"Synchrony 2009", IIMA's Annual Alumni Meet

"Synchrony-2009", IIMA's annual Alumni meet is happening on May 9th. We are actively looking for sponsorships. It will simultaneously take place at 8 cities across the world.

Sponsorships start from Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000 and extends upto Rs 150,000. There will be just 2-3 companies sponsoring the event and hence brand visibility and brand recollection will be very high among the audience. There will be 150-200 Alums participating in every city and many senior alums (CEOs/MDs/Sr VPs/Partners) would be coming. Hence its a great opportunity to showcase your product/brand.

Please do get in touch with me ASAP at +91 96502 75308 or rpradeep.kumar@gmail.com for further details.

And its all over..

Attended the last class of 1st year, WIMWI. I had absolutely no senti. (who would get senti on submitting 1 assignment almost everyday for 6 weeks or giving 5 surprise quizzes in a row?). I would not say it was that horrible as I had thought. Some slots were tough. Overall it was manageable.

Chetan Soman took the last session and ended it in style. Awesome session it was. He had modeled a funny quiz in KBC style with the same music and stuff. A memorable last day.

We still have a memorable 7 exams left to officially end 1st year.. With 4 exams being 'globe' (which means the question paper would be a case and we write as much as possible like 12h standard kids hoping to be randomly allocated some grade!). My internship starts immediately after that with a 3 day break in between.. aargh.. no time for rest..

They should not have made this slot so hectic. I am tired and don't feel like working my ass of during internship.

Slot system

There has been a change in the academic system at IIMA from our year. 3 terms have been converted into 6 slots to increase course flexibility. There has also been a change in the subjects handled in each slot/term.

1st slot - Enthu levels are high. Workload is relatively less. The pressure from the PGP office is limited. But students put fight and most work hard.

2nd slot - Tougher than 1st slot. But students start making CVs and getting a hang of things at A. If I am not wrong, endless hours spent on marketing assignments in groups. Slot ends with tnite. :)

3rd slot - Very tough. Summer ppts + CV making + Summer preps + Class assignments. In addition, marketing assignments and OM assignments. Life was real tough.

4th slot - Post summers slot. Chillest of all 6. Nothing much to do. Most subjects had no quizzes.

5th slot - A tough slot definitely. Enthu levels are low. Assignments are more in number. Sub groups within groups are formed to handle assignment load. Some groups start meeting less since it may be inefficient at times. A lot of fight compared to previous slots.

6th slot - Hell. You don't know what hit you. Everyday there is an assignment which is graded and assignments are there in almost all subjects and range from simple ones to extremely complex. Very high workload. However you are better equipped to handle it since you are used to case studies and know how much and what to prepare, if at all you decide to prepare!

Case Methodology of teaching

It has taken me almost 9-10 months to understand how to make the best use of business cases! The case methodology is extensively used at IIMA. On an average if we have 18 classes/week, we do almost 10-12 cases. i.e. reading atleast 2 cases per day.

I have gone through different thought processes, not necessarily progressively, while reading cases.

a. Read each and every point in the case to answer the questions effectively: This methodology was the norm in the 1st 1-2 months. The thought process was that every point given in the case is important and one must know all points to "answer the questions" effectively. The end objective was satisfactorily answering the key questions.

The following 2 methods are used regularly based on time constraints or prof constraints.

b. Browse through important case facts: The objective behind this method was to survive through the class and also minimize input (time given) and maximize ROI, not by maximizing output.This was the usual objective when time available was too less or motivation was at an all time low (which is the case 60% of the time ;) ). This method of reading is the most used and abuses case methodology of studying to the core.

c. Read case as fast as possible by skipping the boring theory part and attacking the crux (which means concentrating in the crucial 2-3 pages out of the 15 page case): This method was at times used when one is a bit more serious about studying or the prof is someone who will not listen to arbit CP or this method of studying has become a habit. This method is used 30% of the time. (All numbers have been statistically arrived after cross tabulation multi cultural analysis).

The 4th method of studying cases is I believe a very good method and something which I am trying to do after a revelation when chatting with a prof. He commented that "Case method is an extremely good method of teaching because you read and learn about more than 100 companies within one year and how they function". I have never read a case passionately to understand what a company did! The objective was always to analyze the problem facing the company. The objective was never to learn what all the company has done and why they did so.

i.e. for example, if I was reading a case on Toyota in Operations, I would have usually skipped through the marketing part, company history etc to go to the core Toyota production system and see what problems are there in it.

There is a significant difference in the "problem searching" approach and the "Understanding company" approach. The former method employs a "consultant mentality" and the latter, "entrepreneurial mentality".

Reading the case as an open ended experience of an entrepreneur gives so many insights about the business that a problem searching approach misses out on. I have nowadays started reading cases with such an objective i.e. reading the case as a story to know what all the company has done. It is like reading a biography of many companies and I am enjoying it a lot more.

And no, this does not take much time also. It maybe takes 25% more time than (b) or (c). Note that this method is very different from approach (a). (a) cannot be sustained due to the efforts which we need to put in. In (a) one approaches the case with "what all did the company do" and one tries to remember each and every fact whereas in (d) one reads the case with a "how and why did the company do these" where case facts are less important.

The method (d) requires a bit more effort than (b) and (c) but the learnings are much higher. I anyway skip answering the case questions while following approach(d) since its anyway discussed in class and also would require too much effort which I cannot sustain!

Method (d) is best for those courses with bad profs but good cases!

Aargh.. Bad day.

845 to 1:10 - Three 75 minute classes
2:30 to 3:30 - Surprise quiz in a predictably boring Information Systems
3:30 to 4:45 - Extra class

Shucks! Why have they become so sadistic in the last slot! I don't remember us having any classes in evenings during first 5 slots!

Evening classes are against fundamental rights.

My first and last WAC run...

..We had a WAC submission today. I always complete them well before time. Today we had the last submission for the year. And as they say, No one gets out of WAC alive. The final submission was preceded by a printer jam, printer ink over, stapler unavailable, a paper missing in final report, 9 minute 50 second delay and everything else possible!

And yeah, a reduced sub grade too!

I'm luvin it!

First year courses at IIMA

I received a mail asking for the list of courses in the first year over here. Its as below (Read as subject; credits; slot in which course is offered):



The total number of credits is 24.5 in 1st year. Each credit involves 20 classes of 75 minutes each.

Hence total number of classes in 1st year would be 490 and equivalent class hours is 612.5. I understand this is approximately 40% more classes than equivalent other MBA courses. But I understand from seniors that it helps a lot during the summer internships.

We usually have 3 classes in day. 845 to 1000; 1020 to 1135; 1155 to 110. The first 20 minute break is for snacks/chai. 2nd break is timepass break. By 130,we get to know whether there is any surprise quiz for the day. If there is one, it will be at 230. 130 to 230 is time spent mugging for quiz. :) Quiz duration is from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, rarely touches 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Will edit again and update.

Sidenote:

I would prefer comments to mails. Please mail if you need any personal help and comment if its a general request.

Identifying "Globe"

I would say this is the single most important takeaway I have had at this place. :)

"Putting globe" refers to making global statements i.e. putting together a stream of jargons which do not make any sense.

In MBA courses, there are usually CP components. CP refers to class participation and usually the weightage is 10% though sometimes it is as high as 40% in select courses. I strongly believe that 10% is the ideal weightage since at that %age, the incentive to put CPs is less and hence only genuine CPs are made in class. Moderating CPs in class is a very important skill the prof must have. The following simple formula holds true:

High CP component + Bad prof/Non moderating prof = Class discussions suck!

The more the weightage given to CP, the more Arbit CPs are made. If the prof is good or shrewed he can cut the crap. There are some profs who rip a student apart if an arbit CP is made. :p

Now coming to the point, most students here would have come to the point where they can differentiate between an Arbit CP (tangential to the topic being discussed), Globe CP (jargons put together) and a Good analytical CP. This is an extremely important skill according to me. Many senior people get away by making global statements with no information content. Initially I used to think I am the one who is unable to understand what these people are speaking. But now I feel there are many who speak without knowing what they are actually speaking. Unfortunately doing an MBA also contributes to the ability to put globe and many a times this ability develops more than the ability to identify globe and hence eventually the end result is disastrous. :)

However, these days the moment a student puts a Globe CP, the whole class starts murmering "Globbbeeeeeeee" and its fun. :)

There are also many authors who put major globe in their writings and it does sound good while reading and its even more difficult to identify them in writings.

