A picture is worth thousand words....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yza7BwErgAI

I wont say more!

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!

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!

Blog Update!

For the certain predicted circumstances* in MBA, the blogger has decided to take a small break from the blogging!

Shall see the loyal readers of the blog sometime in early December! Till then pray for me that I survive!

* Includes following things
a) Projects
b) Presentations
c) Reading for Projects
d) Meetings
e) Elections (btw, the horizontals are over and I am eagerly awaiting for verticals and the MBA Club President tomorrow)
f) Working on Projects (Sometimes, I have to)
g) More Meetings
h) Lectures
i) Reading for final terms
j) Chutku (Small) submissions
k) Swinging on the indifference curve (Copyrights belong to KC)
l) Checking and keeping tab of emails for meetings
m) Applying for internships
n) De-stressing (read a Can of Beer)
o) Downloading new bollywood songs
p) Working for Fin Club and Cerebration
q) Apartment Hunting (how could I forget this - this had to come in top 10 things)
r) Travelling from the border of Malaysia to school and back
s) Finding deadlines for internships
t) Chatting at 2 AM about nothing in general
u) Thinking about Mumbai (everything including pollution and trains)
v) Thinking about good food (read ghar ka khana, AMar Juice Centre pav bhaji, mithibai ka dosa and vada pav, Filter kaafi and Kanchipuram idli at RK, pani puri at sahkari bhandar)
w) Thinking about what all I have to do when I am in Mumbai
x) Resolving not to repeat same mistakes in 2nd Semester
y) Thinking about grades (yes I cannot afford two subjects beyond B- level)
z) Blogging when I am supposed to 25 things mentioned above!

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!

Pichle Saat Dino Mein......

Well it is the end of a well utilised Mid term break....... Proud of my achievements here in Singapore!!!

Starting with the Bintan trip! Oh Man! What a beautiful island this is!!! Although in Indonesia, it is only an hour away from Singapore!! Imagine the number of visitors that might be visiting Bin Tan that all the prices and currency accepted everywhere on the island is Sing Dollars!!! Visa on arrival... direct ferry... lotsa options to stay... no hassles... a perfect tourist spot!! It is actually very rich in flora and fauna... Of other things I saw Komodo Dragons, Snakes and Black Squirrels!! Cannot really comment on one highlight of the trip coz there were many things which were absolutely amazing... to start with it was the first time I had a 15 year old Single Malt Glenfiddich and I have become a big fan of Baileys as well... I drove an All Terrain Vehicle through the dirt track and it was first ever time I drove a car. Good Lord saved my co-rider!! Although she claims that she more fun when I was driving but I know she would have been praying all the time! And the Snorkelling.... I admit I was really scared to go in water coz I dont know swimming but whatever I could see underwater was toooooo good!!! I saw a school of blue small fishes and the scene was what we generally see on Nat Geo or Discovery... I saw marine plants and the corals!!! I saw jelly fish in the ride to the place where we went snorkelling!!! These experiences stay for life!

Coming ahead in the week... I attended first class where I know I will be using these skills at work... The advanced excel workshop was a great refresher in between the theory classes. Although the prof did solver and pivot table, it was quite helpful to get refreshed on modelling skills... and the highlight was prof gifting me a original McLaren Key Chain for answering questions on Pivot Table!!!! Here's the link - http://f1store.formula1.com/stores/f1/products/product_details.aspx?pid=50364

Kaise bhoolon saatva jo din aaya..... I witnessed first ever race in my life and that too my fate was that it was night race on street.... i am still in trace... the sound of engines buzzing in my ears.... no words to describe... need to be there to experience it... I am not an F1 fan nd hence I decided I wont go to race... Hence the bintan trip happened in first place... I could not afford to spend that kind of money on tickets.... But, as I always say... I am here to enjoy every bit of my life... Studying will always take a backseat... So I decided to take a chance since it was a Street race... God bless the originator of street race.... So I reached by 6:30 and got an awesome view.... Just opposite one of the stands... the only difference between them and me was that I dint have seat.... The first roar of engine was deafening.... and the second got the adrealine pumping... and the noise then turned ito music... And I was in absolute daze!!! Thru the evening I witnessed race from 3 different views... each without paying a cent!!! The highlight was the moment when Ferrari overtook Red Bull and sparks flew all over the place!!!! And luckily we found a group which had mobile tv so he could update us on the number of laps and drivers.... We could make out the teams from the colors but not the drivers.... So when people say its difficult to make which car is which team, they are actually bluffing... Go for yourself and experience the thrill!!!! Btw, I have now atleast decided to follow the F1... So even though I regretted about not taking up a sport, this can act as consoloation prize!!!!

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!!

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...