Surprisingly, of the insurance companies, gaming companies, conglomerates, oil companies and telecommunication companies, only the telecommunication companies responded positively towards giving a scholarship. However, I messed up one email by accidently clicking on the send button before I had amended the necessary. *sigh*

I really should have had been more careful.

Anyway, lets see how that goes, I'm going to send in my deposit by next Monday, and send in the acceptance letter etc. House has been painted and will be ready for sale this weekend. Things are moving fast, but 6 months still seems so far away (although I know otherwise).

The bank has declared the bonuses and I have a 2 month bonus. Not much, but better than nothing. I'm waiting for the bonus to be banked in before I ask the bank about study scholarships.... don't want to give them a reason to hold back my bonus.

Excited? Yes. Stressed? Yes.

On a brighter note, I managed to convince somebody that Smurfs actually exist and are eaten like chicken. Told her that there was a Smurf farm near my house where you could select the Smurf you wanted to eat and how you wanted it cooked. Now that was pretty fun :)

I've been busy... really busy looking at the financing for the MBA.

I realise that I cannot rely on the possibility of getting a bank loan from ING Bank. After reading alumni discussions, apparently ING Bank not only requires you to have the Euro 19k for living expenses, but also that your _pre-MBA earning capacity_ be a certain level. Now, coming from a developing country, and having only worked in the country, my earnings would be lower than that of a developed country; throw in the exchange rate and I'm earning below-average compared to the average Dutchman.

So, that's a mighty big problem I've got.

By begging from my family, I realise I can raise half of the money (approximately Euro 29k), but I desperately need the remainder. I can't take any USA based/related simply because I don't have a USA co-signer. Banks over here are a no go for education loans.

If I can't raise the money, I'm hitting the GMAT again and apping to top ten USA schools that have guaranteed loans :(

Downpayment is due in 3 weeks if I decide to attend. How on earth am I going to figure out whether I can raise Euro 29k in 3 weeks? I would sell my soul, but I figure it's not worth much.

I'm going to try hitting the phones and see whether I can get a scholarship or a private loan.

So one journey has ended and another is going to begin.

I sat at my computer sifting through applications, essays, GMAT, ranking tables and other MBA related documents. I don't have to worry about the GMAT or whether I'll get an interview call or whether I need to write another application essay. I'm in and it's a relief.

Sure, I've been thinking, can I get a deferment and apply to Stanford/Wharton/Tuck/Chicago for another round of hot and sexy applications, interviews, rejects and possibly an admit?

Do I want to do it? Yes, but maybe it's time I learnt how to take what I've got and move on with it. As somebody put it into perspective

"You graduated from a bottom 50% university, with grades that were only 60%. You've now been accepted into a Top 30 school, probably putting it in the top 10% of all MBA programs. You've done pretty well."

And yes, given that perspective, hey, I think it's pretty good going isn't it?

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An email from Alex Chu of MBAapply.com to set me straight and dispel my hesitations about taking what I've got and moving on....

"You seem pretty hung up and convinced that an MBA is some glass slipper in your cinderella story. Yes, Stanford is a better school, but it's just a degree - an MBA. It's not going to change your life. A high achiever going into b-school is a high achiever coming out of b-school. If you do something Nobel Prize worthy in Somalia - that's what will change your life, not going to Stanford. It's not some classist Mandarin system in Imperial China where your school determines your social status, occupation, government ranking, etc for life. Five years out, no one cares where you went to school. End of discussion."

And yes, that's the end of the discussion.

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And to the anonymous commenter that wanted me to guess who he/she was....

All I have to say is - Hello sexy ;)

I'M IN AT RSM!

WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!

it's fantastic!!

what now? :)

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1 1/2 years of thinking about applying, preparing to apply and actually applying has come to an end.

I spent the journey back from work today looking out of the train window, thinking about what's going to happen. For the past 1 1/2 years, I've been looking out of the window, telling myself that things would change - and today they have. If I accept RSM's offer, next year I may be staring out of another train window in another country, doing something totally different; scary yet exciting....

Thanks to those who gave me their support.