Sidenote:
Among the many authors I have read, someone who actually has been able to write sense in his articles in an area which can be considered "globest" is Michael Porter. His writings on "Strategy" are very good to read. I was really surprised to figure out what "Strategy" actually was through one of his most famous HBS articles, "What is strategy". This article was way focussed when compared to many other crap we read as strategy. I am not sure whether any background reading is needed before reading the article.

I don't exactly understand when..

..someone tells me at IIMA that they learnt a lot more speaking with other students and interacting with them than from studying. I believe it is a way to justify what one is doing is correct. I feel that way since I used that excuse way lot in engineering.

I am reminded of Rene Descartes quote:

“It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.”

Usually those who make that statement never put in much efforts behind studies. So technically, yes, one did learn more by interacting with others than from studying since the time put for the latter was bare minimum and hence the chance to learn was also very less! Now justfying that it was the "better" thing to do can be argued upon, but I cannot win that argument since "better" depends on how one wants to spend his or her time. But I do feel its not the best use of time at IIMA.

Technically one is using only one set of resources ("peers") and believe he or she is making the best use of it. Whereas I believe this place has atleast equally, if not more, to gain from the other set of resources ("profs/books/learning atmosphere" and what not).

One who makes the best use of both the resources has ideally taken out the maximum out of this place. The one who has only studied or the one who has only spent time chit chatting has missed a good opportunity and more importantly, taken away an opportunity (a seat) for someone else who could have made a better use of this opportunity.

The year that was... Part I

I almost did not realize that 'famed' first year at IIMA is going to come to an end ! It has been a wonderful journey till now and the learnings have been tremendous. Even now I cannot exactly tell how it has made a difference to my life, but I am extremely happy that I have actually learnt so many things in the last 1 year.

The reason I am enjoying my MBA a lot more than engineering is primarily to do with the fact that one need not memorize for 80-85% of the subjects. The papers are conceptual and usually tests one's understanding of the subject. In equivalent words, the paper standard oscillates between the CBSE level and the JEE level. It rarely touches the State board level. This also ensures that one need not be over tensed before any exam that one will forget something. Yes. Last day preps do matter ! But just that isnt sufficient to score well. Also one is thought by proper professors whereas in engineering 50% of courses were taken by MTechs, sometime BTechs!! Yes, some profs may not teach that well. But most know the subject matter really well and are extremely knowledgeable.

Another reason I am enjoying the course is because I genuinely enjoy learning about management. I seem to be enjoying all the courses!

Unfortunately most students when they come to do an MBA, they think about specific sectors where they want to work in and concentrate only on those subjects and do not bother about the rest.

I remember an advice from an NITT alumni before joining IIMA: "Do an MBA assuming you are going to be an entrepreneur 10 years down the line". A very good advice indeed!

The first year rigour of IIMA is well known. In fact, it has reached the peak this slot with one assignment every other day. Before joining IIMA, I somehow did not appreciate how this system would benefit anyone. However, towards the end of the year, I strongly feel that the system works! The system does not make you study the whole day (baah! - average study hours now is 1.5-2 with minimum 0 and maximum 4-5 for a few). But it introduces constraints, the kind of constraints which one will face in real life and challenges you to adjust to it. You need to take a call. There are always trade-offs.

Eventually one becomes efficient under time pressure.

Will try posting more.

Off to WIMWI

Would be reaching Ahmedabad tomorrow. Some serious packing going on. :)

I think I have packed stuff 'for good' quite a few times in my life.

Chennai->Trichy->Mumbai->Chennai->Gurgaon-> Now Ahmedabad (-> ??)

I definitely wont miss Gurgaon, but yeah, would miss the home though. Long time since I stayed in hostels.

As a side note, am horrified seeing the flight fares. I booked Delhi -> Ahd in Spicejet a month back for 3k. But now, after the steep increase, the cost of tickets 1 month down the line is 5.5k !! (check at www.cleartrip.com). Thats a freakin 83% increase. The news article linked above, I feel, has downplayed the hike. Its around 2-3k increase in all sectors.

Hmmm.. Guess its back to www.irctc.co.in :(

The famed query and the Telecom Revolution :P

I am running short of time. Hence cant come up with an original update. :)

Heading to Nepal for a week. Will be back on 10th June.

