First brush with what lies ahead

Had my first interaction wid To-Be-Batch-Mates yesterday... and I must confess I am really really lucky to be heading at the right place!!!

Takeaways from yesterdays meet

1) You really need to be with people who have work ex if YOU have work ex... only then you can connect with them very easily... they are your age and they think alike... the maturity factor is reasonably good... One guy was already marrried, one engaged and majority in stable relationship... I am so glad that I wont have to deal wid freshers just out of the college and no real practical knowledge...

2) Diversity... We were 7 of us... And only 2 people wid IT related work ex... One Economist, One Private Equity Analyst, One from International Finance, One from Marketing & Strategy background, and me - from I-banking... Now Extrapolate it to about 30-40 odd ppl from India... (We have already few ppl wid more than 10 years as well)... Again there will similar 1/3rd of the class coming from China.. And remaining 1/3rd from rest of the world!!! Its time to learn about more cultures!!!!

3) Achievers... Its not that these guys were bunch of losers who could not get into Indian Schools... They had calls from premier institutes (Read IIM-K, XLRI, MDI, SPJIMR, ISB)... But they have chose NUS by will and not by compulsion... If GMAT was the benchmark, the median was somewhere close to 710! So they came to NUS again by choice and was not that could not make it to a top U.S. B-School

4) Contribution to the table.... Just a small conversation about loans... I said that lets wait, the interest rates might go down in a few months... The economist quickly counter argued that with inflation so high, the interest rates are not even gonna be touched.... I am just going crazy where will the discussions in the class go!!!!!!

I have come back with lots of positive vibes!!!!! And very much raring to go!!!!! Can hardly wait!!!

The Elusive Indian MBA Dream comes to an End

Finally after 4 years the chase ends.... XLRI gives me ding for the final time!

The end of an era called "Jaimin and The Entrance Exams"!!

But in fact it has made my life easier now - no comparisons - One Admit and NUS it is now!!! No dejection, No sadness - the life goes on as usual! Not even a single moment of unhappiness!! Singapore - here I come!!!

Alas, one regret will remain in my life - I cannot tell me children that I had ever got an admit from any Indian B-School!! But then, they might just tell me back - Dad, what colleges were you trying to get in - IIMs, XLRI and SPJain - we have never seen them on world rankings leave alone Asia ;-)

Extended Weekend!

Yesterday at office (Wednesday)

Me: Yaar, aaj friday jaisa lag raha hai!
Colleague: Aaj toh bada friday jaisa lag raha hai!

What a weekend!! 4 consecutive days!! Yaaay!!!

Another advantage to live in Secular India!!!

The Car at Signal!!

I haven't driven ever in my life... but what happens when a car starts after a long time and it gets stuck at signal... waiting to rev up the engine and "step on the gas"... isn't it frustrating??? Especially, when you are excited to go out on a long long journey and waiting for signal to turn green... And what you are left with is a colorful guide book and some maps how the journey looks like... So annoying!!!!!!So much apprehension!!!!

SING for the Moment!!!!

Its Official now!!! Its NUS for me!!!!

After 3 unsuccessful attempts at CAT, I had to look beyond realm of IIMs.. with learning curve increasing at a lower rate, I was sure I could not continue the job for long... I had to explore my options.. With good 3 years work ex and a 710 in GMAT, I was confident of able to atleast secure admission somewhere.. 3 years work ex was nagging me all the while but I was happy that I could stand out with my unconventional work ex (Read Non IT related)

Bullish about the Asian growth story in next decade, I was focused only on Asian B-Schools... Plus who can afford to take risks for West....
- H1B Visa cap and sub prime crisis American economy
- Visa restricted and anti east U.K.
- Language and culture driven Western Europe

So it had to be farther east for me... (Now, One may be very tempted to ask "Why not ISB???" - lets save this for later blog)

It all started when my colleague Ravi (Thanks Mate) pointed NUS in FT rankings.. a school in top 100.. not bad.. research started... the school was giving VFM (very important factor)... not at all bad... more research... came to know its century old university... very respected... the conviction grew stronger...

Along the process, I came to know about HKUST.. Another great school... HongKong - the place where action is for finance... somewhere my mind was diverted to join this school.. did all research... got information from current students through Pagalguy... read up various surveys... somewhere I found the school more appealing.... plus at the back of my mind the "FAT" Investment Banking Salaries were dancing... the school has a sea facing bar... what more do you want???

There was also a 3rd college - Nanyang - Ranking wise it was good... but the website and application process is horrifying.. so was not really keen to go but a good backup in the process....

Applied to all three early on to make sure I don't miss any opportunity...

December 31, 2007 - THE INTERVAL!!!!

With every passing day of the new year, I anticipated the call.... so much so that I checked gmail from my phone very 45 mins....

January 8, 2008 - Mixed Emotions
2.30 PM - e-mail from HKUST with invitation for interview... ELATED!!!!!!
3.30 PM - CAT results... for the last time, I look at the dreaded score card... once again I miss Verbal... big time... felt upset... very upset....

The latter affected me more than former and it took me two days to get off that shock...

Shocker #1 in journey: Financial Times release their 2008 rankings.. HKUST ranks 17th!!!! Top of the world!!! Need to convert HKUST badly now... but here comes the twister... ISB also ranked 20th!!! A big hoopla about ISB being ranked 20th... the whole story blown out of proportion in blogosphere!!!! and no one seems to be looking at another debutant at 17th!!! Good for me... but then you know you have to take them with pinch of salt (and in this case pepper too)

The journey .... take my HKUST interview.. NUS still is not seen...

The wait seems longer..... was not sure of HKUST interview... and hence needed a back up badly...

Finally after long wait, get a call from NUS... Done with my interview in three days... Short and sweet interview.. cant make out how it was.. so the wait seemed eternal...

Shocker #2: Two weeks later, NUS starts giving out results... couple of admits.. a few rejects... anticipation makes me check gmail every 15 mins... no use... God wants me to wait.... After 3 sleepless nights, get another call from NUS for Second interview.. Huh??? Whats this now??

Relief that its not outright reject... would have been very difficult for me if I had not got in... Speak to a few ppl.. they assure its a positive signal... take the interview again...

In meanwhile, the stipulated deadline from hearing from HKUST is over... and I accept the defeat... no more dreams... they vanish away... NUS again takes over...

The wait was getting longer and worse... every day I would relentlessly check my phone to hear something....

Feb 27th... the e-mail from NUS arrives... excitement takes over... barely able to read anything after reading "Offer"... believe me, its a great feeling... its a big relief... big big sigh of relief....

One offer in hand... to make sure I dont take a hasty decision, I confirm with HKUST of my application status... they communicate an unofficial ding... So now NUS it is for me!!!


SINGAPORE here I come!!!!