MBA Dreams and Cutting Chai

ISB PGPMAX

2009-12-29T22:33:00.003+05:30

The following new program from ISB is a wonderful opportunity for executives - flexible, rigorous and world-class. Please contact ISB for more details. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ISB's PGPMAX is the best way to acquire the

WTF statement of the week

2009-12-24T00:51:00.003+05:30

A Congress politician in a nehru jacket and gelled hair, calling his party's flip-flop on Telangana within 3 weeks as a "Dynamic Response to a changing situation".Yeah dude - go back and finish whatever you were smoking.

Looking right

2009-12-05T22:24:00.004+05:30

The Salahis managing to gatecrash the White House Party because they 'looked the part' is an example of oversight that is not all that uncommon in the corporate scenario as well. Looking the part, and sounding the part are reasons why organizations ignore robust evaluation processes and wave the corporate Salahis in and upwards when they should frisk them thoroughly at each check point. The

Lemonade

2009-12-04T23:50:00.003+05:30

When life hands you lemons, do you make lemonade or bitch on facebook?It is very tough to make lemonade. This is the sole reason of existence for a million gurus that charge by the half-minute.p.s. - rant after briefly catching a glimpse of a highly paid lemonade guru on TV, facing serious charges

Drinking the Kool-Aid

2009-11-08T00:01:00.001+05:30

Drinking the Kool-Aid is not that uncommon in corporations. In the absence of true leadership, grandiose 'statements' and 'strategies' serve as that heady drink. The only difference being that the majority of the followers drink the Kool-Aid with eyes wide open, mostly to further their own career interests, and in the process make the concoction even more toxic, and the corporation even more

2 States

2009-11-01T13:59:00.003+05:30

It was by complete random chance that I picked up 2 states by Chetan Bhagat, at the Odyssey Checkout line while waiting in a long queue to pay for some business books.I realize that I am probably the only one in Urban India who has not read Five point someone or the later ones by the author, so I have no understanding of Chetan's progress as a writer. But truth be told - I found '2 States'

A picture is worth a thousand words !

2009-07-30T00:53:00.002+05:30

Chart Source: Bloomberg

Here Viigo !

2009-07-30T00:47:00.001+05:30

Viigo claims to be "The one app you'll never want to be without" and it is so true in my case. My BlackBerry is so much more useful and fun with it.Completely hooked on to it. Fast, well-designed, brilliant.. and a good business modelAnd the best thing about it.... free !

IE8 - spreading joy

2009-06-20T23:59:00.004+05:30

I needed a good laugh this weekend. Thank You Microsoft.Everytime I think MS/Steve can't get any more annoying - they prove me wrong.

Electionpalooza!

2009-04-10T23:27:00.005+05:30

I am bombarded with ads (both display and search) that promote LK Advani, his blog and his party's site anywhere I go on the dubdubdub... and am surprised to see none from the Indian Congress party. In fact I tried to look really hard covering some obvious keywords that they would have used - but guess what - 'Congress' throws up LK Advani in the paid ads on Google :)This congress-apathy towards

Recession hits the mind first

2009-04-05T23:30:00.001+05:30

Customer service has never been a serious business concept here in Hyderabad - and I have a zillion experiences to back it up. However, I would have expected that in today's tough times, customer visits would be lapped up by businesses struggling to have footfalls. Alas, I am surprised to see the same level of non-service / non-enthusiasm. And it is not limited to this city. Most of the

Tufte

2008-12-09T07:07:00.008+05:30

Tufte calls this graphic, depicting the fate of Napoleon's Army when it invaded Russia, as the best statistical graphic ever. Although I love Tufte's design principles and try to incorporate a lot of his ideas in my work, every time I hear 'best' the cynic in me takes over. You Decide!Article and High-Res Graphic

Please Stop

2008-12-06T01:06:00.001+05:30

I can't stand listening to these 5 words anymore - aaaaarggh - my hair hurts:-- Scalable- Innovation- Proactive- Interventions- CollaborationOMGWTFBBQ

Malvinder's Sayonara and Reddy's middle finger

2008-06-11T23:30:00.001+05:30

Instances of Promoters cashing out always interest me. Ranbaxy is a world-class company and although its merger with Daiichi makes a lot of sense if you are Daiichi, I don't see too many upsides for the Ranbaxy shareholders in the long run. Of course, Malvinder is gaga over synergies but I am guessing the only real reason was the huge premium he got. The news will hopefully bring some relief for

