How To Ace Your First Year At A B-School | 10 Tried And Tested Techniques

Dear future B-school junior,

You may have just graduated from college, started your notice period or are waiting for your study vacation to get over- either way, I am sure you can’t wait for B-school to happen to you.

The next few weeks would entail refreshing the IIM sites multiple times, entering the 7 digit number hoping to see the green statement.

“Congratulations, you have been offered admission to our PGP programme”

And lo and behold - before you know it, you would busy gleaming about your new brand, “IIM”, giving away treats to friends you haven’t spoken to for years and shopping for every item, big or small, to kickstart your journey at school.

In the midst of this madness, we forget to take a second and reconnect with ourselves. We undermine the importance of noting down our goals and objectives before we step foot into campus. And the result?

Overwhelming. Overwhelming and Overwhelming.

Ah. Seems like yesterday when my face flushed red when the assignments increased by the second and my sleeping hours had dropped down to zero.

Seems like a lot? It definitely is.

But how did I make it? How did it go better than what I had envisioned it to be? 

Here are 10 tried and tested techniques:

Network - Reconnect

It’s time to put all your social media to good use. Reach out to all your ex-school/college/office seniors/juniors who are a product of the B-school that you will be joining. Ideally, prepare a list of questions to ask them and then make notes. This is extremely important - you will meeting and speaking to so many seniors that it’s easy to miss out on that one magical advice.

Pro Tip -  A lot of students hesitate to do this, anticipating the awkwardness, feeling selfish. But, what they forget is that it’s the words of wisdom from those who have been through this journey that shapes your choices. They’ve been through this and are almost always willing to help. You just need to ask!

Document - Every victory, big or small

This is an opportune time, note down all the key details of your projects while you are still in college/office. Making a repository of your achievements goes a long way when the rock called “Resume making” falls on you.

Shop- Till you drop?

I know Amazon Prime exists. But, well, it still takes a day or two. And two days is a LOT of time when you are in the prime days of your B-school journey. Avoid the hassle and calls from the courier bhaiya. Take two days off and shop for all the essentials you will need at school. (Did someone shout Formals?)

Participate- Don’t be a rebel

Every school has an induction program for the new batch and every school has a couple of rebels that decide to while away their time refusing to participate. DO NOT be that rebel. Induction week is the perfect time to make connections with your classmates and seniors. You will be surprised how dealing with Hel(L) “together” reduces the magnanimity of any tribulation you may be feeling.

It’s what you come home to

Your hostel room will be your cave for the next two years. And if you do it well enough, it will be a resting ground for all your project meets, chilling sessions and striking cupid ;)

Pro Tip - Invest on the lights, some posters and an extra mattress. If not anything, you need a place to call home after a bad day - And no points for guessing, there won’t be any dearth of them.

Summers - Ah well.

Well, the grandeur of this event is well beyond the scope of this article. In short, right from the day you step in till you walk out with an offer, everything productive that you do at school will be dedicated to this. At least this is what I believed in. I am grateful that the day turned out exactly how I wanted it to be. What is the one advice I will give you? Trust your heart to make the right call. Know what you want, know what you can do, and then do it in the most sincere way.

Pro Tip 1  - Know when to stop making your CV and start on your prep. A 10-day head start leads to an exponential return in the longer run. Know that ALL and more resources are available on campus, and just like help, you need to ask for it.

Pro Tip 2 - Find a mentor if your college doesn’t formally allot you one. Have faith in your mentor and do not hesitate to bare your soul to her. In this overtly competitive time, you will need someone to show you an objective lens.  A good conversation solves half the problems at B-school.

Committees / Case Competitions / Sports - Opportunities endless

As a part of the placement prep committee at IIM Lucknow, I would tell you that it’s all about the delta you add to your CV is all that the firms are looking for when you sit for finals. But, as a senior now, I would tell you this - find a way to keep yourself busy. These two years would be transformative just by the virtue of how the program is devised. But, the extent of it is on you.

Pro Tip - I found the best of friends being a part of these ventures on campus. Not only do I have my gang of cheerleaders, but I also have the best critics, who aren’t afraid to tell me when I screw up.

The 20 % buffer - Use it well

Like all things, please plan your holidays. The academic calendar comes right at the start of the session. Filter those long weekends out and escape. Refuel yourself from time to time - you owe this to yourself.

Nurture - With Nature

We have been blessed with a beautiful campus and hence this is easier for Hel(L)ites to follow.

In all, this hustle and bustle, do not forget your larger goal. Quizzes and insti parties will become part and parcel. Mess will still serve food 4 times a day. But, what did you come here for? Are you on the right path or have you given to redundancy?

Take a step back every time you feel overwhelmed. Walk around the campus and take in some fresh air. In trying to do revolutionary things, we forget the power of fresh air, some flowers and hot chai/coffee.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S - Don’t just binge watch, live it!

And finally. Here’s to the people who will rant, cry, work, exist, succeed, fail, travel, drink, smoke, write, work and live with you. If you find good people, and I am certain that you will- keep them close. Have a good heart and rest will follow. Friends at Hel(L) don’t just become family, they become your pillars of strength both when you have a critical interview and when you are unable to walk on your two feet after a long night. (And I hope you have many of them)

Okay then, if you have reached till the end, I wish you all the very best for your journey ahead. If you are an ex-student, I hope I made sense above.

Feel free to reach out to me if you need help with any of this.

Love & Luck,

H