ISB Diary - 5

- As far as classes are concerned, term 1 is over. That is right, we (Co2009) are now officially 12.5% MBAs. Of course, as BS and RW would say, I must list out the assumptions!

• We still have to submit an economics assignment, do an accounts quiz and finish an accounts project. By tomorrow.
• End term exams on Monday and Tuesday must be cleared.
• And I should survive till then.
  

- The mid-terms results came out with with mixed results. While stats and econ saw me on the greener side of the average, accounts was way to far away on the other side - a statistically significant distance away from the mean :) As DD has put it very aptly in his blog - "Debit Marks Credit Confidence". There is just too much confusion in accounts. I always knew anything related to finance was not my cup of tea.

- Since the mid-terms results came out there has been a significant amount of talk related to being on the "Dean's List" (thats the top 10% of class). Disclaimer: I have no such fancy goals and no moral obligation to achieve it. (Ok, probably I'll never achieve it if I try either.) As I see me right now is on top of the normal distribution curve. I am at the enviable position of being on the highest ground, looking down on either side. But there is a downside to being on high ground. One kick on the back, and you are rolling down one of the sides. Now which side is the important question :)

- Excuse my nonsensical outburst of the previous point. It probably the incredible ISB life :)

- Now with Euro'08 coming up, term 2 promises to be a wonderful experience. I have already written about the number of assignments etc. in term 2. Add a pinch of Euro'08 to it and you have the hottest curry around. This period will probably drive in a lesson in time-management that no formal education can teach. But as someone (can't remember who) pointed out, there is only one Euro every four years and there are 8 terms in the year :) The priorities are clear.

- Before I end, I must mention about PK and RW. PK taught marketing and RW stats in the second part of the term. PK's case analyses have probably taught us more about marketing than we can ever learn from text books or whatever source. He simply rips apart any case he discusses in class. Its like you break down a house, pick up the broken pieces and reconstruct it. And he aptly ended saying that there is very little (or none) of creativity in marketing, it is all analytical.

As for RW, he is probably the best teacher I have ever studied under. If you listen to what's going on in class, you do not need to come back and study the topic all over again. Rightly, he got the biggest ovation at the end of his last lecture today. Its really professors like him that make every penny spent for this MBA worthwhile. Many times over.