Backdating Options - Spike edition

2008-06-06T19:39:00.001+05:30

In the pretty account-bookish world of stock-options backdating jugglery, this guy stands out.To quote NYT -"Henry T. Nicholas III, the flamboyant co-founder and former chief executive of the chip maker Broadcom, was indicted Thursday in California on fraud, conspiracy and drug charges, including allegations that he spiked the drinks of other executives with ecstasy""Mr. Nicholas, 48, is a

(d)rained

2008-06-05T23:45:00.001+05:30

Shards all overdon't mind 'em no morebruised, cut, charredtoo hard to let goAche in the throb The dagger settled deep Another twist A Pyrrhic victory Li'l angel turnsinnocent, unawareslap your arm acrosshey there!

Manmohan's speech

2008-06-04T23:53:00.000+05:30

I really liked what the Indian PM had to say about the rise in prices of Petrol/LPG in his address to the nation tonight...He was unapologetic, to the point and although there were hints of pushing the Congress agenda to massage the bad news, he is too much of a straight man and seemed embarrassed to harp excessively on those. It also seemed like a first to me that a pol actually anticipated the

Jeff Housenbold on success

2008-04-16T17:00:00.001+05:30

I was listening to a Podcast that featured Jeff Housenbold (CEO, Shutterfly), speaking to Stanford students. He listed out the following advice for professional success - although the list looks kind of obvious and no different from so many other such lists, it really make a lot of sense - especially the way he built up on those points in his lecture. (btw, the reason so many of these lists look

The beat goes on......

2008-03-17T20:29:00.002+05:30

It does not surprise me anymore. It's like a collective lapse of reason - BSC goes to JPMorgan for $2 a share in a fire sale when the book value is $84 - another one bites the dust. In my view, this is Enron Re-dux !Feel sorry for the middle/lower level employees who will bear the max hit. Get ready to hear more of this sort. The season has begun... and with Fed helping out the defaulters, the

Michael Dellivers

2007-08-31T18:16:00.000+05:30

In an earlier post, I celebrated Michael Dell's return to the helm of Dell. Today, Dell reported a 46% jump in profit and ~5% increase in revenue for Q2.Not a turnaround yet, but a promising start. Dell still has a lot of challenges ahead, including investigation into its finances and a more robust retail selling model, but it seems right on track. Good luck Michael!

Niklas Zennstroem on disruptive tech

2007-06-10T19:42:00.000+05:30

Niklas on disruptive technologies

Feels good to (almost) work again!

2007-05-29T22:21:00.000+05:30

Just noticed that the last post was really long ago... I'm also wondering whether the original title/mission of the blog is over! - WTH let's continue in the same vein (mostly because I can't find a better alternative at the moment)Started work on 5/7 and have been in training all this while. Getting a little itchy to get down and dirty, but i guess expert product knowledge will keep me in good

Aajivan Vidyaarthi

2007-03-29T17:38:00.001+05:30

Today was the last class at ISB. Got a bit senti, hung around in the class long after everyone had left, trying to soak up the feeling one last time. Will miss the interesting discussions, lively arguments and the brilliant professors. One year of pure joy, learning and transformation. I hope I stay hungry for knowledge - forever. It was only apt that Prof Espen said in the last class – every 6

Gyaan for new and prospective admits to ISB

2007-03-14T14:47:00.001+05:30

Ok… Gyaan time! #1: Please get this straight - An MBA is not a magic degree, it will not turn you into something you are not. At best it is an enabler – it will equip you with tools that hopefully, you will remember to utilize in real world situations. #2: Because of the above point, the value that you will derive from the one year at ISB is directly proportional to the level of preparations

Term 8

2007-03-02T01:14:00.000+05:30

Term 8 began this Monday. Although a lot of people have taken it easy and are in the dis-orientation mode already, I fought the feeling and took on four heavy duty courses including one which has a case write up almost every other night. That has been the theme throughout the whole year for me; took on each and every good course on offer irrespective of the course load (the one exception being

Quick update!

2007-02-20T20:19:00.000+05:30

Thanks everyone for your wishes. I’ll be joining Google as Manager – Online sales and ops, at Hyderabad. Placements are happening at a good clip and pretty soon the whole batch should have at least one good offer. Doing a bit of volunteering work for the placement process and am happy to see all the guys in good spirits. The Sula Sauvignon Blanc that G gave me, will have to wait for a few more

Joining Google!