Till then, an interesting read.

2-3 years back, one fachcha (junior in IIMA parlance and nowadays, MBA parlance itself) asked the following query. Read 'em and most importantly, read the whacky reply she got from the senior. Hilarious. :)

Query:

i need a cell cuz i want to stay in touch with my guy. also i may not be in my room/ be able to come to my room to make/take calls at all times, but i can always carry my cell with
me anywhere!!
ofcourse i will get std activated... but messagin u can do only thru a cell...

i get teh point abt matchin networks to reduce cost... n here is my dilemma

my guy has an airtel connection
my dad has a reliance phone
my brother has idea
and our home phone is a tata indicom.

now what???

i need to have teh most cost effective way out... which wd be covenient fr my parents, bro and guy too!!

help!!!


*Now below is the reply to the above post...*
* The reply was by a now PGP-4 or a 2007 IIMA passout and the query was from a 2008 passout when she was going to join IIM A*

This is a very good query. I also faced a lot of problems when I came to IIMA because I wanted to stay in touch with my guy, bhains and bakri (If I had an elephant, it would have been a simple matter of making a trunk call). Considering the reverence that Indian culture accords to the bovine and the divine, staying in touch with cattle is a very important issue. One needs to only read the Hindi stories of Munshi Premchand, such as Heera Moti and Godaan to realize the deep bonds that people in the cowbelt have for their livestock. Of course, calling Munshi Premchand a Hindi writer is slightly misleading
because his writings have a proliferation of Urdu words, reflecting the degree of intermixing between Urdu and Hindi in pre-independence Uttar Pradesh. The alphabet taught in schools during those days began with Aliph, which interestingly is a derivative of the Greek alpha,which had first made its presence felt in India during the times of
Alexander and Selecus Nicator. And perhaps it is divine happenstance that Alexander the Great had to retreat from the Ganges, thereby completing the UP connection. However the Greek influence in India did not die out with him, his generals if you are still reading this
then I can only wonder how exciting your work is established mini kingdoms from whatever they could salvage of his victories and particularly interesting is the case of the kingdom of Bactria (in present day Afghanistan) , a Greek island in a South Asian sea. The
great king Menander of Bactria is the same Milinda, the celebrated king who had a dialogue with the Buddhist sage Nagasena on the semantics of being.

But let me not digress from the core issue, which is your connectivity query. Well as you know, India has undergone a telecom revolution in the past 10 years or so. It all began with the reaking down of the monoploy of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
and the establishment of quasi-autonomous bodies like the MTNL and the VSNL. For the purpose of cellular communications, India is divided into a number of contiguous circles, which roughly correspond to the boundaries of the states (which is very convenient considering that the states of India were reorganized on a linguistic basis in the 1950s, thus going to ahow how farsighted our planners and statesmen were at the time). Initially, for reasons of viable competition, each circle could have 2 private operators and one network from either MTNL or BSNL. At the moment, I think 3 private operators are allowed and plans are to allow a further private player in a circle.

So what you need to do is, locate a map of India, find the telecom cirlces and identify the players operating there. Formulate a matrix to display this information and then apply the concepts of cost minimization (modified simplex method) to identify the optimal network combination for your needs.

Cheers,
PGP-4

ROTFL. :)

The guy replied must have been one heck of genius ;)

I hope someone asks something similar next year and I get a nice time. :P

Or better, someone asks this year itself and a PGP2 sends a gem. ;)

Reply from WIMWI passout on my queries

I have put this mail up here to the benefit of all. Standard disclaimers apply. Edited it to correct spelling mistakes and to make it more readable. Its not that this mail made me join A. I also edited it to remove certain very minor comparisons with other B Schools and have the part which only talks about IIMA.

I am posting it as a for-your-information-only. Hope it benefits few.

QUOTE:

Expectations out of MBA:

- Learning general biz stuff will happen in both A&B. However A has some fantastic electives in both finance and strategy and you can rest assured that you will have ample choice.

- Sitting in classes of superb profs in my view is the biggest strength of A. If someone asks me why is A so different from others enjoying such a brand value, I always say its because of the profs. I have never witnessed such genius personalities and trust me, You will enjoy the aura of intellect thoroughly in the classes. All brand value, placements, rankings...all of these are after effects.....the foundation is that A has some excellent profs in all fields who will simply blow you away with their expereience and depth of knowledge. Prof Ajay Pandey, prof Seb Morris, Prof Abraham Koshy, are just few examples u can search on the net about !

