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    How I Use CORe as an Educator, Healthcare Administrator, & Aspiring Entrepreneur

    Grecco_header
    • 08 Feb 2018
    Nicholas Grecco Author Student Bloggers
    tag
    • Business Analytics
    • CORe
    • Economics for Managers
    • Financial Accounting

    I currently divide my time between a few endeavors that span multiple industries. I teach at a small school in New York City and online through two ed-tech startups. I also work in the administration of my family business—a mental health services company. Prior to that, I was an ESL teacher who taught for seven years in South Korea and Turkey.

    I signed up for CORe to improve my career prospects, learn about business and entrepreneurship, and determine whether I wanted to pursue an MBA. Throughout the program, I was impressed by the professionalism of the professors—all of whom had a command of the material that was truly inspiring. Another important aspect of CORe was the amount of knowledge and material that is condensed into these courses. Each of the courses—Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, and Financial Accounting—have positively impacted my career in numerous ways.

    What I Learned in Business Analytics

    Business Analytics helped me to look for, collect, and analyze data in ways I was not able to before. For example, our company measures employee performance based on several factors and creates an annual score. I realized that this data wasn't being analyzed, so I calculated percentiles to compare the best and worst performance, along with the average score and standard deviation. These measures help managers have a better understanding of overall and individual performance throughout the company.

    A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essentials Business Skills | Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

    What I Learned in Economics for Managers

    The mental health services company I work for is investing in property, and understanding the concepts of willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to sell (WTS) has helped me make decisions with our real estate agent, owner, and contractors. I'm currently working on a project to bring solar energy to the property, which will save more than $1,000 in electricity costs and increase our property value.

    I knew investment in solar was a good opportunity, but the concept of WTS helped me understand and explain why. Because of extra incentives from the city program and group purchasing power, the electrical contractors were willing to sell solar energy systems for a much lower price than usual, thereby increasing our consumer surplus. By explaining WTS, I was able to convince the owner to move forward with this project.

    What I Learned in Financial Accounting

    After studying accounting, I had the confidence and curiosity to review the company balance sheet and other items on Quickbooks. While exploring the documents, I noticed an $18,000 discrepancy between Quickbooks and the hand-written journal. It turned out that the owner hadn't realized that the business manager had made an $18,000 payment to the contractor. Of course, the contractor didn't correct the error. If I hadn't read the balance sheet, we would have overpaid by $18,000.

    What’s Next in My Career

    One of my dreams is to start my own coffee company. The concept of fixed and variable costs helped me think about how to enter the market. After taking CORe, I realized that to enter the market, my fixed and variable costs would have to beat a competitor’s variable costs. This has made me think critically about how I could create a competitive cost structure to be viable when entering the market.

    Additionally, learning conjoint analysis has been helpful in thinking about what features of my product would be most valuable to consumers and how to highlight and market those features. These are critical considerations for entrepreneurs, and now I have the confidence and knowledge to make these decisions because of CORe.

    I'm also planning to pursue an MBA, and I'm currently studying for the GMAT. CORe really helped give me confidence in my ability to succeed in an MBA program, and it also showed me that studying business can be interesting and enjoyable.

    Are you interested in learning more about CORe? Explore the CORe page and discover how you can apply essential business skills in your everyday life.

    About the Author

    Nicholas Grecco is a former CORe participant who works primarily in the field of ESL education. He has worked overseas for more than seven years to gain an international perspective. Outside of work, he loves to cook, roast organic coffee, and play the piano. To see what’s next, join him on LinkedIn.
     
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    How are HBS Online courses delivered?

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    We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

    Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

    Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

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    We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

    All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Coursework must be completed in English.

    Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

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    No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

    How do I enroll in a course?

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    Certificate Programs

    HBS Online welcomes committed learners wherever they are—in the world and their careers—irrespective of their professional experience or academic background. To extend the reach of HBS Online, we no longer require an application for our certificate programs. (Applications are still required for our credential programs: CORe and CLIMB.) You can now immediately enroll and start taking the next step in your career.

    All programs require the completion of a brief online enrollment form before payment. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before enrolling in the program of your choice.

    Our easy online enrollment form is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your enrollment status will be shown on your account page. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for enrollment for any HBS Online program.

    Credential Programs

    HBS Online's CORe and CLIMB programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

    Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your account page. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application for CORe and three weeks for CLIMB. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for admissions for any HBS Online program.

    Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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    No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

    What are my payment options?

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    We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

    We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

    In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

    What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

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    After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

     

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