Classes here are nothing like the ones I was used to at the under-graduate level. Heck, it was an achievement if you even showed up in class back then. Out here, you have to show up and contribute !! Some do buckle under the pressure to put the best foot forward, succumbing to the foot-in-mouth disease. Compared to other sections, though, mine has fewer horror stories to report. For an understanding of the quality (or the lack of it !!) during class discussions, check out ISB Co10's Bakwas Band Karo blog. And all for a fistful of CP points :)
While some of the classes are top-notch, others not so much (yet), the overall quality is still pretty high. You're expected to hit the ground running. Sometimes, even that is not enough as the prof dashes through 2 hour sessions, leaving you wondering what the hell just hit you. With, pre-reads, reads, post-reads, assignments, planned and unplanned quizzes, club meetings, dunkings, parties and sports, I and Mr Sandman haven't had much time to catch up !!
I do wonder whether such concentrated and intense doses of academics will help me retain things in the long run. Perhaps ISB subscribes to the theory that pressure brings out the best in a student. For example, some teams have to submit 2 assignments, solve 1 quiz and prepare for another in 3 days. Relaxed learning that allows you to delve into a particular subject in detail is probably not going to happen out here. Already the strength of club meetings is dwindling. BTC found it tough to even fill up a Mini LT.
On a lighter note, a classmate of mine was particularly targeted by fiends of the slithery variety. Not one, but THREE snakes in his quad. Now that is probably an unforgettable experience. I leave you with some amazing pictures from the 1st month:
