Expect The Unexpected When It Comes To MBA

It's the last Sunday of November, and you're at your exam center for CAT. Nervous. There's a buzz in the air, the last few months of your life have led you to this moment. This is just a pitstop in your journey. The next couple of months are gonna fly by in nervous anticipation, and before you know it, your CAT results have been declared and colleges have shortlisted you for interviews. You become a frequent visitor of InsideIIM to try and figure out what you must be doing, what you must NOT be doing, what you should know, etc. But to be completely honest, any amount of prep you do will only be a fraction of what is necessary, because some things you're just unprepared for: - Academic Rigour: It is well-known that MBA is a hectic course. But only after you join do you really learn the meaning of the word "hectic". The term "EOD" takes a permanent seat in your vocabulary. Each subject has myriad assignments, and by the time you're done submitting those, it's time to study for a quiz. Are you done with the quiz? Guess what! You now have midterms to write. The minute you're done with midterms, BAM, you have your presentation to prepare for. Apart from just the academics, there are plenty of things to do: committees, clubs, case study competitions, the list doesn't end.   - E-mail: Chances are if you don't check your e-mail for 6 hours, you're probably going to miss a deadline. The emails from the administration, professors, placement team, clubs and committees are never-ending. Notifications for email always have to be turned on, and it has to be the last thing you check before you sleep, and first thing you check when you wake up.   - Whatsapp: Everyone only complains about the dangers of social media, and how addictive and harmful it is. But here, it's nothing short of a miracle. You're already communicating with your seniors and batch-mates as soon as you're admitted into a particular college, clarifying any queries you might have ranging from the admission process to the hostel facilities available. In college, thanks to Whatsapp groups, you're always connected, and if you do happen to have the misfortune of missing an important e-mail, you're most likely going to be reminded by someone on Whatsapp.   - Diversity: Yes, you expect diversity in an IIM, but the range is truly phenomenal. It covers pretty much every state in the country, from Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Kerala in the south, from Rajasthan in the west to Meghalaya in the east, and everything in between. The experience is one-of-a-kind and really enriching, and a big learning curve for everybody. The exchange of ideas, information, and culture is free-flowing and really changes your perspectives on things.   However, at the end of the day, no matter how tired or sleep-deprived you are, this course still makes you want to dig a little deeper and push yourself. The satisfaction you get when you click on the "Submit" button at 11:58 p.m. is heavenly. The support you get from your professors, seniors, your peers is what makes it possible to get through the day. Though I've been here at IIM Trichy for only a month and a half, it already feels like home. Remember, it's the unexpected things that change your life. "If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it'd be easy, they just promised it would be worth it." -Dr. Seuss