it’s really not easy

 

 

I never knew choices could kill!

 

 

Bound in a situation where I need to choose one from three options – IIMA/ISB/Cranfield, I am troubling my grey cells like I never did before.

 

 

To ease my perspective I tried to list down positives and negatives of both IIMA-PGPX and ISB-PGP. I ignored Cranfield as I am not too keen to leave
India despite the award of 50% scholarship.

 

 

 

IIM-PGPX (the new one-year MBA)

Positives:

1. Strong 60+ years’ history and a reputed brand;
2. Unmatched resident faculty;
3. Focused target on senior management positions post PGPX;
4. Built in mandatory exchange program at no extra cost;
5. Clear monetary advantage of 6lacs (including the exchange programme);
6. Strong alumni (but will PGP alumni gel with PGPX is a question).

Negatives:

1. Untested;
2. Comparison with PGP inevitable – may happen on 7 Jan;
3. The confusion for a PlaceCom strategy for PGPX vis-à-vis PGP will continue for initial few years;
4. Too academic;
5. With all students coming after 7+ work-ex, the mind sets are rigid and it may take some time before our thoughts, beliefs are shaken and reshaped. Initial few months could be very tough owing to ego clashes etc.;
6. I am told that for PGPX-1 the institute could not arrange a faculty for finance.

ISB-PGP

Positives:

1. Sans the “X”;
2. Pursues only one course PGP so efforts are well directed & coordinated;
3. On the high growth path;
4. Chance to interact with international faculty;
5. We old dogs get to learn new tricks with more of younger population around which also means lesser ego clashes;
6. More of student initiated activities;
7. I am awarded a fee waiver of Rs.2 lacs;
8. I stand to save Rs.3 lacs if I get 50% scholarship, and a Rs.10 lacs if I get 100% scholarship.

Negatives:

1. Too diverse a student profile – work-ex ranging from 2 years to over 15 years;
2. Point (a) must create confusion among recruiters;
3. Expensive and too royal;
4. International faculty is not resident leaving students to fend for themselves after they’re gone;
5. Nothing known about the resident faculty. Seems the school relies more on visiting faculty;
6. Alumni support not strong;
7. Despite the fee waiver, I may suffer a financial loss of Rs.3 lacs if I don’t get the scholarship.

DO I LOOK CONFUSED? You can bet!

being a sikh

Here’s a short clip featuring Mr Guruka Singh shot by Mr Gurmastuk Singh where the former tells about being a sikh and what it is to be different.

Being a SIKH

excellent sunday!

sunday at ISB!

I reached hyderabad early hours of saturday and got myself fresh for the visit to ISB for the on-campus info session. Travelling to ISB from nampally costs close to 100 bucks by the ubiquitous autos in the city. But i was left in shock when the security personnel told me that the info-session had been cancelled for the 9th and was on 10th (sunday) – however, later i realised that it was i who had missed their promptly sent mail initamting about the postponment of the session.

Anyhow, spent the rest of the day visiting my HO and meeting old pals. Next day i reached the impressive gate of the ISB and was let in. Though i wanted to walk in from the main gate to the building inside, but then just allowed the auto to take me to the main building. Getting out, i could not stop myself from certifying my love for the school.

The session was very well organised. After the presentation and the Q&A round, one of the current students, Ashraf Baig took us around the campus. It was simply amazing. One should spend atleast one year in such ambience and better spent it studying. And i am sure gonna do that, only if ISB finds me worth enough to give an admit. It is one of the few institutions that humbles one and makes one think if one is worth it. The sheer imposing architecture, the facilities, the set up and the get up encourages one to lift oneself’s standard and aim and achieve high. Will i be doing that one year from now?

Let’s see….