- Good CGPA.....IIMA is absolutely the place to come if u are interested in academics. Period. Acads is clearly the first preference here and everything else depends on student's enthu. You can do everything else as well but thats only after acads. The peers r simply brilliant here and hence the level of competition is absolutely unimaginable. But that inspires you to study harder and get good grades. Little bit of RG and all happens but that happens everywhere n you can't run away from that. In fact its good coz u will face such pressures in work as well n hence this is a great dress rehearsal ! IIMA is also known as IIM Acads. And if u have a good CGPA, well you are the bond then :)

- Get a good job---well, I need not say anything here. The variety is immense. You can check our placement report I posted on PG. Don't even waste a second having doubts on placements. It can get better than this place. Period.

- Learn 1-2 games/sports : Even though IIMA is lot about acads, the best thing is that the opportunities to do whatever u want to are infinite. Its all about managing your time. We have about 40 odd clubs ranging from lits to sports to bike riding to movies :) And trust me , we all do everything along with studies. It just makes u an all rounder :) Frisbee, Cricket, Badminton, TT, Football, Volleyball....All are extremely popular sports here....We even got a foosball table this year :) U can learn whatever sports you want :)

- Peer n/w : The junta in IIMA is the top cream of the country. The amount of intellect around you is mind blowing. And hence you need not bother at all about the peer n/w.

- Work Ex/Mature junta : See, in every institute, u will have a bunch of guys who just wanna pass 2 yrs, and get a good job and then there will always be those who are here for learning and chose courses seriously to gain the max out of the place. And finally there are those who want to do both. I was in the last category :) So the thing is that its completely up to what you want out of the place. You can take all fundoo subjects and you will get good junta to support you and have some intelligent discussions with u and if you get tired u can chose some easy subject to relax. The onus is fully on you. You will always find a sect who will be there to take and learn good course. So don't have any doubts on that.

As far as work ex is concerned I can tell you that the %age of work ex people is steadily on the rise in A and my junior batch has much more work ex people than my batch. Plus I have learnt that its not always true that higher no. of work ex guys implies higher level of intellect n maturity in discussions.

So don't go so much on the figures of no of work ex guys. The quality of work ex guys is more important and thats where IIMA scores above all instis.

Doubts about IIMA :

- Balance in both years -----Thats the biggest misconception people have. See, the thing is that since the first year is so grueling, that many people want to chillax in 2 year which u can afford coz theres no compulsion in the subjects u chose. However, that does not imply that u cant chose good subjects in 2 year and study with the same tempo in 2 year. I have known people who took equally demanding but good subjects in 2 year as well :)

Its simple - Its fully upto you. Both years can be academically demanding or 2nd year can be chill. Its completely a personal preference. Insti allows you to do both. And u should'nt worry at all !

- Profiling - As i said earlier, don't go on sheer nos. See the quality as well. Trust me, you will find the best of minds and personalities in A. And forget just acads, there are all rounders galore here.You will find swimming champs, national tennis players, Music band members, professional singers, professional bikers, debaters...you name it you got it ! Every guy in IIMA has a special talent apart from acads and am not kidding ! What more do u want in terms of learning environment !! Its all upto you how you harness the environment to gain max benefit.

Overall, whatever said and done IIMA's brand value is impossible to match and that brand value is the result of quality of faculty and students. Hence I would strongly recommend you to shed all inhibitions coz none of them hold good from my 2 yrs at IIMA and 2 yrs before that in preparing and comparing B Schools extensively :)

Congrats for your achievement and I hope you don't make the mistake of rejecting A for the doubts you had mentioned because they don't hold much water when you see how IIMA is in 2 years :)

Lemme know if I can be of any other help !

Hope to se ya in IIMA sometime in the next 2 years if I do make a visit :)

All the best !

UNQUOTE

Query in IIMA Yahoo thread :P

Junior:

> Q. Is grass available in IIMA ?
>
> P.S. I dont smoke :D

Reply from Senior:

I hope you don't graze either. :-P

Once in 10 years change of Syllabi at IIMA

AHMEDABAD: It's one big change effected once in a decade at the country's premier management institute. Now, even the first year students of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA)'s flagship post graduate programme in management (PGPM) will have to go
through an internship, and with a difference.

