A day in life of NUS MBA Sem 2 student

the day starts snoozing the alarm atleast twice... to wake up for the class... and always late.. with exception of not-wanting-to-sing-in-due-to-late class...

and the first call of the day to find someone to get hot cuppa of caffeine from Toscana or the double shot of tea from Edward..

and to the mail first thing as you enter... the chatting between classes... snoozing behind lappies... waiting for the breaks... the quickie breaks... sometimes too long...

the lunches wid pals and the more important decision of where to have lunch... will it be chappatti at PGP or curd rice at Engineering or the same old feta cheese sandwich at the Terrace... or do we have the courage to patiently wait for Aunty at the Deck?

the discussions on random topics... planning the schedule for the day... involuntarily heading towards the lounge..

picking up the free FT copy... browsing through pages... not before you think submissions are more important than news... FT goes in bag... and, two days later on the dining table you again read same paper when its being used as table mat...

finding the right place to study... and ultimately there is no right place... dont blame me... the facebook and gtalk are the culprits...

and random sessions with random set of people everyday... pretending to study / work on project.. or most times applying for internship.... ultimately ending up laughing... arbit BC sessions... and a few times on silliest of PJs... Hey, I am still the King? Where art thou, Catalyst?

a quick nap in the lounge... finding people sleepin next to you when you wake up... the most uncomfortable positions but to find yourself fresh like never before... and then again a customary visit for stimulant and a bite... and then vowing never to eat Fries and Butter croissants...

Preparing for evening class and rushing to get free food... complaining about same old ugly food and black tea... meeting new interesting set of people (PT guys)... and wonder how they manage MBA, work and family?

then more importantly deciding for dinner after the class... Night Canteen? Noooooooooo... I hate the food... Subway? Can Can... But, Dadi's is shut my friend and Rangoli is quite expensive... Ok, no one will eat Maggi... I will cook for all...

And then the cooking marathons.... 3 people 3 recipes 1 dish! Kuch bhi daalo.. edible hota hai... But I dont put onions... HOW can you cook without onions?? And the flaring up of temper (and the invention of bullish levels... and VIX and Emerging Markets)... The daal and 'mummy ka masala'... relishing every bite (or sip in case of daal)... Of Khanne's delicious food... sometimes the same old khichdi or dalma... And then The Great Emperor claiming "daag jaata hi nahi".. like just out of Vim ad...

A small walk may be... Or hooking on to lappies to check the missed activity of last 4 hours on facebook and gtalk... trying to read for next day's class... group activity for pre reads as well.... getting surprised at "me off" ping at 1 AM! Hey, badhu normal che ne?

Crashing off at 2:30 and to realise that it was another day gone! I again did nothing! I better get started now! But wait, the terms dont start before 2 weeks! Got some time... will start after the presentation next Wednesday... sure thing!

And then came an end to the period which I would describe one of the best ever quarter in my life! Cheers to the Sem 2 of NUS MBA!

That time of the semester....

Its again 4 weeks to go for finals.... and the professors hav started the compeitition yet again... who will keep the students'most busy.... projects... presentations... games (oh yes, we have simulation games - I suck at these)... assignments... homework.. readings... and of course, the finals...

The major factor though this semester has focussed on grading through out (with exception of Macro Econ) and has the finals would not play a major role in deciding your final grade... that said, this semester the learning also has been better terms of presentations and other non theoretical activities like case studies... And also, with higher emphasis on these, you tend to take it lil more seriously than before... and in subjects you really love, you would not mind going an extra mile...

Was just wondering why should Sem 1 be different?

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!

2nd Semester.... A New Beginning!

Wishing all my blog readers a very happy new year! And "Gong Xi Fa Cai" - a greeting used to address wealth and prosperity!

With the start of 2nd sem, a lot of things have changed! Its so different that its a new beginning itslef altogether!

First of all, I have shifted to new home. Nearer, bigger, better, comfortable, brighter and all the good adjectives that comes to your mind. Located at 10 mins walking distance away from the school, this new rented apartment at 334 Westvale, Pasir Panjang Road is sprawling 2000 sq feet with 3 bedrooms and the master bedroom which can be converted to a dormitory which can house 4 ppl itself! The condo houses a swimmming pool and non-existant tennis court which we plan to use as box cricket pitch (not that we cant make our hall one ;) )

New home means a new lifestyle! I dont have to take shuttle at 8:30 AM sharp to reach the school! I have the liberty of staying home on weekends. I have the option of coming to home between the lectures and taking a nap! I have an option of not eating at campus! And the best of all, we have started cooking all over again!

More changes include new activities! Have already done Kayaking and Cycling! And I must admit its more fun than Clubbing! The fun does not necessarily mean drinks and dance anymore! Taboo is the game of the moment! Walks are not meant for exercise - they are time to admire Singapore's weather in Night!

More about academics, presentations and extra currics and school life in later post!