International Politics of Economics Forum this weekend

The Student International Business Council at the University of San Diego will be hosting the International Politics of Economics Forum this Saturday, November 6th in SOLES. The IPE Forum is an intercollegiate event between the University of Notre Dame, Benedictine College and the University of San Diego. The topic to be debated will be "how the fluctuating value of the US dollar impacts world peace". The forum is open to the public and all are welcome! If you are interested in attending the University of San Diego, specifically the School of Business, this is great networking opportunity where you can meet current students, professors and professionals from the industry. If you are in San Diego we would love to see you there at 1:30 pm in SOLES Executive Classroom.

ENGLAND IS AMAZING!!! I have been here in the UK for two full weeks now and am very busy. Not only have I visited some amazing sites in the city of Oxford and London, I started classes last week. I am taking Management 300, Marketing 300 and Finance 300 at St Clare's as well as a seminar series in censorship and free speech. This semester I have had the privilege of being a Blackfriars Hall Scholar, meaning I am also taking classes through Oxford University. The academic system at Oxford is extremely different than at the typical American university. Students "read a class" with a "tutor" (in my case a priest of the Dominican Friars) and have a "tutorial" once a week to discuss the weekly essay. This may not sound like too much work at first until you realize each essay is approximately 2,500 words and students are assigned an average of 5 books to use as sources. Blackfriars is definitely a challenge for me but I like it so far. This weekend I am going to the City of Bath to see the ancient Roman Baths. I can't wait! Cheers!!!

Welcome to the United Kingdom!

Last Friday I arrived in Oxford, UK for my semester study abroad program. I will be studying at St Clares International School as well as Blackfriars Hall at Oxford University. Everyone I have met so far is so kind and welcoming. My room is absolutely amazing and the food is better than everyone claimed. haha Classes were supposed to start on Monday but due to the outrageous amounts of snow all of my classes have been postponed. This picture is of the Radcliffe Camera (undergraduate section of Bodleian Library at Oxford University).

Semester Summary

I would first like to apologize for not posting anything recently. Finals this semester were honestly CRAZY!!! I am so happy to be finished and home for the holidays although I do miss USD. This picture is from my fall semester banquet for Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity. This is the Beta Nu pledge class, some of my best friends in the whole world!

USD does a good job of spacing out finals (even if it means we get home two days before Christmas). I never had a day when I had more than two finals. Most of the professors are very speedy about grades and all of our grades should be posted on mysandiego within the next few days. Just for a heads up, next semester I will be studying abroad in Oxford, England so look forward to a change of scenery on "A Day in the Life of a Torero". Happy Holidays!!!

Interesting Facts About International Business

Recently I was presented with some facts about the best classes to take for International Business. Follow the link to look at the opportunities. This article shows how the IB major at USD is an excellent path to take to "make it" in the global economy. http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/11/16/100-excellent-open-courses-for-international-businessmen/

First Place at the International Politics of Economics Forum hosted by Student International Business Council on November 14, 2009!!!

Last weekend I travelled to Benedictine College in Kansas to compete in an interscholastic debate for SIBC. The team from USD won first place! This picture is of me and my three hardworking teammates. USD students clearly not only excel in the classroom but out in the world as well. Next year the debate will be hosted at USD and hopefully we can bring home the trophy again!

Sophomore Year

It has been more than three months since my last post to "A Day in the Life of a Torero". I changed my major this year to International Business (from Business Administration) and added a Spanish minor. The major declaration process is fairly simple in the business school, all you have to do is set up an appointment with your advisor, attend the scheduled appointment and he/she will walk you through the steps to make sure you are able to graduate on time. I declared in 2008 and was just changing my major this fall and so the process was even more simple for me. I am very excited about my new major and I very happy USD decided to create this new major this year.

My extracurricular involvements have really picked up this year. Alpha Kappa Psi (professional business fraternity) is taking up a great deal of my time but I absolutely love it. My brothers are some of my best friends at USD and I am excited to attend and participate in every event. If any incoming freshman are at all interested in careers in business, I encourage you to rush Alpha Kappa Psi. I am also the Director of Membership this semester for the Student International Business Council, another organization through the School of Business Administration. In SIBC I work with others to promote "peace through commerce". In two weeks I will be presenting a project to a panel of judges at Benedictine University in Kansas. Without the support of the SBA I would never be able to have this opportunity.

This week is class registration for the spring semester. I am also in the midst of applying to a study abroad program in Oxford, England. Right now I am waiting to hear back on my acceptance, hopefully all goes well and I will be studying at St. Clare's in the UK next semester!