Ever stepped into a B-school, or planning to be at one very soon? Apart from placements, studies and networking, something that will lead you through a roller coaster ride would be a Club or a Committee (let’s call them CC collectively). Yes, they appear to be very attractive and you’d listen to all the heavenly benefits of being into one. But wait, the truth is that no one will bring up the real picture in front of you. In very simple and precise words, a CC can be simply defined as:
‘An over-glorified group of people getting together based on a “bootlicking” phenomenon, very proud of themselves and roaming around the campus as if they run this world.’
Well, take some time to digest this. But let me get it straight.
These people are the product of ‘human biases’. Does that mean all the members of CCs are the same? Definitely not, but only the 20% would actually deserve to be there. Now, what on this Earth are the others doing?
Bragging about their CV points.
As a fresh admit, you must be thinking how is the selection process? Isn’t a proper procedure being followed? Sadly, it’s not. When the authority to choose is given to the people who call themselves
‘PGP1 Survivors’ and hardly have learnt anything, you can’t expect the process to be fair. It’s like using a
Randbetween()function in Excel. A dancer rejected from a dance club and settling for dramatics to some so-called senior guys randomly selecting girls into their clubs with some not -so- good intentions and whatnot.
Once you get settled into one, then starts the second phase- The Show Off. The CC will copy last year’s events, making them financially efficient (in terms of how much extra money you get into your pockets), send hundreds of annoying emails (for what they call ‘visibility’), send out a list of mandatory attendance (because no one is literally interested in your event!) and then party as if they have won some lottery (of course by looting the sponsors and the college).
In the third phase, there will be a constant pressure of you performing better than other CCs. It doesn’t just end here, there will occur an appraisal process (Yes, the monsters of your previous office life) and
the one who had the least ‘show off index’ would be the least performer.
Isn’t that easy? You spend days and nights working for the same CV point as others, but they got labelled better. What are the consequences?
The people who still can’t sort out which area to specialize in (your seniors!), suddenly start evaluating (that’s the only way they know to feel important).
Disclaimer: If you don’t become a flatterer, get ready to bear the brunt. You will start doubting your talent even when you know you can outperform them. You lose your interest and finally drown yourself into a state where your talent never comes out for the world to see.
You may also be interested in reading
The Dark Side Of Clubs And Committee Selections At IIM.
The author of this article wishes to remain anonymous.