Academic Prep for B-School

Question

Anyone doing anything special in terms of studying before school starts?

I was an econ major, took several calculus courses too, but I really haven't used most of what I learned at all since college. In fact the only thing I remember about economics is something about "supply" and some other word. I think we drew graphs too.

I'm thinking of getting a "Calculus For Dummies" or maybe like a high school calc text to brush up on those skills. Any recommendations?

Also need to brush up on accounting. Everyone seems to struggle with this their first year.

EconGirl · Answer

I know that Duke sends a prep-CD to all people who decide to attend. It has a review of all the concepts they expect you to have mastered before the classes start. 

Maybe other schools do the same thing?

naturallight · Answer

Yeah, I was thinking about taking a class too. I really want to improve my quant skills, so I was thinking about taking Calculus II. But it's 500 smackers and I took Calculus I nearly 7 years ago, and I'm afraid I'm going to get rocked.

rhyme · Answer

Ditto here.

There are three areas I think I need to beef up:

Calculus I - I dont remember sheet, other than how to take the derivative of the most basic function on earth.

Statistics - I know this well enough to do OK in a class, but I'd rather than regressions than stats - I think it'll be sooooo much more interesting, so I wonder if I shouldn't just bone up a bit, take regressions and have more fun. Some GSB students even told me the regressions course is actually easier because they dont drill you on formulas and the like - they just ask you to do excel models, which I'm far more likely to do well in.

Accounting - I don't know JACK. ZERO.

rhyme · Answer

Contents:
This course is about linear regression, a powerful and widely used data analysis technique. Students will learn how to use regression to analyze a variety of complex real world problems. Regression-based methods for the analysis of time series data and binary response data are also covered. Examples are used throughout to illustrate application of the tools. Topics covered include: (i) review of simple linear regression; (ii) multiple regression (model specification and interpretation, inference and drawing conclusions); (iii) time series (autocorrelation, auto-regression, prediction, random walks).
 
Grades:
Based on homework assignments, an exam, and course project. 

See that sounds interesting.

Whats wierd, is that one class just says:

Prerequisites:
Business 41000 or familiarity with the topics covered in Business 41000. This course is intended for students with a solid background in statistics and preferably some prior exposure to linear regression. 

Another course says:
 Prerequisites:
Statistical concepts: Random variables, normal and t distributions, mean and variance of a linear combination of random variables, hypothesis-testing including the concepts of significance level and p-value, t-tests and confidence intervals, sampling error, and the standard error of the sample mean. Business 41000 provides a comprehensive treatment of all of these concepts.

Mathematical Tools: Exponential and logarithmic functions, summation notation, and the equation for a line. 

Same class, but it seems like theres a distinct difference in terms of pre reqs....

johnnyx9 · Answer

Good call on the stats, I'll need to brush up on that too. Funny how at one point I could do regression analyses, I could derive and integrate, and now it's all forgotten. Hopefully it comes back quickly. Kind of like studying for the GMAT was all about rediscovering things from high school (or maybe even middle school?) like 3-4-5 triangles.

aaudetat · Answer

All I remember from calc is limits. I like to think about that poor frog jumping toward the classroom door, but each jump is half the length of the previous one. I found the futility of the frog's efforts fascinating yet painfully depressing.

On a less serious note, many of the schools have some kind of summer quant skills boot camp. UNC's is quite long, while I believe Duke's is 2 weeks. 

And if you're thinking of taking classes, the idea is stats, acctg, calc, micro, macro, finance. I understand that stats should be at the top of any list.

GMATT73 · Answer

This might be worth a peek. For the non-quant jock types (like myself) I hear it's the difference between getting our asses kicked and getting our asses kicked and spat on this fall. :wink:

https://www.mbamath.com/

KLmets · Answer

Yeah the math can be eeasily worked on if you've got the right material. While I was never super good at either math or verbal, I always found math easier to study by myself for. but the verbal kills unless I have someone to help me through it.

darren1010 · Answer

Let me guess, KLmets, you're an Asian, right?

rhyme · Answer

Got the mba in ten days book .... Of fourse I forgot to bring it with me on my business trip today .... But a quick ten minute glance ... Looks good

3underscore · Answer

rhyme - there is no real difference in the prerequisites. All they have done in the second is outline what they consider to be "prior exposure to linear regression".

Just bang on about heteroskedasticity and the like and they will know you have a clue about regression (fact - there was a published paper purely on how heteroskedasticity should be spelled). 

Regression analysis is dead easy as long as you remember that taking logs of anything under the sun is a great way to get a good variable. Says the guy who nearly majored in econometrics...

standard · Answer

I will go over the CFA books as I want to take the level 0 test soon. I hope it helps.

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