2007-02-17T18:53:00.001+05:30

Day 1 of the placement process – Recvd an overseas offer from the #1 steel firm in the world and an offer from the #1 tech firm in the world. I have accepted the offer from Google and will be joining their India operations. I have also withdrawn my name from the school’s placement process and will not be appearing for any more interviews. I’m absolutely excited because this is my dream firm.

why?

2007-02-16T19:37:00.001+05:30

Prof. Moorthy taught me Branding last term. Besides being an excellent teacher, he is also an amazingly uncomplicated and good human being. I just am so shocked by the tragedy that happened to him that I don’t know what to think. I pray to God that Prof. Moorthy and his children get all the strength to overcome this huge personal loss. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070216

Fortress - FMA

2007-02-14T00:54:00.001+05:30

The spectacular IPO debut of Fortress, the first PE shop/ Hedge fund to list on a US exchange has got me thinking – - Why? Are we at the peak of the HF/PE boom? - Will Fortress work as efficiently under full scrutiny and disclosures? - Is this the beginning of a rush to go

Ready!

2007-02-13T20:28:00.001+05:30

Finally it’s here. The official placements begin this Saturday. ….. Job postings and shortlists have started pouring …… a few relieved faces, a few anxious ones… In a fortnight hopefully, peace will return. Here’s wishing all ISBians success and happiness. Rock the show!

Mate, I'm taking over. Thanks!

2007-02-02T09:28:00.000+05:30

Somehow I got reminded of this phrase that I often used on board whenever I took back the control of the ship's navigation from other officers. This usually happened when there was high traffic / poor visibility / equipment malfunction or any emergency. This phrase does not suggest any kind of relative competencies. It's more like a signal that as a Captain, I am going to be on the line for any

What about innovation?

2007-01-26T10:30:00.000+05:30

Two news items from two different industries:- Pfizer cutting 10000 jobs- Ford posts record loss of $12.7 billionTwo new bosses:- Pfizer => Jeffrey Kindler who has come in from McDonald's- Ford => Alan Mulally, ex-BoeingOne common first step after joining: Cut workforce.That was the easy part. Will it work on its own? No way.I say - how about some innovation ?(.. and not just in products!)Both

Happy New Year

2007-01-04T10:59:00.000+05:30

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous 2007!For myself, I wish peace and happiness. Last year was a mixed bag - great learning experience at ISB, but also an unsurmountable personal loss that completely shattered me. Faith and humility are virtues that I've rediscovered and relationships are something that I'll value forever.In a way, I feel much wiser and calmer.... feel less affected by

Irrational exuberance part deux!

2006-11-26T00:00:00.000+05:30

Google stock hits $500....Proliferation of social networking and video-sharing sites.....Sanjiv Bhikchandani (Naukri.com) is worth some Rs. 700+ Crores in freshly minted IPO money...Estimates of $4.4 Billion VC funds flowing into India in the next one year....Feels like a very french deja-vuish kind of thing.Folks are talking about the new web, and 'better informed' and 'wiser' investors .... oh

no permanent allies, only permanent interests

2006-11-11T01:46:00.000+05:30

We have no permanent allies, only permanent interests - Lord PalmerstonFacades don't last long in b-schools. There are no real friends, just opportunities. Last week, the placement fever ran hot and the heat stripped off some greasepaint!Snide remarks about shortlists, indirect and direct attacks... comm'on guys, take it easy. You may think that the world's top I-banks owe you a living, but that

hello life

2006-10-13T23:57:00.000+05:30

thought I'd been thereand done thatmacho mebuilt to lastbut i was so wrongand not that strongthe li'l control freak in mejust met destinywind sucked out of the lungsgasping for breathtried to hold onbut the hand slippedCan't cry, can't run awaycan't hide, weaker everydayput on a fake smile, try to reconcilefixed gaze, in this daily hazebut gotta hang on, coz i saw an angelneed to stay strong,

Smile please..... thank you

2006-10-08T19:47:00.000+05:30

You're the next 'one crore' man'n' u know more than I ever canwith your straight A'syou're going to McK ... or is it Goldman?You're the centre of all attractionthe kewl gang and the yank accentscommitted to the clique..stone faced outside your factionSo tell me, why is it so hard to smile?is a nod, just not worth your while?you would take much more from this placeif you could put a name on every

Greed

2006-09-23T10:17:00.000+05:30

Businesses ought to learn from history but often they choose not to.A spectacular crash after a series of high risk - higher returns bets is not an uncommon event in the financial markets. But Amaranth's crash has particularly intrigued me. Losing $6 Billion in a week (or 65% of your money) is pretty scary. But by any standards, devoting 56% of your money in the highly volatile energy trading

Comfortably numb again

2006-08-25T01:51:00.000+05:30

“Don’t give up. Be a man. It’s been only two terms and if you get straight A’s in all the other courses, just imagine what your grades are going to look like!” The loud music of “Bhangra Nite” outside my studio also helped me get in the zone … “scooter bech ke Hero Honda le liya” blared the elated Punjabi pop star…. And I thought to myself “Wow!, if he can, maybe even I can have an ‘up’grade!

