Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Sem 2 - Acads, extra currics and school

Too lazy to actively continue writing the blog regularly! Just trying to summarise the first half of the 2nd sem.



Well first things first - you have lot of flexibility to choose the subjects and the timings and the days! As a result, someone like me who cannot rise in morning without a reason takes up all morning classes to ensure that I don't waste my day! However, my friend, Shekhar has taken almost the same subjects and has avoided almost all morning classes! This is what I mean by flexibility!



Coming to subjects - even with finance background and CFA - I have taken mostly all finance courses. Reason - my fundas aint that clear except in corp fin. So some subjects are repetitive but some subjects are eye opener. In some subjects like Macro Econ, its more like a discussion about U.S. printing money and effect of lower consumption on Singapore's economy and hence more practical view. Some subjects like Private Equity are must for me if I have to show an interest in the career. However, my friend, Ankita who is from finance background believes she has to learn more in entrepreneurship courses than in finance!



With flexibility, most of us don't have any reason to complain about any subject! We were given couple of classes before we could add or drop modules! That was good time to decide and hence the batch is now more content about selection of subjects! Finance frogs dont have to think about 4Ps while marketing monkeys are spared with discussion on equity and debt!



The number is also flexible but majority of people whom I know have taken 6 MCs to ensure that next semester can be little lighter for the job hunt process!



So next thing you would guess is about internships - which I shall not talk about in this crisis after receiving more rejects in my inbox that I can count on my fingers! Btw, the number of applications would have crossed half century easily!



The extra currics has picked up this semester - or this is it what I feel? The clubs are trying to do what they can! Its now upon our team to shape what we want to see! All clubs and activities are now active - the marketing guys have come up with this innovative idea of this colorful bulletin board and its wonderful! We, at Fin Club, could only make our board half as attractive! However, I believe trying to get hold of Bloomberg training is one accomplishment I am proud of as a President of Finance Club. Consulting club is all gung ho about cases and guiding wannabe consultants on how to crack case interviews! The social impact club with sports club organised a Futsal tournament (with involvement of Alumni and corporates) to donate the proceeds to patient care centre local hospital! Mentorship process was kicked off with help of Alumni Relationship Team and I found a mentor who works at P.E. firm. And ya, forgot to the most important team - the one which takes care of all fun and happening events at NUS MBA - the student activities team! We have had celebrations for Chinese New Year and Exchange Students Ice Breaking Session over barbeque party!


Guess, I am just trying to show off how cool our MBA Student Council ;-) Check the updated website - http://www.mba.nus.edu.sg/mbaclub/index.htm

How can I forget case compeitions and business plan challenges! I am yet to crack any of them. But one of the teams, including my roomie KC, represented NUS at Microsoft FirenzeChina at Beijing and got covered by Business Times Singapore. Check more out here - http://nusmbabuzz.blogspot.com/2009/01/brief-stunt-with-microsoft.html

I know its a loooong loong post! But just wanted write all that I missed in last two months!

Monday, February 9, 2009

The best part about the ongoing pressure at same levels is that it makes you immune to it...