Showing posts with label MBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MBA. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
NUS MBA - The Student View!
Well, I have been putting up a lot of nonsense stuff I have been doing which apparently is not what B-school is about... Get a real view of NUS MBA from the horse's mouth... Shipra, my batchmate, is avid blogger and here is her blog http://mynusmba.blogspot.com/ which talks about student life at NUS!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
MBA - 1 month 1 week later
Extremely bad time to post but I just need to spend some time here blanking out..... I have Eco project to be submitted tomorrow, marketing mid term on monday and statistic presentation on thursday - but still I find its pretty manageable! Tough - yes but not quite impossible!
Well, before you put me in the race of super humans - I am not! Here at NUS - you have set your priorities straight from the day one - what you want to do! There are so many opetions that you have problem of plenty..... Studies is just one aspect in MBA here... If a cap score of 4.5+ (out of maximum 5) is a priority - then you concentrate on your acads from day one because class participation forms a quite a bit of .... Not on my list though!
Now what else - extra currics - but yes this too has huge meaning here - you got your usual organising and business cases and stuff... but what stands apart here is the enormity of the "university" - At uni level, there is so much happening - randomly speaking - you have all sorts of sports (archery) and all sorts of art (operas) and all sort of cult following (how about toast masters club)... Falls somewhere in my list! But yes majorly on usual stuff - havent been able to pick up a sport yet....
And there are companies which come to cmapus day in and day out... so if you wann "network"... you got all the opportunity to do so... and believe me if one clicks - nothing like it!! Coz your job depends upon on you effort - unlike Indian schools where companies come shopping with gunny bags of cash to lure yet-to-enter-corporate-world students... Here, its all about meeting the right people at the right place at the right time!
And ya - party!!! Man, Singapore is big happening place!! The government does not want people to go out in the night coz it stops MRT and bus services and the cabbies charge 35% extra but still the party places are open all night!!! Clarke Quay is a major spot - though I found it too be too hyped up and steep! Just been to Ministry of Sound - and yes it lives up to the name!! If you are a trance fan - this place is must must visit!!
Yea - this is what I have been doing in MBA!!! Coz I see that this is the last time in my life I am really gonna enjoy life! These days wont come back again... your last visit to campus and last bit of freedom before you go back to professional grind.... and sober down a bit when you settle down socially... so for me - MBA is all about having to study very optimally and enjoy my time as much as I can!!
Well, before you put me in the race of super humans - I am not! Here at NUS - you have set your priorities straight from the day one - what you want to do! There are so many opetions that you have problem of plenty..... Studies is just one aspect in MBA here... If a cap score of 4.5+ (out of maximum 5) is a priority - then you concentrate on your acads from day one because class participation forms a quite a bit of .... Not on my list though!
Now what else - extra currics - but yes this too has huge meaning here - you got your usual organising and business cases and stuff... but what stands apart here is the enormity of the "university" - At uni level, there is so much happening - randomly speaking - you have all sorts of sports (archery) and all sorts of art (operas) and all sort of cult following (how about toast masters club)... Falls somewhere in my list! But yes majorly on usual stuff - havent been able to pick up a sport yet....
And there are companies which come to cmapus day in and day out... so if you wann "network"... you got all the opportunity to do so... and believe me if one clicks - nothing like it!! Coz your job depends upon on you effort - unlike Indian schools where companies come shopping with gunny bags of cash to lure yet-to-enter-corporate-world students... Here, its all about meeting the right people at the right place at the right time!
And ya - party!!! Man, Singapore is big happening place!! The government does not want people to go out in the night coz it stops MRT and bus services and the cabbies charge 35% extra but still the party places are open all night!!! Clarke Quay is a major spot - though I found it too be too hyped up and steep! Just been to Ministry of Sound - and yes it lives up to the name!! If you are a trance fan - this place is must must visit!!
Yea - this is what I have been doing in MBA!!! Coz I see that this is the last time in my life I am really gonna enjoy life! These days wont come back again... your last visit to campus and last bit of freedom before you go back to professional grind.... and sober down a bit when you settle down socially... so for me - MBA is all about having to study very optimally and enjoy my time as much as I can!!