NRN Murthy - thank you for showing us the way!

2006-08-21T23:48:00.000+05:30

NRN retired on his 60th birthday!To me, NRN was the 2nd most influential Indian (after M. Gandhi)...He had the courage to dream big and stick by his values and principles even when the odds were against him in a red-taped bureaucracy.He single handedly helped us realize our true worth, individually as well as a nation, and the resurgent, confident New India that we see around owes a whole lot to

3 AM thoughts

2006-08-14T02:59:00.000+05:30

Spent the whole day lazing around, and topped it up with a visit to an optimetrist to confirm whether the blur that I see on the whiteboard while sitting three rows behind is actually just a figment of my imagination or some Fin equation that I might have to use sometime... my worst fear has come true and the incessant studying has taken its toll on my eyes... i might have to need glasses to get

Keep it simple!

2006-08-03T23:57:00.000+05:30

"Excuse me sir. Seeing as how the VP is such a VIP, shouldn't we keep the PC on the QT, because if it leaks to the VC, you could end up an MIA, and then we'd all be put on KP." - Robin Williams (Cronauer) in Good Morning VietnamOne of the best things about ISB is the quality of speakers who come on campus. There is a Global manufacturing summit going on at ISB and the speaker list is truly

Keep on running!

2006-07-15T23:28:00.000+05:30

I have never done as much studying in my life as I have for the Term 2 final exams (due in a couple of days) but somehow the confidence is missing, especially for the super-quant-heavy DMOP (Decision modelling and optimisation) paper. I like to call it my 'last-mile' problem. Just when I think I have understood some concept and am about to crack it, one of the variables sneaks up on me and

Tagged!

2006-07-12T21:36:00.000+05:30

I have been tagged by Anu. So here goes the captain -I am thinking - Isn't it pathetically selfish that I'm worrying about my grades, when relatives of Mumbai blast victims are still looking for their dear ones.I said - Live and let live!I want happiness for you and for me!I wish I had a gun in my hand and some f*#king terrorists in sight!I miss a good night's sleep.I hear voices in my head

innocence lost

2006-07-12T00:17:00.000+05:30

My prayers are with the family and dear ones of the innocent people killed in Mumbai and Srinagar. May God give them the strength to bear this huge loss.To the terrorists - Obviously you guys lack testicular fortitude....... but you also don't get it in your peanut sized brains that you're never gonna succeed by killing innocent men, women and children. Mark your time because I'm sure you cowards

Some random thoughts to revive my blog!

2006-07-07T01:52:00.000+05:30

This term has turned out to be really busy in terms of assignments, MarkStrat and the usual 'Timesucker' group meetings. But somehow I don't feel I have learnt much this term. not many 'wow' moments so far... not because the course has taken a dip but mostly because there is a genuine lack of time to absorb all the new stuff. Of course, being a poet doesn't help much in this quant-heavy term. I

Changes

2006-05-27T22:30:00.000+05:30

I'm going through changes.I realise it as I watch a 5-second ad pass by in those rare moments when I watch TV .... In those 5-secs, I think about the product's target audience / positioning / competitors / the 4 Ps and the 5 forces..... sometimes it's disgusting ... I can't enjoy a movie like I used to before!I realise it as I try and filter out the faff on CNBC from the real smart analysis ...I

big fish - small pond

2006-05-20T11:44:00.000+05:30

The Mid-term exams got over yestersday and in some sense they were a disaster for many, including me. While most of us did well on one, we would be surprised if we receive even a D in the other. Not to say that everyone is in the same boat. There are guys who cracked both the papers.... and well, that's the source of agony for most. The relative grading here means that anyone who cracks the paper

I'm the best!

2006-05-11T21:24:00.000+05:30

My mind keeps going back to the Art Appreciation presentation by Girish Shahane during our orientation almost a month ago. Girish is an art historian and rather well-read at that. I don't have the slightest idea about art appreciation but I was mighty impressed with Girish. To begin with, I have never really understood Modern art and in fact think that much of contemporary Indian modern art

My 5-Rupees worth!

