The comrades and the camaraderie...

I had planned this post sometime back.But the content changed due to some ad hoc circumstances :p

I just felt I should share this instead of elaborating much on what I had planned to write(which Ill do in some other post)

(Afterall isn't this a blog for penning down things I feel strongly about:D )

So I put in my papers today,after having converted the prestigious NMIMS call.

After being in this dastardly and dried place for over 2 years,I finally did what I had planned to do exactly one year back.

I resigned.It was freedom.A redemption.Literally.

SO here was I...supposedly on the seventh heaven...After witnessing an entire life cycle of my dream coming true I was supposed to be on cloud nine..But somehow something was aching.I tinge of sadness.A tinge of gloom.

It was the feeling that Ill be gone from this place in few weeks.May be it would have felt this strongly some 4-5 months back when I was desperately trying everything I could just to run far far away from here.

But this time it was different.

It's my buddies in the project(The new joinees and all juniors) and the connection we had in this short 3 months,that was making it so difficult.

Being mostly a reserved guy and an introvert,I never had lots of friends nor did I had a group as such,in school,college or even in engineering.It always used to be some 2-3 friends with whom the friendship mostly pertained to classroom or occasional hangouts.

I never feel sad while leaving my school or college or engineering.May be it was because I didn't have or rather I didn't make many close friends.

But this people were something different.I could connect well with every one of them.And they liked me too.(Presuming :p)

The hangouts at almost every weekends(water kingdom latest),the leg pulling at the lunch and breakfast,the laughs,the conference chats,the blabbering philosophies etc etc....it was too much fun and happening for such a short time of 3 months.The work was as pathetic as ever but I never enjoyed going to office as much as I did since I joined back from the LOA.

The moment I told them about my selection in NMIMS,they were just exhilarated.It was one of those times when you realize what is meant by "happiness doubles when shared".I could see the cheer on each one of their faces.

Ofcourse I have to entertain the immediate order for the celebration at the CCD.(Which cost me a bomb of 500 bucks :p)

Umpteenth times they told me how happy they were for me(and they looked like).

Somehow it was like an overdose of good feeling.Like eating too much sugar..especially when you are not used to such feeling. :)

I always used to think that friends and friendship are kinda overrated topics.May be because I never had such a kewl friend group.

Now I wonder which friends are better.Those who are there just for the formality sake,whose absence or presence makes hardly any difference to your life and vice versa,making you realise painfully how insignificant you are to them,or those with whom you connect so easily and well,who love you,who miss you when you aren't there,that it becomes even more harder when bidding them Adieu.I myself had never really experienced the later type.

I consider myself emotionally strong who generally dont lose it.I dont even remember the last time I cried.But today even I kinda felt my throat choked for a jiffy.It was unexpected.We are so used to life throwing lemons at us that when it actually throws sugar candies(and lots of them), we just don't know what to do :)

Anyway the last day is still 1.5 months away.Till then I can safely forget about its existence and have fun :)

You guys rock.\m/

PS:I will write about all of them in detail in my farewell mail.:)

IIM Calcutta GDPI

(From pagalguy :) )

DATE - 01-March-2011
SLOT - Morning 8.30 am

PROFILE:

Acads
X 84.13%, Goa Board, year 2002
XII 69.67%, Goa Board, year 2004
Undergrad Stream Computers 62.63%, from GEC Goa 2008

Work-Ex:
Accenture- 30 months

CAT (2010):
Aggregate:99.97%ile
(category if applicable):GEN

Extra acads : Negligible

Any other special thing abt you: First attempt

Interview & GD

Venue: Mumbai
Date : 1st March 2011
Course(PGDM/PGDCM):PGDM

GD :
Topic: "I do not want to do an MBA because..."
Number of Ppl present:8
Time: We were given A4 sheets to write about the topic in complete sentences for 5 min.
Then we were supposed to discuss the topic for 10 min.In the end each one of was asked to summarise the discussion(<1min)>Interview :
Panel Members Intro: P1 -a senior faculty (MIS) P2 - Someone from legal department.
On an average each interview lasted for 20-25 min.And nobody was grilled on anything as such.
I was the 7th to enter.It was less of an interview and more of a friendly conversation.
P1 started with the usual "tell me about yourself".Then seeing that I am from computer background,he asked me which was my favorite subject.Told data structures and C programming.Then he asked some 3-4 fundu quetions on the same.Surprisingly I could answer them.He was content.(The engineering wasnt a complete waste afterall )
Then he asked about my hobbies (I had mentioned Guitar and blogging) but not too much into it though I was hoping that he would.
He asked about my hometown in Goa(Corlim) and how far it is from panjim.Asked me from where I did my schooling(Mashel).
Told him it is a hometown of Dr.Raghunath Mashelkar as well
Then I asked him whether he is from Goa originally.Turned out he is
P2 hardly spoke.
While the interview was going on P1 and P2 were also talking among themselves.Basically it was a very informal and chilled out interview.