Unlike the usual eight-week internship with corporate houses that the students have to undergo at the end of third term, the new syllabus will ask students to take up a two-week internship with social organisations.

Among other things, the new syllabus will put extra stress on teaching business ethics and technological aspects of businesses. Ethics, business taxation, organisational leadership module and internet technology are the four new topics that the first year students are likely to study from this academic year, said chairperson, PGPM, Ajay Pandey.

The recommendations are on the agenda of the PGP review committee revising the IIM-A's syllabus to be introduced from this academic year. The exercise is taken up once in ten years to make syllabus relevant to contemporary scenario.

In order to highlight the need for coporates' social responsibility, the committee feels that students be given an option to join a social organisation for internship in their first year. However, students not interested in joining social organisations may opt for writing a case
study as an option.

"We bring about some changes in syllabus every year in consultation with area experts based on developments in the field. However, the exercise we are undertaking this year is once-in-a-decade where curriculum across all areas are changed to make it more contemporary
to new developments. While we have decided to drop topics that don't hold much relevance,
we have introduced several new topics. We are also discussing to introduce social internship and case writing as options," said Mr Pandey.

After introducing new syllabus from this academic year, the review committee will work on changing final year course. "However, we have decided to do away with compulsory topics in the second year as well. Now, students will be given the freedom to choose from the electives.
This will be introduced from the next academic year," said Mr Pandey.

Students take up summer internship after completing their first year. IIM-A syllabus usually sets benchmark for other B-schools in the country to follow.

Regarding Social Internship:

I feel its a good move. SPJAIN is already doing it. They don't have summer internships but autumn internships. During summers they do something similar. But I believe Summers must be for summer internship and the autumn period can be used for this CSR internship since then they can meet junta from other B Schools during internship and also it will be inline with the company schedule.

Regarding course change:

I am pretty excited. There will be an air of dynamism due to this course change. We would be the first batch to sit thru this changed course. I hope they have added some really interesting electives. But "Ethics, business taxation, organisational leadership module and internet technology" courses don't seem very exciting. I hope there are others too. I also hope they don't remove those old courses which are legendary in their own way.

Expectations out of an MBA

- Learn general business stuff pretty well. I want to learn more on the overall functioning of business and not specifically specialize only in one subject. Though will take quite some electives in finance and strategy. I plan to take atleast one electives in each area.

- Sit in the classes of superb profs and enjoy the classes. I would never get such a chance again and did not get such an opportunity even at NIT Trichy (except for classes of Dr Karuppan Chetty and Dr Subbiah who were god level at NIT Trichy. Unfortunately both retired recently.)

- Good CGPA (I don't have any worthwhile academic achievement till date. Thought this is good time to try my hands on studies.)

- Get a good job. Preferably IBD (M&A) or MC. Not interested in IB-markets/structuring/Fixed Income etc and not interested in Sales and Marketing/Systems as of now.

- Learn 1-2 games/sports

- Develop a very good peer network

- Hopefully sit in a mature class with junta having good work exp and people who have fair ideas of what they want out of the course.

- Healthy competition amongst junta and not get into RGing and related stuff.

Not so interested in spending lot of my time on:

- Culturals and stuff
- Lits and stuff

Some logic behind above is I am trying to do all that which I did not do well during Engineering days. I was involved a lot in extra currics then and never bothered much about acads. I want to reverse that here.

These are my basic expectations before knowing what opportunities IIM A has to offer. Lets see how things move on. I will re asses these as and when required.

Converted IIMA

I was wait listed at IIM A initially which got converted a week back. I was in some dilemma between A vs B. Some may ask why? As such, if one looks at just the brand, there is obviously no doubt that A is far ahead in it. But in terms of the 2 years which I will spend in the B School both offers its own advantages and disadvantages. I was also senti on IIM B since many friends are in Bangalore and Bangalore is much more happening etc. But thought these must not be a strong criteria to select a B School. Finally decided to join IIM A.

The reporting date is June 23rd. I will be leaving sometime on June 20th/21st.

