in an hour. We have been in this room for 4 hours now, plus the hours we worked on this earlier. Also, make sure you are comfortable with lagrangian function.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

day before

I'm up early to get work in while my son sleeps in. Neither team did much last night. There is almost always a flurry of activity the night before school as those that come in the night before get together and finalize their homework. I don't go down early because I live an hour away and it would be kind of a waste of money, IMO, but I do if required. I try to avoid these sort of situations myself but you can only do so much.
We also realized late last night that the problem we choose for risk requires a m/m/1 server queue model which makes our life harder.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

On a team with an all-star

I'm on a team with someone that has proven themselves to be an all-star already. I don't think anyone in the cohort would argue that the guy brings his "A" game and is prepared. If you are in a subsequent cohort and are reading this (and I hope you are because that is my targeted audience) I offer the following advice to you. Your natural tendency will be to loaf. DON'T DO IT, for a couple of reasons.

  • The entire AMP program is also an audition for a job or partner that you may need later in life. Treat it as such.
  • The AMP program culminates with a group assignment in Professor Smith's class. By the end of the year, people will be jockeying for the strongest teammates. You will want to be seen as someone that pulls his or her own weight.
  • Slacking and relying on other teammates is the equivalent of only doing half your reps when working out. You are only cheating yourself.
Be thankful you have the good fortune to be on a good team and make the most of that experience. 

Cheers

Sunday, September 5, 2010

more tips

also, if you have the time, in advance of economics, go ahead and read chapters 1-4 for brush up. The assignment will be read chapter 5, but I am finding 1-4 helps.

similarly, for risk, your biggest challenge will be to pick an appropriate problem to look at it. Rather than brainstorming at first, read all the material and then brainstorm. You will find your choice will be much more appropriate after grasping the material.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

quality work

Also, while I am thinking about it, your goal should be to turn in professional quality work, like you would at work. Printed homework, nice and tidy. Something that you would be proud to include in a folder as representative of your work. Not "good enough." The extra effort sucks but you will be glad you did after you are done.

Time Sacrifrices

Case in point; My mother is visiting and is playing outside with my son in some of the best weather we have had in some time. I am stuck upstairs reading and working on risk. I could blow it off, but then I would be behind, so that isn't an option. The pace here doesn't allow you to get behind, especially not in the first week.

Takeaways? Be prepared to sacrifice family time, and be absolutely sure that you don't fall behind, especially at the beginning of the course. You may want to budget more time just to make sure you don't.


Thursday, September 2, 2010

your schedule

If you are like me and both a full time student and full time employee (and full time dad) then you will soon learn that your time is very valuable and as such, it makes sense to optimize it. From time to time I may post examples of the extremes I have taken to allow for time. My time constraints are a bit extreme, and I would assert that are right up there with anyone that has gone through AMP.

As such, I'll get right to the point. I'll give credit to Kanshu, our illustrious TA for this, who pointed out that the best optimization of your time is to spend time Sunday on the material from the past weekend. It seems draconian to follow up your weekend in Charlottesville with a full day of reading and studying, but you will find that when the material is fresh in your mind you will be better able to capitalize on this for your homework.

Also, for God's sake, read your assignment. In class you will either have to pay attention to the lecture or transcribe the lecture. Your choice. But you won't have time to both grok the lecture and to accurately reflect what the professor is telling you.

If you are in AMP then it is safe to assume that you have already made a large commitment in terms of time, money and opportunity cost to be here. I'd challenge anyone to come up with a good reason to not make the most of the program( and that includes reading ahead of the lecture).