2006-05-09T01:29:00.000+05:30

I had never really liked the 5-Rupees coin... it's thick and heavy and rather uncomfortable to carry around in a wallet. It also does not have the shine of a new coin (no matter how new it is!). But now, all that has changed... here at ISB, a 5-Rupees coin has value way beyond ...5 Rupees. It's the only coin that works in the coffee vending machines.'Smell the coffee' gets very literal here as I

How to become cool!

2006-05-04T01:19:00.000+05:30

Picture this -A group of 'cool' people monopolising a cafe table for the better part of lunch hour, all of them strikingly attractive with a well crafted aura of exclusivity to the group...as i pass them i realise that they are rather unhappy with 'X' who was chatting with them only a few seconds ago and has just about reached the doorway!Cut to the atrium.... I bump into another cool group

Seriously profound wisdom!

2006-04-28T16:36:00.000+05:30

LRC or the Learning resource center is my favourite place in the whole campus... This is where u can find me almost any time of the day and for some part of the night. Why is it my favourite? because it has this really calming effect on me that is mandatory after some serious mind-numbing classes. It is where I try and think/relax/correct my course, beacuse it's very easy to get caught up in the

Pre term!

2006-04-24T18:26:00.000+05:30

The pre-term sessions have started and the first lecture on Quant methods was as expected - a little too fast-paced for me, thankfully it wasn't all latin. Like I had mentioned earlier, I didn't opt for the Biz Stats pre-term module - but after speaking with the crowd enrolled in Biz stats it appears that I should have taken it.... Anyways!Also read the first marketing case last nite, and the

Orientation week!

2006-04-20T08:26:00.000+05:30

I came on the campus on the 15th and have simply been unable to sit down and write anything. I haven't slept before 2 am or woken up later than 6 am daily. Not all of this sleep deprivation is orientation-induced; we have the Co2006 alums on campus and I just don't want to miss this chance of interacting with them. At the outset - hats off to the alums for doing such a great job for helping us

Admits' bash

2006-04-10T16:09:00.000+05:30

This sunday saw 11 admits (+ 3 spouses) get together for lunch at Shatranj Napoli. Amongst us we represented 6 schools in India & US and it turned out to be a very casual and fun afternoon. I have known some of these guys only from the last November but the bond that we have shared during these few months has been incredibly strong. Together we have shared the apprehensions of waiting for

Mandal - Take two ; trash it!

2006-04-08T22:05:00.000+05:30

My take on the reservation quotas for OBCsPolitics : Poly=many ; Ticks=blood sucking parasites.W T F is wrong with our politicians!

I sold my soul to a used car dealer!

2006-04-07T23:18:00.000+05:30

The left side of my brain prevailed over my heart and I gave away my SWIFT for a fair amount :-(

Here we go again!

2006-04-05T20:57:00.000+05:30

The ISB placement details are out and as expected the record-breaking salaries have started the usual media debate on whether the grads deserve the money, IIMs vs ISB, and the customary (and this is my favourite) 'Is money the only criterion for success?'...... I don't know if money=success but it sure buys me a few rounds at Leo's!Although I will not mind the record salary to my name next year,

Ten less hours (in the classroom)

2006-03-29T18:47:00.000+05:30

"You have a fair understanding of Business Statistics Concepts and do not necessarily have to do the pre-term course. You have the option of deciding to enroll for the pre-term course."Honestly, I wasn't ready to receive the above evaluation for the stats test, but it turns out that I still remember something from my high school. I have decided not to enroll for the stats pre-term and would

The fine art of disagreement

2006-03-26T09:04:00.000+05:30

Disagreements among viewpoints are common and lead to different reactions among the participants. I've always been fascinated by people who posess the fine art of conveying their disagreement without sounding hostile/overly critical. When it comes to brilliant, intelligent people disagreeing on a common point of interest, the reactions can range from being purely dismissive to one leading to a

howdy poet!

2006-03-24T21:09:00.000+05:30

"........, it is highly recommended that you take the pre-term accounting course before the core classes commence"My first online test for ISB to check my proficiency in Accounting principles was a disaster and in the end I was not surprised to receive the above evaluation of my accounting knowledge. Btw, I choose not to disclose the remarks in the beginning of the evaluation, suffice to say it

Counting down !

