Alladin & the genie

Been having some very interesting conversations lately. My boss is on a spiritual trip nowadays so work hours often sprinkled with deep insightful talk.

He started telling me about the Alladin concept - basically a reworked Alchemist theme. The idea is to see yourself as Alladin and the whole world as your genie. Every thought you have strokes the lamp and the genie i.e. the world goes out there to make it happen. I think the Little Prince also speaks about this. So we have to be very careful & discipline our minds not to let ourselves down by negative thinking because that just might be the wish that is granted today.

I'm still upset though, I honestly had my hopes up on LBS but somehow my genie didn't get the message. But a firm believer in destiny that I am, I suppose there is a grand scheme in place... there is some place else I need to be.

Dinged by LBS

Win some Lose some....
Dinged at LBS. This was my number one choice but I suppose destiny has other plans. Somehow I'm still in a daze, just don't understand what went wrong. Probably the interview.
I dont think I have the energy to go thru R2 applications. So its goodbye to London from me

Hey guys, little late in posting but good news is always welcome
I'm through to ISB!
This means no matter what I am going to school next year, even if where is still open for discussion.
LBS will send out its decision tomorrow and that will decide the fate.

A little economics

5 days for decision day at ISB
9 days for decision day at LBS
Insead interview - still awaiting response from interviewer
So in the meantime, I've nothing to do apart from a whole lot of work and a whole lot of day dreaming and a whole lot of twiddling my thumbs looking at R2 apps...
Did pick up 'Free Lunch' by David Smith, a sort od Eco for dummies just to get the studies going. Having fun with it right now since most of it is nowadays all over the papers and doesnt require too much brain power...with holiday season around some serious lack of the aforementioned :)
On an interesting though disturbing note - read a UN study which qoutes the following statistics
1% of the world's population owns approx. 40% of the world's wealth.
The top 10% own over 85% of the world's wealth
The bottom 50% own ...hold your breath... only 1% of the wealth of the worlds

Its rather disgusting, the inequality obviously proves the trickle effect doesnt work. This has been going on for so long but with all the laws and good intentions and experiments with socialism, capitalist, left & right - nothing has worked.
So congrats to all who read this blog - it only takes assets worth $2200 to make it to the top 10% but do spare a thought about the world...

Interview over & out of my hands

Thanks to all for all the wishes, I hope to meet some of you at some school on some continent, in some country under some circumstances.
I started the MBA journey in June and I have no clarifications on any of the 'some's listed above :)
So now for the interview update.
I met an alum from LBS, an investment banker (expected that) and he turned out be very nice. He was extremely open and chatty and very welcoming. The interview was in his office, the investment floor of a large bank. Interesting lace though I've been to one before when the floor was abuzz and alive with action. My interview of course was at the end of the day and the space was rather quiet.
We started with the most common of all Q's - why mba? I started my rehearsed, rehashed line he smiled and said 'I'm hearing jargon now"
Quickly changed tactics and relaxed since he seemed humorous. The q's were all of the expected kind but were framed more conversationally. I have no clue if I answered it well or not coz once I get chatty, well I get chatty.
The case presentation was interesting and I hope I fared well though on second thoughts I may have messed up understanding the basic issue. Hope not. V much like GMAT AWA.
All in all it took a little over an hour.
I asked a lot of questions especially regarding financial planning for LBS,London life, exchange programs,oppertunities. I suppose the problem was that I was meeting someone who wwas available to talk about my dream school and the questions just kept pouring out. I'm hoping I didnt mess it up.

Its out of my hands now and I've started counting down to Dec 19th already (17 full days to go)

About to interview

So the big LBS interview is today, well actually in another 1.5 hours and what am I doing? Blogging, after too many days. Its like a comfort zone you turn to in stressful circumstances. It helps to know that somewhere in the world strangers are going thru much the same thing and actually understand your views right now, much better than the loved ones.
I've been feeling a bit disconnected lately, work has been hectic and with everything changing, including my comp from a PC to a Mac so life is just a big merry go round.
Ok time to go and best of luck to myself and everyone else out there...

Blissed Out

"Happy, Happy, Happy

Joy, Joy, Joy"

- Ren & Stimpy

ISB - Interviewed
LBS - selected for interview
INSEAD - selected for interview

I am so super excited - this is a 100% success ratio and completely super! wont say its beyond my dreams since been dreaming about this for a very long time now. Its been a good month and I hope I can say the same for December and Jan (when the admit decisions come in).

Neither here, nor there

Posting after a small gap. Have managed to fall ill, part allergies and part the stress. The year is about to end and cant stop my thoughts wandering to what the next year will hold.

Three colleges applied to -

• 1 interview down,
• 1 shortlisted for interview and waiting,
• 1 still waiting to hear the outcome.

All in all not that bad a situation but I feel stuck in limbo. Wish I'd managed to apply to all 5 schools...
To apply or not to apply? R2 deadlines are looming large in the horizon and I'm still stuck on the decisions.

