May 2nd, 2009

Class Selection

Fall class selection time – sweet.

There’s a certain art to putting together one’s class schedule. I try to make sure I have a few reasons to love every class I sign up for even before the semester starts (great prof, cool topic, endorsements from trusted sources, etc.) and I pay very little attention to the recommended classes that one “should” take while in business school.

I’m bummed because there are 4 classes I was WAY excited about and all 4 are scheduled in 2 time slots. Boo.

Here’s what I’m taking in the fall:

1.  New Enterprises – Think of an idea and spend the entire semester writing a business plan, then present to VCs and get feedback.

2.  Early Stage Capital – Strategies for raising capital, valuation, market norms

3.  M + A – Valuation as it related to mergers and acquisitions

4.  Power and Negotiation – Simulation-based class on negotiation techniques, BATNAs, etc.

I have heard great things about the class “Economics of Information” taught by Erik Brynjolfsson, the director of MIT’s Center for Digital Business, but it doesn’t fit in my schedule. Still looking for a 5th class, but I’m sure I will find something before September.