2006-03-20T08:51:00.000+05:30

ISB starts on the 15th of April. Less than a month to go and I have a million things to take care of. The move from Mumbai to Hyderabad is not really that painful, but tying the numerous loose ends on the household front definitely is!So far I have:- got a sweet deal for my vehicle / will not be taking it to Hyd (the current students have advised this because of the hassles and taxes involved in

I can see clearly now - the wait is over

2006-03-16T21:52:00.000+05:30

7:30 AM : dinged by Kellogg7:30 PM : dinged by Wharton (R1 waitlister)Let's put it this way - It was not a very good day. Having said that I am happy for all those who got in and my best wishes to those waiting for other results. In the end, I know that I gave my best and the results don't mean anything personal.I'm heading to a school which was one of my top choices right from the start and I

Holi hai !

2006-03-15T09:16:00.000+05:30

Wishing everyone in the blogger community a very HAPPY HOLI ! May our lives be full of colour and masti !!!

The Greatest Cricket Match EVER

2006-03-12T22:17:00.000+05:30

I just saw the greatest cricket match EVER Australia - 434 (50 overs)SA - 438/9 (49.5 overs)The viewing experience - Priceless

Wait some more

2006-03-11T22:22:00.000+05:30

Saturday has come and almost gone, but no news from Kellogg. Very few people reported today about K decisions on BW and out of those, only a coulpe of admits. It's almost like 'no news is good news'; at least I'm still alive and in the race!With 16th March getting closer ,the Wharton decisions anxiety is back. I remember that on the R1 decision day, I had taken a bus out of town and away from the

Wednesdays and Saturdays

2006-03-08T20:28:00.000+05:30

Kellogg R2 decisions are currently in progress and obviously I am a worried person. However, K has been very kind in easing the pain by dedicating 2 week-days for sending out the news - Tuesdays & Fridays (Wed/Sat in my part of the world). This arrangement seems to be working for me - instead of being worried throughout the week, I can now schedule my time for being worried!Something tells me

Easy like Saturday morning!

2006-03-04T09:03:00.000+05:30

Ten days - the longest that I have stayed away from BW forum and I feel so .... sane. With my fate being reviewed at W and K, it's really out of my control. The next week is also expected to be pretty eventless unless K delivers its judgement.ISB has been in the news for many reasons, most notably for Prez Bush's visit on the campus, the ISB brand couldn't have had a bigger endorsement than that!

My Kellogg Interview experience

2006-02-22T08:15:00.000+05:30

My kellogg interview took place yesterday at a '04 alum's office. It went on for about 35 mins and was very conversational. I did get the impression that he was given a set of questions to be asked. It was more of a fit interview and 'Why Kellogg' appeared to be the most important question. The interview was very behavioural, requiring me to cite examples from my experiences to almost all the

K interview postponed

2006-02-17T00:16:00.000+05:30

My Kellogg interview could not be scheduled this week due to the interviewer's rather busy schedule; he has told me that it may happen sometime early next week. Hope to complete it by wednesday (that will be two weeks since the initial notification!).Wharton R2 interview invites are out and I can see the same level of anxiety/despair/ecstasy on S2S as it was for R1. Congratulations to all those

Kellogg - opportunity to interview

2006-02-09T12:33:00.000+05:30

Finally, heard something from Kellogg and I am glad that my request for an alum interview has been considered. Four of my friends have got a waiver; while I don't know if a waiver is a good thing or not, I definitely prefer a face-to-face interview. I've got in touch with the K '04 alum and he will be scheduling the interview for sometime next week.Stern' s deadline of 15/Feb for the R1 initial

addendum to my previous post

2006-02-07T20:47:00.000+05:30

Thanks to Forrest for his comment on my previous post. I've decided to elaborate on my ISB interview observations. When I said about minute details on the answers, let me give you an example:-My answer to my post MBA goal to other schools - Consulting + a broad base of how i suit that industry + how the school will help me (incl. the consulting firms that visit/school's strength in strategy/Star

No, they did not ask me about India's GDP!

2006-02-07T15:10:00.000+05:30

ISB round 2 hub interviews are due next week and I keep getting calls from invited applicants asking me about 1)the kind of interview I had and 2)my take on the ISB interview process. Now, while I am very candid about the 1st part and give them great details of my experience, I always fall short of people's expectations in the 2nd part. ISB is one school where the interview havs been historically

Know someone like this?