LBS interview invite :)

Not much time today but had to yell it out to the world -
LBS INTERVIEW INVITE is sitting there in my inbox.
This is the school of my dreams... I am so very very happy today.
Drinks on me if anyone coming to Hard Rock (bombay) tonite :)

The long road

Unlike most of the people in line for MBA, mine was not a life long dream. Infact I was one of those people who looked at the dark suits and frowned with disapproval. The corporate life was something to be shunned and that I did.
Then suddenly in July the bug bit and hard. Why? I dont really know. Like most big decisions, this one was also rather ambiguous in formation. No big thunderbolt from the sky but suddenly I was ready for a new role.
The bargain I stuck with myself was to prepare for the GMAT and if the scores are decent then go for it. That was it. The extent of my preparation.
But you wouldnt think it if you met me now 5 months down the line. Lately all I talk, dream, write, discuss, read about is the grand MBA dream.
And as the D-day comes forth, I'm on tenterhooks. I think they should just give you an MBA for applying. The preparation just doesnt end.
GMAT preparation, GMAT test, Essays, Applications, Transcripts,Recommendations, Resumes, Job description, Application Fees and then a long silent wait.
Then the constant nagging fear 'Am I in? Am I out? Am I in?'
Then the second round of frantic dances begins- interviews and then again the long agonizing wait...
Through the insecurity you plan ahead or atleast try your level best to. I mean you dont really know which city or which country is going to be your home from the next year. How much money are you going to need? New clothes? new friends? visas? fees? scholarships? new careers? and on and on it goes.

Think I'm going a little numb. just a bit. To tell the truth:

This wait is killing me

Oops

Just found out that if gven an offer for admission at ISB, will have to pay a hefty fee of approx.$3000 by Jan3rd.
Whats the Oops for? INSEAD has a deadline of Jan19th for final decision!
Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place. Cant afford to pay both, completly out of the question.
This is just too hard... wish I was better planned for the whole shebang.

ISB interview

I had my interview with ISB Hyderabad this Sunday. My experience went thus:
On arriving I was handed over a peice of paper to write a 50 word essay.
The topic was 'Government of India'
Now dont get me wrong but honestly such an open ended topic to be dealt with in 50 words? There is no sense of doing any justice to it or even revealing some brilliant prespective from your end. All in all a very half hearted attempt to put another aspect to the interview - not thought out properly according to me. Even if they were looking for a concise get-to-the-point type essay the questions could have been more tickling. Anyways thats my feeling
I was made to wait in a room with about 6 others, they were very nervous and some even paced up & down all the time. Everyone made an effort to get along. I think its got something to do with the emphasis on being a team player. Ooh cynical me :)

Interview started 10 minutes late, was informed right in the beginning not to be nervous as their style is 'zero stress' based. Took the advice on face value and talked thru the interview as a conversation.

All the questions were geared on my carrer and profile. I have a slightly unconventional profile, coming from the world of films with a creative background.
They asked many pointed questions on what are the revenue streams, how the industry works. If I were to consult someone who wanted to make a movie what would be my advice. If I were to launch a production company what would be my primary motives, business plan and how would I go about it.
How does television work, what are the revenue models for it.
Will Big Brother work in India? It has just started its innings in India. They asked this very pointedly - in the long term as well as in repeated seasons etc. Tried my level best to give a knowledgeable reply but honestly my line of work in so notorious precisely because we can never predict an outcome.
Towards the end they specified that their only concern is if I will be able to cope with the academic rigour at ISB with my profile
Found this slightly insulting - does being creative automatically typecast you as someone who cant follow 'academic rigour'?
Answered that I was really not intimidated and had already started reading up on finance & stats - the only areas I have less experience in but that with Economics in my undergrad I dont see it as a big problem
Now it was my turn and if I had any questions. Unfortunately I did seem to have a few. I asked them about recieving other people in the past with similar profiles - they cited that they had. So asked them if those had any difficulty following the academics. Answer was a very wishy washy "yes and no"
So i pointed them to my GMAT score and said it should answer their trepidition since i hit the books only 2 months before the test while still working 12 hour days.
They asked me if I was satisfied with my score.
Strange question - I mean if I got 800 i would be satisfied but I did mention that i found it very easy over all and not much of a stretch.

I have no idea how the interview went. I came out feeling good, and I think I answered every question confidently. I just have a problem with being judged and all interviews are basically a process for pronouncing judgements. I think in the end I put a bit of pressure on them too with a few questions. Did it in a very 'zero stress' friendly style :) but came out feeling that I really didnt get any answers. So thats my judgement.
Will have to wait another month to hear their side of this story.

