03 February 2008

Coping Zone of MBA

In first term Bob, our Operations Management lecturer, remarked that the coping zone of Cranfield MBA will be in February. We thought he must be joking, cos even the first term was no less. Soon we cleared the first term (officially it’s over; yesterday results came and we all have passed with flying colours). As the second term started, we realised Bob was right. This term is intellectually not that challenging as the first one, but the amount of work is ....... just too much.

We not only have more subjects but also have to prepare CVs as companies are visiting the campus these days. So you are just never free. There is one more aspect of Cranfield MBA. Here you won’t get anything ready made as is done in many B-Schools in India. You have to study and also have to take care of your personal life; I mean your food, clothing and all the day to day requirements. This does make your life a bit tough but it is a good experience. After all, when you are in real life business environment, you have to maintain a work life balance.

Last week we had Burn’s night. It was again a new learning for me. I had never heard of Burn’s night before. Burn’s night is celebrated in memory of a Scottish poet. At Cranfield we have a tradition that every year London Business School (LBS) visits Cranfield on Burn’s night for some sports competitions such as Rugby, Football and Basketball. We play during the day and at night its party time. Sadly, I had to miss the party as I was in London that evening.

Well I forgot to mention about the success of International Diversity Week. It was fantabulous and I was glad that my organising skills did not fail me. I was the coordinator for Asia region and was responsible for setting up stalls and also put a Bhangra (traditional North Indian dance) show. We did well and enjoyed a lot. Pure fun. The success would not have been possible without my wife Sherry, Anil, his wife Shelley, Arun and Puneet’s (Arun and Puneet are my MBA mates) wife Jyoti.

As the month of February has started, life is getting tough day by day, hour by hour and I am not exaggerating. Everybody seems to be so busy. Number of people at parties is going down. Sports activities are less. Everybody is just going through that coping zone.