2006-02-02T11:50:00.000+05:30

While I wait for the invites, let me run a flash back to find out what I've learnt so far. One area where the whole B-school application process has been really valuable is the experience that I've gained through the variety of applicants I have interacted with. I have been lucky enough to meet some people who have faced extraordinary challenges and come out on top and I have made some great

The Wait continues

2006-02-01T22:04:00.000+05:30

I've been patiently waiting to hear about my interview invites from Stern/Kellogg/Darden. While K has been sending a few invites as well as a few waivers, my app is still 'being matched'. Stern's process has been very hard to decipher, my R1 app is still under review (more than 2 months after submitting!). A few ppl have recvd the invites and now I'm begining to wonder if I will get one; I will

TOEFL blues

2006-01-25T11:33:00.000+05:30

I had to take TOEFL for Kellogg. So I got the test done on 30th/Dec and ordered one of the four 'free' score reports for Kellogg. Now, the first time test takers will agree with me that ETS has a rather strange way of ordeing the free scores during the test. The TOEFL software doesn't ask you to put in the institution code for the program (which i had memorised;) - rather it has a list of 'name'

just another post with no suitable title in mind

2006-01-19T19:14:00.000+05:30

Now that I know I'm going somehwere this year, i have started working on how to maximize the b-school experience (wherever i eventually go!).So here's a list of things I've done already:-- paid up ISB's deposit money.- Got myself a Barron's business review book on Economics (need to brush up!)- Started reviewing the business functions of Excel. here's a great link for those who want to learn/

Free !

2006-01-17T15:14:00.000+05:30

16/Jan/06Gist of a conversation between me & my boss -Me: Boss, I need to talk to you.Boss: Go ahead.M: I want to quit my job!B: What? .... Why?M: remember I had told you last year about my interest in an MBA? I got in at ISB and am waiting for a few other results from US schools. Will know my exact status in March.B: but you are slotted for an assignment in three weeks.M: Sorry boss, I won't be

That will be all. Thank you!

2006-01-13T13:16:00.000+05:30

After much deliberation with friends, current students and alumni - decided to apply to Darden and submitted my app on the deadline. I know I'd said before that I wanted to apply to Yale but in the end, collective wisdom prevailed! Darden is a great school and in the end I agree with them that Darden is a better fit for me.Things change with an admit in the pocket and the sting of the dings hurts

Finally, some good news!

2006-01-08T10:22:00.000+05:30

After months of hectic apping and interview stress, and after a string of bad and semi-good(?) news, finally something to really cheer me up.In at ISB ;)Like i mentioned in the first post of this year, i have a very good feeling about this brand new year and this suerly looks like an excellent way to start.

Kellogg R2 submitted!

2006-01-07T12:52:00.000+05:30

As usual, submitted the K app hours before the deadline. Just can't get over this Just-in-time habit ;)This is the other app after W on which I have worked sooo extremely hard ... Thanks are out to Harry for his incisive takes on my essays and my cool new friend Mark for his encouraging views on my career goals .. the essays surely look crisper/tighter now....for the next few months i'll be

Happy New Year

2006-01-01T18:36:00.000+05:30

Resolute wishes everyone a happy and prosperous 2006!Personally, I'm confident that things will turn positive for me in this brand new year. I have a very good feeling about the Wharton waitlist and am counting down to the next decision date.Been working on my Kellogg R2 app and will submit it by Jan/6th. Also had to take the TOEFL specifically for K.Back to the apps after I get over the hangover

Waitlisted at Wharton

2005-12-23T19:00:00.000+05:30

It has been a week of mixed emotions for me!It started with denials from Tuck and Fuqua. Those kind of ripped me apart. I knew Tuck was a stretch with all the talk of deferred admissions and my rather average interview, but Fuqua came as a surprise. I thought my Fuqua interview was quite good and my app was much better than those for the other schools, so the outright denial was quite a shock!I

Mumbai business etiquette

2005-12-08T14:45:00.000+05:30

The following is from a highly reputed Global magazine.Insider tips - Mumbai business etiquette.I tend to agree with all the points (...and compliment the writer on his power of observation!).As India's largest, most multicultural city, Mumbai is a fairly liberal place and its business culture tends to be informal and friendly—Mumbaikars are famous for their “chalta hain” (laid-back) attitude.