Pre MBA plan

If all things go according to plan (apps, interviews, admits etc etc) then I should be facing the gates of my choosen college by September'07. So the optimist in me has decided to draw up a list of goals to be achieved by then (i love to-do lists)

#1 Lose Weight- i know, i know not a very intellectual aim and all but I think most of humanity makes the same resolution every midnight of the new year. And proceeds to guzzle down a few thousand calories just to show how commited thy are to the plan. But seriously I'm not going to college looking like a beached whale or any other bovine animal of your choice. I'm losing min 15 pounds. There its been said (not in stone but here is good enough)
#2 Taxes - pay my taxs and be up to date on all that personal finance shit. See like the rest of the wannabe MBA crowd I havent been too good with the planning and saving so this is a big challange. I have to order all my bank statements, drop them off at a decent CA and expect him to do some magic, thats all. Not too much to ask

#3 SAVE - I've been saying this to myself for so long that I need to make it all caps. Maybe some subliminal message might help correct some majorly deviant behaviour. But honestly student life is making me very scared- so much to do but no fun if the pockets are empty right? I mean how to finance all the cross Europe treks, exchange to USA and random running aroung the world feeling all diverse & global

#4 Do my self styled mini MBA - I have no background in accounts, finance, stats and god knows what else. So my plan is to beef up on some of these if I can so as not to be the only dumbass in a room full of happy bright people

# 5 Read - sort of like the above but generally read up on some good 'ol management guru speak - another step to feel smart. Glad to report I have already got hold of -
The Mckinsey Way
The Mckinsey Mind
Leadership in an Uncertain World and
MBA in Finance

I'm good or wat? Please please add some names to this list so I start school next year somewhat more intelligent.

# 6 Learn Spanish - Nope i dont need the second language really but I thought might as well learn another language . I did two years of Spanish in high school but honestly its now limited to 'Hola amigo' level but I should be able to pick it up. My interest also lies in mandarin but i've decided to make the challenge a little less cruel...come on we have 10 points to cover

# 7 Learn to cook - again to make me ready for poor student life. Unfortunately I've been poor working adult so long I dont know if there will be any difference

# 8 Watch the entire latin american films list at my local DVD store. I'm not going to have any time when I'm a student plus I have to save for the rent

# 9 Buy a New Wardrobe - this is going to be so pleasurable especially once I've lost some of that weight. I can already see myself looking so cool in brand new business sits, slinky shoes, boots and all. The only thing we have to address is that we cant burn a hole in the wallet when its already in need of some serious mending. Plus have to make it practical and warm - its going to be so much more colder where I want to go

# 10 Blog Away. Being a recent blogger I just wnat to continue boring everyone and feeling good about letting my creative juices flow. I'm adding myself to the MBA applicant list soon and I can already dream of graduating to MBA student then Alum and maybe one day the Millionaires Club!

I've put all ths down as the first step to commit myself. In less than 10 months I hope to put a nice big red tick mark on all of them. Who knows, maybe I will manage that for real.

Interview Invite

Just heard from ISB (Hyderabad), interview on 12th Nov. I'm very excited this is the first interview invite & this was the first application submitted. So things are looking better this week.
Any suggestions on the interview prep?

Is 700+ enough?

While preparing for the GMAT, my whole preparation was aimed at crossing the 700 mark - the psychological barrier. But is 700 enough?
A look at all the MBA/GMAT discussion boards and everyone seems to have crossed over to the greener side(i.e. 700+. Looking at all the blogs too, one is filled with the same feeling.

So I have two theories
1)There are today more 700 club members than before.OR
2)People who are more active on the discussion forums are more likely to reach the 700 mark
My vote is with the second theory. So whats the connection you ask? My analysis is that you'd have to be genuinely motivated and committed to look for online resources, discuss and debate the merits of quant vs. verbal and do all this on top of prep time, work and applications. And we all know these take time, a lot of time
So the explanation for so many vocal 700+ applicants is that this is the small percentage of people who are interested in 'learning' therefor they are seeking information. Just the right combination for being in the top 90% I suppose.
All I'm hoping for is that being in the 95%and above group will hopefully also put me into atleast the top 25% of the applicant pool at my college of choice.

I guess the answers will reveal themselves by Interview descision deadlines...untill then fingers are crossed!

The very 1st Post

My first post! After searching for innumerable blog names and seeing all of them taken, I am finally blogging!
StrawberryTints is about me (of course), my current status as an MBA aspirant and about life , mostly veiwed with rose tinted glasses on.
A quick rundown of my MBA journey so far -
GMAT taken - 720 (Q47, V42)
Applied in R1 to - ISB (Hyderabad), INSEAD & LBS
Waiting n waiting for the interview invites to appear...sigh

So after religiously reading all the MBA blogs out ther I figured I might as well contribute & be part of the process. Thanks to all the bloggers out there, you guys have helped without realizing how much.I'll attempt to cover the path already covered thus far and hope soemone would enjoy reading it to.

Running back now as my very short lunch break just got over & I hope to see a few of you around.