Good news. Joining IIM B as of now :)

Life is funny. When I prepared last year like crazy, I did not get a single call from the IIMs for interviews. I had final admits from SPJAIN Marketing, NITIE and IIT Delhi and a Waitlist from XLRI BM which never converted. I had almost decided to join SPJAIN. But then, got an offer to join a good firm and also I was not so sure whether I wanted to do Marketing. I would have joined XLRI had it converted. But it did'nt. But all for good only.

This year I appeared for CAT with minimum preparation, but due to luck and God's grace secured all 6 calls. I secured a call from IIM Shillong too though was not ready to join and did not attend the interview. I finally converted BLIK and got Waitlisted at IIM A (no. 31). C did not convert.

The WL at A may not clear. But not sure whether to join A even if it clears. I am postponing the decision hoping it wont convert. :) I like IIM B mainly because its in Bangalore and I have some senti on it.

I like the selection process of IIM B, which is different from others and results in more experienced and a diverse set of people getting through,and I hear from B junta that they are more "pseud" and hence more business like than their counterparts. If I tell I am joining B for the above reasons, I will be acting as if I am rational.

But I hope I get to join IIM B finally. I don't have the mind to reject A for B or B for A. Both are great instis. :)

I am seeing the threads and discussions at the yahoo group. Pretty good discussions.
I participated in few discussions too. But really nice that the 2nd years are taking out time to reply to our queries. Replies are received within 4-5 mts. I guess our batch is slowly picking up. I hoped it would not be a very "senior junior" kind of relationship, the engineering college style. I am also in the yahoo group of an another college where I have been selected. Its primarily the same kinda relationship everywhere. The 2nd years thinking the "1st yr kids" have come and likes. It should slowly shift to the ISB style of interactions which I felt are at a more mature level. Its not do with work ex. Guess its because of the past precedence.

Our batch has considerable no. of people with work ex. I am pretty impressed.

Gut feel from orkut polls tells:

Freshers - must be 23-25%
< 1 yr - 8-10 %
1-2 yr - 33-35%
2-3 yr - 15%
3 yr + - 20%

The above is definitely a very impressive for IIM Bangalore since once upon a time, there used to be figures like 70% freshers in IIMs etc. Lemme see how the figures finally turn out. This is just based on some orkut poll.

But I guess some other IIMs have 50% freshers even this year. It should change slowly. Nothing against freshers, but having work experience helps in gaining some maturity and getting a feel of the real world outside, especially for a course like MBA. Anyway, that will be a different post altogether. Will post my views on that too. :)

You can expect this blog to be some sort of a chronicle of real life at IIM B. I hope I do not fall into the bandwagon of "My school is best" or the "B is B" kinda crap which is liberally doled out these days by many students. I hope to post my perspectives about things as they happen here and hence would be useful to future students interested in joining IIM B or any IIM.

Choosing the right School

I will be applying to B Schools in Fall 2009 and am in the process of researching schools. There is nothing more difficult than selecting schools. (Eliminating, at times, is easier ;) ). I feel like applying to all schools from Wharton to Wazowski Management school. Anyway, have been setting a few guidelines for school selection. They are as follows:

1. Course Strengths: The school must be good in finance and entrepreneurship. Finance (mostly IB) because that will my short term goal and from IB, in the long term, which is 2-5 years, move to PE. Presently I am interested in those companies which involve in technology for the masses for the developing world. I also want to work in start-ups. Now, I know that it's all hazy and my goals are not crystal clear. But that's how it is and I will refine it as I move on. I like start-ups and I like working in them and the entrepreneurial atmosphere is addictive to me. I get inspired seeing young guys going out to do on their own.
   
2. Brand name: I want the school to have a good brand name in India. I may want to come back to India at some point of time and even if the school has been amazing, not having a good brand name in India will hurt.
   
3. Alumni network: I am nowadays a lot into networking and hence a good alumni network globally and in India will surely help
   
4. Culture: I would prefer if my peers are goal oriented, extremely motivated, have the instinct to do something big in life, at the same time look laid back and can have fun.
   
5. Partner Association: School must have a good partner association and must have lots of activities in that
   
6. No co-signor loan: Would prefer if the school has such an arrangement. Would reduce my burden and I don't have to disturb my parents.
   

   
    

These are some of the points on top of my mind. Will keep revisiting this and changing it I move on.