No Chicago

2005-12-07T23:44:00.000+05:30

Chicago mid-decisions are out and I received a nicely worded deny letter.I feel bad but somehow I don't feel as lousy as I should on being served a ding! I had written the most original essays for Chicago; took a totally different approach from my essays to the other schools. I took the risk and learnt a few things the hard way.Tuck EA decisions have started going out and hoping for some good

The Wharton hub Interview

2005-12-04T16:49:00.000+05:30

Had my hub interview with Michael Cronin from ad com. I arrived about 30 mins early and we started 15 mins before my scheduled time. I guess it took a total of about 40 mins.It was a very conversational, casual sort of interview and Michael ensured that I was at ease at all times. It was quite a change to experience this after reading a lot about the cold, professional W interviews on various

R.I.P Eddie

2005-12-02T20:02:00.000+05:30

Hey Eddie, My prayers go out to your familia. Bro, You were the best! Always loved your lying...cheating...stealing .... viva la raza...- "Eddict" for life.http://www.eddicts.com/rip_eddie.htm

How not to act in a job interview

2005-11-30T21:09:00.000+05:30

While looking for resources on the interview process, stumbled on this masterpiece. Apparently these are true incidents :)http://www.gradview.com/careers/big_mistake.html

The W interview schedule

2005-11-24T12:42:00.000+05:30

Have scheduled the W hub interview for 04/Dec. Received a confirmation email today from the admissions office.The prep is underway, not very hectic but just right...have been tied up with other chores at home and work, but hope to go full throttle in the week leading up to the interview.So, Saurav Dada is back in the Indian cricket team and I feel happy for him. Despite all his shortcomings, I

The Wharton invite. Yahoo!

2005-11-16T00:16:00.000+05:30

"The Admissions Committee would like to discuss your application in more detail through an evaluative interview..."I haven't read more satisfying words than the above in recent weeks! That's a Wharton interview invite that i received 30 minutes ago. It feels great and at the same time I feel for the other candidates waiting anxiously for the invite as the clock ticks on ever so quickly towards

My Fuqua interview

2005-11-13T22:07:00.000+05:30

Had my Fuqua interview on Nov/12 and thought that it went rather well, I would rate it 8/10. I had put in a lot of prep for this one after a rather average Tuck interview, and felt quite confident throughout this interview. He was a '03 alum with his own business and was quite professional in his approach. The questions were mostly typical whys? with a few behavioural Q's thrown in for good

Killing me softly!

2005-11-10T22:20:00.000+05:30

Ya that's what Wharton has been doing to me and the other interview invite hopefuls.It has been a daily ritual for two weeks now....Every morning at 5, I get up and religiously switch on the PC to hear the good news from W. The anticipation level rises as I see Outlook express change its status from "authorizing" to "checking mail' and then finally to 'n number of messages received'!. So far the

Waiting to exhale!

2005-11-06T11:03:00.000+05:30

It's been a rather long time since i last posted. Applying to b-schools can do that to you. I had been sleeping at unearthly hours all through October, just to make the deadlines.Had the Tuck interview on the Diwali night and thought i did pretty average. It was my first interview after almost ten years so was out of the groove. I would rate it 5/10 at best. But that has given me renewed

The MBA Tour

2005-10-04T19:52:00.000+05:30

Attended the MBA tour's Mumbai pitstop yesterday and it was not very informative, at least i didn't benefit much. The crowd at the fair was huge and the school stalls were overwhelmed with queries. I came back with no real insights..the only silver lining being the extremely co-operative Tuck alumnus. He was good and very pragmatic, made me re-evaluate Tuck with a different perspective.Last week

GMAT score report sent to THEM looks like this!!

2005-09-20T09:33:00.000+05:30

For all the applicants curious to know what a GMAT score report sent to the schools looks like , here is a great article and a sample .doc file available at gmatclub.comQuote<

Transcript received - one less item to bother about!

2005-09-16T21:22:00.000+05:30

Received the transcript from the Mumbai U. That's a huge relief! The first thing I checked was whether they had included the info that the medium of instruction was English! Pleasantly surprised to find that they had. Promptly sent out queries to my target schools to check if ETS has sent them the GMAT score and also to confirm whether TOEFL can be waived based on the transcript info! I have just

Apping with an eye on CNBC !!

2005-09-12T21:21:00.000+05:30

Wrote the first draft of the Wharton 'goals essay' today. It's amazing how much you discover about yourself when you actually begin to write these essays. I guess the mind is at its google best when looking for self promotion! The essay itself is absolutely novice level: filtering out is pending and am on the lookout for a concrete opening paragraph.BTW, got myself registered for the MBA tour

The First Post

2005-09-09T15:26:00.000+05:30

After months of procrastinating, finally got myself a blog to chronicle my MBA story.My Profile:Industry - Maritime.GMAT - 710.Fall 2006 applicant.R1 applications in progress.Target schools :- Chicago, Wharton, Yale, Duke and ISB (Hyderabad).Now that the blog has started, hope to keep it updated.Let's get on with the the essays!