Friday, June 27, 2008
What Lies Ahead!
As I had mentioned a few weeks earlier, I met some seniors. They were very helpful bunch of people. Today, I stumbled upon Suraj's blog - http://nus-mba-life.blogspot.com/
And I must admit that it has gotten me more excited to go and reach NUS and Singapore as soon as possible...
Great work Suraj!!! Its an excellent blog and needs to attract a wider audience. Especially prospective NUS MBA applicants...
And I must admit that it has gotten me more excited to go and reach NUS and Singapore as soon as possible...
Great work Suraj!!! Its an excellent blog and needs to attract a wider audience. Especially prospective NUS MBA applicants...
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
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!!!!
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!!!!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Journey FINALLY Starts Today!!!!
Circa Dec 2003
As most aspirants in India who are in second last year of their college, I also saw the same dream - CAT!!!
CAT - Common Admission Test conducted by IIMs. You slog for it - day in and day out!!! Wishing to be one of the elite applicants to get a call from prestigious IIMs!!!
It all starts when you are not even 21!!! But you want to do an MBA and very soon and from one of the best colleges in the country!!!
Then you don't realise why do you want to do MBA... Nor do you realise where does your interest lie... The peer pressure forces you to flow with the current... Bringing to the CAT centre in herds...
Coming back to my journey, my MBA dream too started in Dec 2003... Joined classes.. took test series... put in my best.... suffered badly in semester exams of University... and was partially successful.. managed to get a call from IIM Bangalore but could not convert it...
Today - February 27, 2008
4 CATs, 4 XATs, 1 CET, 1 GMAT, 5 Calls, 1 Company, 4 Roles, 50 months (of which 32 into mehnat mazdoori) later - I finally have an admit!!!! I am finally going to do my MBA!!!! The feeling is more of a relief than happiness or Euphoric!! Its more of a nightmare (of not getting into MBA ) not coming true and you wake up and see that you are safe.... The nightmare has gone... the dream is finally coming into life...
After all this while of pushing, the car's engine has finally turned on... It may not have started running you know it will... all this while of pushing it has paid off.... the car was still moving then but it was not running.. now you know it will run... Waiting to put that foot on accelerator and zooom off.... The journey has started my friend!!!! The journey has finally started!!!!!
Moral of the story: Patience Pays!!!!
As most aspirants in India who are in second last year of their college, I also saw the same dream - CAT!!!
CAT - Common Admission Test conducted by IIMs. You slog for it - day in and day out!!! Wishing to be one of the elite applicants to get a call from prestigious IIMs!!!
It all starts when you are not even 21!!! But you want to do an MBA and very soon and from one of the best colleges in the country!!!
Then you don't realise why do you want to do MBA... Nor do you realise where does your interest lie... The peer pressure forces you to flow with the current... Bringing to the CAT centre in herds...
Coming back to my journey, my MBA dream too started in Dec 2003... Joined classes.. took test series... put in my best.... suffered badly in semester exams of University... and was partially successful.. managed to get a call from IIM Bangalore but could not convert it...
Today - February 27, 2008
4 CATs, 4 XATs, 1 CET, 1 GMAT, 5 Calls, 1 Company, 4 Roles, 50 months (of which 32 into mehnat mazdoori) later - I finally have an admit!!!! I am finally going to do my MBA!!!! The feeling is more of a relief than happiness or Euphoric!! Its more of a nightmare (of not getting into MBA ) not coming true and you wake up and see that you are safe.... The nightmare has gone... the dream is finally coming into life...
After all this while of pushing, the car's engine has finally turned on... It may not have started running you know it will... all this while of pushing it has paid off.... the car was still moving then but it was not running.. now you know it will run... Waiting to put that foot on accelerator and zooom off.... The journey has started my friend!!!! The journey has finally started!!!!!
Moral of the story: Patience Pays!!!!
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