MBAswami

2004-09-10T18:04:00.000-04:00

The first three weeks at Darden have been completely exhausting. Absolutely no time to spare.

I had barely settled in when classes started. The apartment was still a mess with lots of boxes remaining to be unpacked.

The first week was supposed to be a light week with everyone getting introduced to the case method, socials, etc. Due to recruiters starting their manhunt ever earlier, Darden decided to incorporate their "self-awareness" program (so one can zoom in on careers they want to pursue in lieu of pursuing I-banking, consulting, etc all at the same time). Though the purpose was benign, it ended up being more of a chore than anything else. But overall, I'm sure I gained some insight into myself.

The Learning Teams are not announced till the 3rd day of classes. So all of us had to wait till Wednesday afternoon to learn who were going to be paired with. I am lucky to have some good team mates..a portfolio manager, a CPA, a web developer, a consultant, a pension fund manager, and an engineer.

Classes start at 8:00 am and end at 1:10 pm. Learning Teams usually meet from 8 pm to 11 pm or 7 pm to 10 pm. Mine decided for the latter. So one less hour to study. We get our cases for the next week in our mailboxes every Friday afternoon.

The second week was when all hell broke loose. 3 cases a day !!! Are you kidding me?? Barely got the time to finish lunch and reading up on the cases before my learning team met. Wow. This meant that I was at school from 7:45 am till 10 pm!!!! Accounting classes started to give me the creeps even though I've taken courses. Gradually my amnesia melted away and I feel I am okay.

Week three has been full of club signing ups and free lunches. A second year student told us that we won't have to worry about lunches this semester due to companies and clubs continuously having presentations/briefings during lunchtime.

As for the classes, I've noticed that Organizational Behavior (OB) generally has the lengthiest cases and I frankly still don't know if I am learning much. I guess getting the thought process correct is good enough. I now find Business & the Political Environment (BPE) to be the toughest since Macroeconomics has always been very confusing to me. With some effort this weekend, I intend to catch up. Quantitative analysis (QA) is something I need to open my mind to. With my technical background, spreadsheets have been a breeze....But this has also been my downfall. When something is right up your alley, you tend to have some fixed and strong opinions about it. And with that comes a tendency to stand by your analysis no matter what. Something I'm making an effort in is having an open mind during the analysis.

As if all this was not enough, companies have already started pouring onto the campus. Next week a bunch of I-Banks are coming in and hogging the remaining free time we have. 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm for the afternoon presentations, and 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm for the second. We have decided to move our meeting times to 8 pm in light of that.

First Coffee (a Darden tradition where everyone meets up in the hall for free coffee after the first class) are also being sponsored everyday.

I've figured that the only way to keep up with all the happenings is to get a headstart on Saturday and read up on some of the cases. (There goes the remaining day !!!!!!!!!) :-)

2004-08-18T22:50:00.000-04:00

2 major events since my last post.

1) Moved in to Charlottesville (FINALLY!!). It was hell (the move of course!, not C'ville ;-) If not for my wifey, I dunno how I would have made it through. She did like 70% of the packing. I'm making up for it now by arranging everything in the proper place. The new apartment is absolutely beautiful...and I'm looking forward to spending the next 2 years here.

2) Got an internship offer from P&G this afternoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Am still in shock over it. I wasn't really expecting it (after my snafus) but it was a very very pleasant surprise. It will be awesome (to say the least) to start my MBA with an internship at hand !!!! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I wish I had one more week to relax (haven't done that in a while). Right now we are back in our old town tying up loose ends and meeting friends. Ahhhh....what a great feeling. :-)

2004-08-05T10:33:00.000-04:00

I just realized that it's been a long time since I posted. The past few weeks have been extremely busy....finals on my Statistics and Finance exams, preparation for moving, and work. And if all that weren't enough, I had to spent a week at Procter & Gamble's Cincinnati office from July 25 - July 30.

The pre-MBA Summer marketing camp was really a blast. Turned out that I was among the 30 selected among 1200 !!! Wow !! (didn't know I was that good ;-)

P&G wined and dined us to no end at luxury places. Drinks on the house and accommodation at the Hilton in downtown! Tons of presentations, and even more introductions. Never thought I could get sick of socializing...but I did. The whole thing started out Sunday evening and by Thursday night I was absolutely exhausted. P&G is one of the few companies that actually gives you the interview questions, the format they expect your answers to be in, and the names of interviewers.

BUT....there isn't enough time left for preparing the Friday morning interviews (for next year's internships). Every day the events began at 7 am and ended pretty much at 12:30 am or so!! The case study on Wednesday night went on to the wee hours of the morning.

