In general, time flies. People say that all the time. But time truly does step on it at a B-school. You hit the ground running when you join one. There are no warm welcomes and no gentle easing. It is a frenetic burst of activity and competition in the first few months until summer placements. Only after that do you get breathing space. Even after that, life can be pretty hectic. It depends upon your B school. It can be an IIM-A at one end of the hectic spectrum and it can also be IIM-C, which is at the other end. But all B-schools unite when it comes to creating an almost unbearable hectic period around and before placements.
So how does one make the most of one’s time?
Follow The Deadlines
One can get done with most things effectively if one just follows this. Much easier said than done. Deadlines will come at you from all sides. Placement team will have their own deadlines, companies have their deadlines as do your professors regarding assignments. If we manage to just keep up with each of them, that itself will be time spent very well.
Reassess Your immediate Goals At Crucial Junctures
One need not have a formal system of writing down goals or anything. All one needs is to just sit down and have some idea of your strategy over the next few months.
In a B-school, you get genuine breaks at the gaps of a few months. Right after your summer placements, before your summer internship commences, before you head off for your exchange term and right before your final placements. Use this time to just understand what exactly you will target over the next few months. For instance, let us assume you have below average grades at the end of the first year. You can then decide to do two things. Perform brilliantly well in your internship and give it your best shot at case competitions next year.
Suppose that you have no specific such target in mind and yet want to use your time well and work on your interests. You could try for writing stints with groups like InsideIIM if that is your cup of tea. Or some people even try for winter internships when the course load is lesser.
All of this does not need any grand planning. Just a couple of months in advance.
Utilise Unique Opportunities Offered By Your College
Every college has certain unique features and opportunities that it offers. For instance, IIM C offers students the chance to pursue a dual degree in a B school abroad along with an MBA here. This program is known as CEMS. It need not only be such macro-level initiatives.
Even opportunities such as taking part in the lecture series of famous personalities at your college or interacting with alumni during reunions are also avenues that you should utilise. All one needs to do is keep an eye on the official emails sent on your college noticeboard or ID.
Enjoy Your Time Here
In the rush to get to the place/company/life/status of your dreams, do not forget that these 2 years are also part of the bigger journey of life. Make friends here, spend time going to movies/restaurants, let your hair down at parties and stay in touch with old friends, family, etc. That will add the seal of completion to a well spent 2 years at B-school.