Backlog 4: S. P. Jain Effect

I am left with an option to look abroad, which once again wasn’t something I was able to connect myself with. I started looking out for programmes for experienced candidates and came across the famous ones like those offered by ISB, IIM, XLRI and not-so-famous one of S. P. Jain. But it was when I did my own research and findings on what each one of these institutes offer, I realized the uniqueness of S.P. Jain (SPJIMR). The unique programmes like Gita Shibir, DOCC and Economic Times quizzes (I am not getting into what they really are) made me really connect myself to what it was offering. There is a whole lot of value being put on integrity, social causes and value based learning. In short, what it was offering me was Education.

Unlike other institutes, SPJIMR never believed in marketing or making itself visible. This goes back to the kind of values Bhawans offers since its start. The college believes in ‘Action speaks louder than words’ motto and it works. When I meet senior industry officials, things that first come to their mind about SPJIMR is integrity, honesty, value etc. and it means huge in today's world. Marketing is more of a western culture and this institute offers education in Indian terms.
I knew this was the end of my pursuit. I knew where I need to head and when that is clear, how to do it is no longer a question. You just end up finding the path.

Backlog 3: Now or Never

My realization did not come in the best of the times. I sprained my lower back within a month after my return from US. It was severe which put me into bed rest for a good number of days. But there is always a positive outcome from everything. I started understanding life, its meaning and its meaninglessness. I started questioning many things happening around us and it helped me to broaden my knowledge horizon. I was getting closer to my self-realization. And when that happens it’s the passion that lifts you to achieve something which you never did before. The organization changes in my office also did not help me with my causes. I was pretty much emotionally drained but my passion always made me look forward. As my friend quotes, “Jab ho mushkil waqt, commando ho sakth”.

A disciplined effort allowed me to write once again THE CAT, but the result was same. No calls from any of the colleges. It made me think again, re-look my entire theory and plans. And that’s the time when I realized a basic characteristic of Indian MBA. We don’t practice what we preach.

This piece of information I am sure will be useful to many of the aspirants, so it becomes important for me to share it with all. One of the basic things that we don’t realize is that every college is good in its own way and has its own share of drawbacks. If you have noticed, every magazine and other media source has its own way of ranking B-schools and we see they always vary. Similarly we all individuals have different characteristics and different aspirations. One has to be very clear about that and try connecting it with what the different institutes are offering. Every institute, school, college and organization have a unique thing to offer. So make sure you are picking the right one here. No institute is good and none of them are bad as well. It’s only when there is a mismatch of your aspirations with what institute offers that we start giving negative feedbacks about it. So be clear with that.

Unfortunately most of the B-schools in India show same stuff in their websites even when their offerings are distinct in nature. It seems they just don’t want to put any effort in that and end up making a lousy one. So the option that is left with you is just to find out their teaching methodology, their focus and their long term view. ISB focuses on placements and so does IIMs. IIM-A focuses more on Finance side whereas IIM-B focuses more on IT side. I can be wrong here, it’s just my personal view. And I would suggest everybody to do their own research before coming to any conclusion.

Another glaring finding was that none of these courses are meant for experienced candidates. Though what is being preached is that experienced people stands a better chance to become good managers , what is being practiced is that the institutes simple discard them. And the reason is that the course has been designed in such a way that it is meant for fresh grads as an extension of graduation) The course is quite rigorous and requires good academic capabilities. And that justifies the CAT. What doesn’t justify is the institute’s unwillingness to come out with truth. In short, if you have more than 2.5 to 3 years of work experience, it is better to stop trying for a 2 year course.

Backlog 2: Deciding about my MBA

So when I wasn’t able to convert my attempts, simultaneously I was going through a self-introspection. I was thinking if at all I have to do my MBA then how it should be. I was very clear of one thing that I am not doing my post-graduation in a technical field since I could never relate myself completely with that. So if MBA then how should it be?

I was certain of one thing that I wanted to work for a few years, away from all the studies. So it was more like my love for work and a break from studies. I wanted to gain some work experience, say 4-5 years before I join any MBA college. At the same time I knew I wanted to do a 2 year programme since for me MBA is more about learning and applying your knowledge. More the time I spend in school, the more I have the opportunity. Now it was all left for the time when I can connect myself with MBA programmes, the day I feel I need to learn a few additional things about management and areas around management. And it finally happened in year 2008. I don’t know the exact circumstances but I do believe my stint with Rotaract did motivate me for the same. So that reminds me I need to share something on opportunities (with respect to Rotaract) and how it can define somebody’s future. But that's later.

Backlog 1

For Year 2004-05

So after a long gap I have once again come back to write blogs. It’s not that I went absconding from this world. I launched a website of my own and was writing a few things there to see whether or not I can turn it around as a business proposition in my free times. But I guess I have yet to travel a lot before I get that sort of a passion since I do have many “excuses” of not doing it. Anyways, that’s not the point.

These days I am here @ SPJIMR (more famously known as S. P. Jain), Mumbai. This is my dream college and not because of the fact that I am a student of one of the courses here, but genuinely there are multiple reasons to make me that believe. I still remember a conversation that I was having with a cousin of mine how I will be confused if I have to pick between SPJIMR and IIM-A. Funny right? But that’s the truth. So what was that which went through my head to have such thoughts?

It goes back to year 2005 when I decided to do my MBA. I knew I wasn’t ready because I still did not see a reason why I should be doing one. And I knew if I do it now then it is just going to be an extension of my engineering degree. That’s not what I wanted. I was sick of these studies, since I never learned anything out of them. Facing whole lot of lectures (and even criticisms) from friends and relatives for not aiming higher with an MBA degree, I tried hard 2-3 times and never cleared it. It was probably because I wasn’t talented enough. But more than that I knew my tries were not passionate enough.

I was always an anti-CAT (Common Admission Test) person. I always wondered how one can pick the best out of a lot just by asking them to solve a set of questions. I could never connect to it. This is where S. P. Jain came into picture. The institute looks beyond your score. It emphasizes on your overall personality before shortlisting. I don’t know if the process is still fool-proof, but it is better than what is followed by any IIMs or XLRIs.

Why am I writing it now? It’s just that I am filling the gap for what is going to come later. I have to write more and more about my life as an MBA student from India. And I felt it is important to pen down my entire thought process since start.