The interview was one of the worst I've attended. I'm an amateur stand-up comic, and having looked at that, one of the interviewer asked me to tell a joke. I explained to him that stand-up-comedy isn't about telling jokes...but still proceeded to tell him one. AND I forgot the punch-line !!!! And this was the beginning!!

The rest of the interview went rather well save for my rambling :-) In the end, the same interviewer asked me if I wanted to tell him another joke. Instead of learning from my first mistake and politely refusing, I, like a fool, started out again. AND FORGOT THE PUNCH LINE AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The results are expected to be released tomorrow..and I don't expect to get invited. :-) However, the whole experience did give me an idea about brand management and threw some light on my deficiencies in interviewing. Hopefully, I'll be able address them before companies start showing up on campus.

Just a week left before my move...and I'm sooooooooooooooooo excited. I think an MBA is like a reset button on life. You get to start all over again and hopefully get it right the second time around. Can't wait. :-)

2004-07-07T10:49:00.000-04:00

Ah! Finally mustered up the courage to type a rejection letter to my local university yesterday night. Feels good to have that off my chest. :-)

Have spent the last week sending Financial Aid stuff to Darden. They said it would be about 3 more weeks before I know how much Federal loans I'll be getting. It's my first venture into the Financial aid process in this country..and I have erred my way into the correct procedure.

Got selected to attend the pre-MBA marketing summer camp at Procter & Gamble. Contacted the Marketing club president at Darden and turned out she is currently an intern at P&G. Don't know what to expect at the camp, but I heard it's fun.

Next few weeks are going to be horrible. My evening classes & final exams, moving preparation, last-minute Darden paperwork, work-related benefits adjustments, and the actual moving itself. Grrrrr. I wish I could fast forward my life to August 20th.

2004-06-11T18:20:00.001-04:00

Enjoying my last days at my company. No real pressure...except the one I generally create by procrastinating. We are in the middle of a huuuge mismanaged project. Lots of money...but no one is taking a step back to think.

So here are people, reinventing the wheel, rushing full speed till they hit a dead end, making a quick decision, rushing full speed in yet another...and then another roadblock. All the while, I'm doing nothing. Just waiting on them to spin their wheels and get tired. The whole project should take about 3 weeks. We are already into our 3rd month!!

"The rarest sense is common sense" - I can't believe how true it is in the corporate world. If only people could think and plan before they act. Oh well, it all pays the same (if not more) :-) Maybe I can help inject some sense when I get a chance.

Meanwhile, I'm planning to visit Darden next week to finalize some Financial aid issues. Figured I won't be able to attend without the dinéro ;-) Plus will get a chance to check out some apartments etc.

It's gonna be a nice summer. It is really the first time that I have had some time to reflect and take a moment to enjoy my success. And sometime next week, I'll have the gather the courage to tell the local university about my decision.

2004-05-25T18:43:00.000-04:00

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss !!!!!!!!!! Got the call last week. Was in MS at the time when I checked my message. Couldn't contain my joy.

Got my Darden mug in the mail today too with inspirational quotes written all over it (How'd they know I like quotes?). And a folder for transitioning into Darden. And the offer letter. :-)

Was checking out the resume books of all the current students. Wow...can't believe that I'll be interacting with such an awesome group of students.

As much as my local University woo-ed me with their friendliness and camaraderie, there is NO comparison. Am really really really thankful to God for making it happen.

Have NEVER missed the boat in my entire life...have always managed to get on in the last minute. Was the penultimate guy to get into the coveted new High school. Was the 59th guy for my Junior High scholarship. 60th for my senior high. Was the last guy from my state to secure a berth at the top colleges of the nation. Was the last guy to leave the country (don't even get me started on the incredible sequence of events that made it possible). And now this...

Somehow, I always had a feeling I would get in, in the very end. But didn't want to jinx it by saying it aloud. Throughout the process, my parents kept reminding my that history suggest that I wouldn't get a ding...and they were right!

The elation still hasn't sunk in yet...(even though it's been a week!)....but oh well, I have the entire summer ! :-)

Charlottesville, here I come ! :-)

2004-05-12T20:33:00.000-04:00

Just got the news that I've been placed on the Top Tier of Waitlists at Darden. :-) Feels awfully good. I think I'm fairly certain that I won't be attending the local university. Looks like I'm good enough for Darden. If I get dinged this year...I'll probably apply in the first round for next year.

I can now have a happy trip to MS. :-)

2004-04-29T09:48:00.000-04:00

Shot off an e-mail to the Director of Admissions at Darden yesterday night reiterating my interest in attending their school. Maybe it will be necessary element to tip the scales in my favor.