Then finally they asked me the trademark "why mba".As we pondered a lot on the same topic in the GD too,I think I was able to answer it convincingly.Both seemed satisfied and I was done.
But I was not offered a toffee or anything :(

Rate your preparation(0-5):2
Rate your performance(0-5):4

MISC
The community leader Jaydev Joshi was in my group.

All in all a great and satisfying experience.

(My first post on pagalguy )

VERDICT: CONVERTED

NMIMS GDPI Experince

(From Pagalguy :))

DATE - 08-March-2011
SLOT - Afternoon (1pm)

PROFILE:

Acads:
X : 84.13% (Goa Board)
XII : 69.67% (Goa Board)
Undergrad Major - 62.6% GEC Goa University (Computers)

Work-Ex: 31 months (Accenture)

NMAT Score: 252

Any other special thing about you: First attempt.

It was a bad day to start with.My bus was screwed halfway so had to change it again.
Reached Andheri at 1 PM.Rikshawala dropped me at NMIMS college.(My gdpi was at Mukesh Patel Colg)
The guard over there told me that gdpi process has already started.
I literally ran my way in the horrid afternoon heat to my gdpi venue.It was on 8th floor and thanks to Lord Murphy,the lift was not working.
So climbed all 8 floors.Already sweated and feeling dizzy.I thought I had missed the GD.But thankfully the briefing seminar was still going on.I heaved a sigh of relief.

GD:
As usual we had to choose from 2 topics, 1) facebook has resulted in destroying social manners and 2) spiritual gurus have brilliant marketing strategies.
With a majority of 7:3 we chose the first one.

Overall GD was quite decent.I entered 3-4 times.After that I couldnt shout any more so did not even try.
We did manage to touch upon various aspects(mostly negative)
There were times where we were beating around the bush or discussing irrelevant points.
2-3 times the Group dangerously tilted towards a fish market,but thanks to some courteous and chivalrous members,everyone more or less got a chance to speak.
The discussion continued even after the faculty annouced the 5-mins.So the GD was ended abruptly while one of the group memeber was halfway through his point.

My preparation(0-5):1
My performance(0-5):4


PI:
2 Male senior faculty and 1 lady faculty.

It started with general "tell me about yourself" question.Then they asked me about my work,the type of role I have,responsibilities,how my engg in computers helped me in my job.I had to lie here.
Then the regular why mba,why mba after IT...from the looks of the professors,I dont think I gave fully satisying answers for those.They were taking references from My SOP.To be frank my SOP was very ordinary and small.So they didnt grill me much on that.But guys,be thorough with your SOP.You can really divert the interview in your favour if you have written a good SOP.
They asked me what I do in my free time.(Was waiting for this)
Told them about guitar,blogging etc.They did not push too much into it.
Tried to divert them to my hobbies 3-4 times.The male faculties were clearly not interested much.One of them asked me about "C guitar,F guitar".I was puzzled.I asked him whether he is talking about C chord,F chord.Apparently he was.
Then the lady asked me which notes doesnt have a #.Answered it.
Then they asked me about current affairs(My Achilles Heel).Told them I have started reading newspapers only recently.Then they asked some questions about Egypt revolution,effect of Libyan revolution on prices of oil barrel,legalising passive Euthanasia(Here again I tried to take them to my blog as I had a written a post.Again no heed.)
I could answer some of them.
Then they asked me if I dont get into any college will I try again.I told them,I had set a target of getting into top 20 college this year and if that doesnt happen I would be trying next year again but will target only top 10.
They asked me which is #20 college.I was not sure,said XIMB.

Frankly speaking it was an average PI,only the Lady faculty was listening and nodding intently,the male faculties never showed any interest.

My preparation(0-5):1
My performance(0-5):3

All in all a good end to a bad day.Keeping my fingers crossed.

Verdict:Awaited (Eagerly)

PS: CONVERTED....woooooohoooooooooooo...My first convert.I am just so overwhelmed :)