Babson Submitted

My Babson essays are in!

I have a good feeling about this

Rocky Balboa Ain’t Going to Philly

Ding from Wharton…

I was hoping to atleast get an interview invite so that I can experience what it is like interacting with a top school like Wharton. Oh well, this is how the cookie crumbles. I’m happy I wrote some good essays and did my best with this app. I couldn’t have done anymore in life or app and I accept this decision with no sadness and plenty of optimism for the future.

Next up: Babson app submission this weekend!

Planning on an education abroad?

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of executive mba programs . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1@gmail.com

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Challenges Faced by International Students in the USA

Although it is an inevitable part of our lives, most of us find it hard to accept change. We train ourselves to adapt to it as best as we can, but even for the most mentally tough among us, moving to another country is a daunting experience, even if we’re doing so only to pursue an education. International students in the USA come to this country to take advantage of its excellent education system. They know that it will help them progress and achieve success in life, so they put up with all the inconveniences associated with moving to a new country where they hardly know anyone. But being aware of and prepared for the challenges they are likely to face helps them adjust better and faster. So if you’re an international student who has just moved to the US, here’s what you need to know before you begin your educational sojourn in this country:

 

· You’re going to suffer a certain amount of culture shock: Everything is going to be different about the people are – the way they dress, talk, behave and interact with people. And you’re going to feel the culture shock more if you’re from a country where people are more traditional. American college-goers are generally of a certain nature – they tend to enjoy life and grab it with both hands. If you’re an introvert, you could find them too boisterous and loud. But they mean no harm or disrespect and generally go about their tasks without bothering other students.

· The language is different: Even if you’re proficient and fluent in English, you may have trouble getting used to the local lingo. For examples, in the US, colleges are also called schools besides going by the terms colleges, universities and institutions. The terminology may be confusing at first, but you should get used to it as time goes by.

· There may be a prejudice towards foreigners: Especially if you have a different accent and skin color. Some students may believe in stereotypes and have trouble relating to you. But even this could be temporary, only until they get to really know you better.

· The method of teaching is different: You may be used to a certain standard and style of teaching back home, one that is very different from what you encounter in US college classrooms. As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do – so you must get used to the way things are done in this country as soon as possible because you’ve come here to take advantage of this nation’s effective education system.

· The climate and food vary: If you’ve come from a very hot country to a very cold state in the USA and vice versa, you may find it hard to adjust to the extreme change in climate and the drop (or rise) in temperature. Also, your taste buds may suffer because the food available is very different from the staple diet in your country. Plan ahead by looking up the weather conditions in the state where your school is situated and preparing your clothes accordingly. You could also try to cook your own meals if allowed and eat fare that you enjoy. The US is a country where diverse cultures meet, so you are bound to have restaurants that serve food native to your country.

· You will miss home: You are bound to miss your country, your family and friends, and the way of life back home. But you need to get past this homesickness and make new friends at college. Divert your attention any time you feel yourself longing for your loved ones and keep yourself busy at all times. Remember that you’re here for a reason, and focus on this at all times to avoid giving in to the temptation to give up.

The season begins with a win…

… Rotman said yes.

May the Force be with you!

“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”

Rotman wrote to me saying I get my decision this week. Wharton has started sending out invites and they will continue to do so till Nov. 12, which is the date they will also send rejections to people who don’t make the cut.

Wish all fellow applicants to these schools (and others) the very best!

“Great Kid. Don’t get cocky”

Music I listen to

ACM

Tonight is a big game in the Champions League. My team AC Milan travel to Madrid to take on the great Real Madrid team at the Santiago Bernebeu. Games usually start at 00.15 in India and you can be sure I will be up and supporting my team.

Forza Milan!

Things that make me happy

1. Seeing a product we launch work in the hands of the customer.

2. Seeing the customer’s delight from Pt. 1.

3. Establishing a good relationship with the customer wherein he places his full trust in us and believes that my team will do its best to serve him.

From the onset of my career, I have been in customer facing roles in IT operations. It is a challenging job to build confidence in a customer and ensure timely deliveries, sometimes frustrating given the way the business works, but there is no feeling I have experienced like that of a product that simply “works.” After countless assignments, enhancements, delivery dates, process implementations and teamwork efforts, it still brings me great joy to finally taste the sweet success on seeing a happy customer. I wouldn’t call myself a saint, but it is one of the purest emotions I feel.

This desire to see happiness in others has served me well in my career so far. While having my ups and downs, I have managed to do well for myself in the time I have spent in the industry.

But somehow, in the midst of all the promotions and successes, I seem to have lost sight of what I truly want or things I truly care about. My job is a high pressure job and in the constant bid to please others, I seem to be neglecting my own needs. This is something I have been feeling for quite sometime, but possibly am able to vocalize only today. A lot of this has to do with the fact that my body is crying out for a break. And a lot of its complaints are stress-induced.

With this thought in mind, I have decided to step back from the application race and re-evaluate my priorities, take some time off to refresh my mind (that has been in constant turmoil owing to the apps) and come back stronger to put more of myself into each application than I have been doing so far. I may not even apply any more, but whatever decision I take now will be taken after I have my break.

I am going to spend the next few months recharging myself, watching movies, reading books Iv been meaning to read since long, just chilling out and taking things easy. To start with, I have signed up for French lessons beginning next weekend. Learning a new language has been a desire since a long time and I had been putting it off. Now is a good time to start with developing a new skill.

In the larger course of life, I realized its not going to be a business school that makes me happy. It is going to be just myself and my hobbies.

I wish everyone the very best for completing their applications, for interviews and admits. I will post regularly and keep you updated on my status.

My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?

~ Charles Schulz

Rocky has a birthday

Early in my acting career I realized the only way I would ever prove myself was to create my own role in my own script. On my 29th birthday, I had $106 in the bank. My best birthday present was a sudden revelation that I had to write the kind of screenplay that I personally enjoyed seeing. I relished stories of heroism, great love, dignity, and courage, dramas of people rising above their stations, taking life by the throat and not letting go until they succeeded. But I had so many ideas in my head, I couldn’t focus on any one. To cheer myself up, I took the last of my entertainment money and went to see the Ali-Wepner fight on closed circuit TV. Chuck Wepner, a battling, bruising club fighter who had never made the big time, was having his shot. It wasn’t at all regarded as a serious battle. But as the fight progressed, this miracle unfolded. He hung in there. People went absolutely crazy. Wepner was knocked out in the 15th and final round, almost lasting the distance. We had witnessed an incredible triumph of the human spirit and we loved it.

That night, Rocky Balboa was born. People looked on him as the all-American tragedy, a man without much mentality and few social graces. But he has deep emotion and spirituality and good patriotism. And he has a good nature, although nature has not been particularly good to him. I have always seen him as a 20th Century gladiator in a pair of sneakers. Like so many of us, he is out of sync with the times. To all this, I injected doses of my own personal life, of my frustration at not getting anywhere.

~ Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Balboa)

Im 26. Hoping to get my shot at an interview with Wharton.

Adrian: Why do you wanna fight?
Rocky: Because I can’t sing or dance.

かまぱい

If Wharton was difficult…

… wait till you get to the Duke essays.

Be afraid… be very afraid ^-^