Also got a couple thousand dollars in additional aid from the local university. Without me asking!! It means that my entire MBA will now be 100% free....not a bad deal at all. They must have seen something in me for them to court me thus. Today is also the day when my non-refundable deposit at the local university is due. At least I won't feel as guilty considering how nice they have been to me.

Have been looking at a few investment banking jobs and their requirements. A few of them specifically mention that the MBA should be from a top-tier school. If only the local university was ranked a bit higher. :-)

What I learned in economics this semester comes to mind. I will have to weigh my opportunity costs of attending whichever school I decide on and then evaluate my options. Yupp...that's what I'll do. :-)

2004-04-20T12:41:00.000-04:00

Just found out that I have been waitlisted at Darden. Such news is supposed to be frustrating, but oddly, I am happy. :-)

Maybe 'coz it boosted my self-confidence. It means that I am good enough for admission. Just happens they don't have enough seats. Hmm...but wait a minute.....isn't that what the other rejection letters said too? ;-).

The news opens up interesting possibilities: maybe I can ask them to consider me for next year...they will have more places open....plus I can apply for scholarships....plus get done with 2 levels of CFA before I begin...plus get a promotion at work...plus pay off my car....plus get my permanent residency.

OR I can pay the non-refundable $500 at my local university and sit tight till July by when I will know from Darden.

I sense a lot of brain activity in the next 10 days.

2004-04-14T13:05:00.000-04:00

Good News!! Just received my acceptance letter and scholarship from the local University yesterday. I'm a firm believer in whatever happens, happens for the good.

The upside of doing my MBA locally is that I get a free ride and hence won't be burdened with $70,000 of debt. Am still waiting on Darden. Just 2 more days to go :-). I think either way, I have my future pretty planned out.

Am doing pretty good at my current job. Lots of work and lots of OT. Am paying off my car in chunks. That way, now I'll REALLY have a free ride :-)

2004-04-05T19:16:00.000-04:00

Numerology? Who was I kid-DING ?! Rejected from Sloan today. I think this whole process has made me lose my fear of rejections. Wen't through life wondering how I'd get to that point. Never imagined I would conquer it thus :-)

All hopes are on Darden now. Feel fairly confident (how??) about it but I have made a plan B in case, though.
1. Pay off my car before I start the program
2. Start my MBA at the local University
3. Break some academic records while I'm at it
4. Pass the CFA Level I in December
5. Work on getting the CFA Level II by next June

Since I cannot control what's not in my power, the least I can do is excel at what I can.

2004-04-02T17:03:00.000-05:00

Yet another one today! This time from Columbia. And then there were two.....

Darden & Sloan

I think it's only a matter of time before I get a reject from Sloan. However, numerology (hehe...yes, it has come down to that !!) suggests that Sloan should not be ruled out. Jan 21 has historically been a very auspicious day for me and this time it happened to to be the Sloan deadline. Who knows?

I think it will take us a while to get over a reject from Darden (if and when I get one). Especially my wife who doesn't want to spend a year more here. There have been some scathing remarks by current students about Darden on the BW boards. Am not sure why...but maybe it will deter some admits from enrolling there (thereby improving my chances) ;-)

Yesterday night we were evaluating our options in case I don't get into either Sloan or Darden. We were debating whether to wait one more year and reapply to Wharton (after getting the ding feedback) and to Darden in the first round OR to attend the local university for my MBA.

In the end...only one thing is for certain..."Everything works out for the good"

2004-03-31T23:32:00.000-05:00

Had a pretty good week with the local university treating me to some goodies and me attending dinners etc. hosted by them. Though definitely not my first choice, I may give in to them just 'coz of their persistence.

As expected, I received my dings from HBS and Stanford this afternoon. Was stuck at Bentonville, AR airport when my wife called to inform me of the news :-)

Anyone keeping count? I'm 1/6 with Darden, Sloan, and Columbia to go. Talked to my brother and that relieved a bit of my stress.

Don't know what else to write about....as someone once famously said..

"ummm....that's about it" (Bubba in Forrest Gump after reciting about 50 different types of shrimp)

2004-03-22T23:35:00.000-05:00

Post Date: Mon Mar 22, 09:07:04 PM

Had a fantastic weekend. The addiction to the BW boards caused me to slack off at work a bit. So slogged on the weekend to get caught up. Had a nice Monday morning. Even got an admit from the local University for my MBA. Felt good to be accepted somewhere. But I think I gave the Admissions Director some heartbreak when I told her that Darden was still in the fray.(I had told her during my initial interview that it would be between Darden and them). Who knows I may end up at the local one.

The day passed and everything was going perfect. No obsessive checking of BW boards etc. Even scored the highest in Econ 201 that I am taking at the local University. It was already 7 p.m. and no word from any school. *phew* - I thought, maybe I survived the Kellog "Ding" Mondays. (Somehow Mondays seem to be Ding days and Thursdays seem to the "In" days for Kellogg). So I decided to check my e-mail on the cell phone. And there it was...the dreaded
status check" e-mail from Kellogg.

Though I knew my fate was sealed...still went back to the office and verified it.

DING :-(

Oh well. Life goes on. So now it's pretty much between Darden and the local University. With no word from HBS, Stanford, Sloan or Columbia....I am assuming the worst.

Somehow I have fallen in love with Darden AFTER my visit over there. I became a huge fan of the case-study method. It drives you to not only learn the subject, but interact, apply the stuff you have learned, make your case, think on your feet, in addition to improving your public speaking skills.

Though I am planning to go into finance (Investment Management) and hence Wharton, Chicago or Columbia would be technically better....truth be told, I have always secretly hoped that it's either Harvard or Darden. They are the only ones with the case-study.

So let's see am 0/3 for right now. But my prime targets are still left. I can't imagine going to Sloan or Columbia. Of the two....I just don't get Sloan. Columbia at least is in NYC. Sloan....mmm....wouldn't wanna go...'coz I would bump into HBS kids all the time....a constant reminder of what could have been. :-) Maybe I'm over-simplifying it. Who knows...I may get into Sloan...and then eat my words for lunch. :-)

10 more days to go before the Goliaths (HBS & Stanford) to unleash their decision. And so the waiting continues....

2004-03-19T10:46:00.000-05:00

Here I am still waiting for my decisions. Darden is supposed to be released today, but when? Its already 10:45 am!! Relieved to survive the Kellogg massacre yesterday. I really really hope I get into one of the schools. Don't wanna go through pain again!. Its been 2 years since I had some nice weekends off. And if I get into an MBA that'll be 2 more years.

Feel for applicants like PowerYogi & 3App. Can't imagine what it feels like to be dinged so many times. This process is so random. If I were in the AdCom, I'd go through this checklist

1. Is the applicant qualified
2. Is he/she in the age range 25 - 35
3. Is he/she really really interested in getting their MBA and what they plan to do with it
4. Bonus points for being a reapplicant :-)
5. Placeability of the applicant
6. No quotas for per country or per professional background
7. Feedback to applicant on each stage of the application review. e.g. Your applicantion has been reviewed by 2 readers. One has recommended you and the other has reservations. Your application is currently being reviewed by the 3rd one. We found the following inadequacies in your application, while these (list) were deemed satisfactory.

You get the idea :-) I think if AdComms did that students would be encouraged to change themselves more and work harder. The current process is utterly ridiculous. It's particularly disheartening when you shell out $200 and the school just dings you on the decision date...without any particular reason being mentioned. And you are left wondering where you went wrong, debating whether to re-apply, and with far less self-confidence than you started with. This whole idea of non-transparency creating a "mystique" about a school is meaningless.

Wharton and Kellogg are among the better ones at this on a relative basis. On an absolute scale they are just inches above the rest. There needs to be a fundamental change, and I hope I will be able to influence things for the better once I get into a B-school.

2004-03-16T00:41:00.000-05:00

What a day!! Received my ding from Chicago this morning. So it's 0/2 (W&C). With no invites from H,S, Columbia & MIT. Things are not looking good at all.

I feel Darden & Kellogg are my best bets. But who knows. Was really impressed with both schools.(plus I got to interview with them...hehe. Okay maybe it was a "forced" interview but an interview nonetheless). Again, all I need is one admit. So hope is alive. G'nite everyone! :-)

2004-03-12T18:02:00.000-05:00

Now it's my turn to blog, I guess. I figured I had too much time and too little patience. What better way to kill time than create one? A few more blogs don't hurt anyone. The lure of reality TV has managed to reel me in and here I am with my own version.

Never imagined I'd be writing a diary..but blogging...it's okay, I have decided. Oh well, at least I won't be starting with "Dear Diary..." :-)

About Me:
Am an MBA applicant for Fall 2004. Delayed it too long. Took my first GMAT in 1994. And 5 years passed. (Don't ask how...they just did). And the scores expired. So it was deja vu all over again. The last 2 years have been spent preparing for the GMAT, researching the universities, writing my life stories (read essays), shelling out the exorbitant application fees ($200 each for a ding letter??) trying to get recommendations without annoying my recommenders, and interviewing. Finally, I have weekends to myself.

I've applied to the R2 deadlines of M7, R3 of Darden, and a local university here. Am nearing realizing my dream (or losing my sense of self-esteem, depending on outcomes which will be trickling in over the next few weeks).

I hope to not only document what I am experiencing but also help any of you who have questions about the process. Maybe I can even continue this well into B-school.

With that, I'll end my first blog :-)