Free !! Now, tell me what to do...

I had dreamt about this moment for a long time. After my final day in IBM, I had imagined life to be much more exciting. I had hoped that I would have complete claim over those crucial 8 waking hours each day. Well, yesterday was my last working day before I join ISB and, to tell you the truth, it was a bit of a disappointment.

Trouble was brewing on the project front with the last release having a host of critical issues. As the team sought to fight the fire, there was very little time to say proper good byes. Besides, I had already talked to the people that mattered. Anyways, as per tradition, the team gathered around, wished me luck, appreciated my work and gave me a parting gift.

It seemed a little weird to leave. IBM was my first job and I was sorry to be leaving. But other horizons now beckon.

Sometimes I marvel at the human tendency to always glorify the grass on the other side of the fence. When I was working, I longed to be "free". Now that I was free, I longed to get involved in one final problem on the project. For almost a month, I had been like a dead man walking, cut out from all decisions and consigned to weird looks and glances. I hoped to be a Deus ex Machina, emerging one final time to save the project from embarrassment. Alas, it was not to be.

Ultimately, it seems, we are all lemmings, happy only until someone tells us what to do and absolves us of all responsibility and accountability. As long as someone dictates to us, we have a target to rile against and criticize. Left to our own devices, we seldom put our time and effort to good use.

As a management student, I hope that I am able to change that. I would not want to look back and say "My technical job was better", just because it was simpler. That would be a huge let-down. Perhaps I'll be motivated enough to assume more responsibility in whatever I do and wherever I end up. The one thing that I have learnt is that no work is completely bad or completely good. It's all a question of perspective and expectations.

Well, of all my posts, this one seems to ramble the most, perhaps because I have time to kill and no set plan. That reminds me of a great Chinese proverb to conclude this post - "A good traveler is not intent upon arriving"... 

In vino veritas...

I skipped the usual weekend post this time I had to travel to Nashik. The journey itself was quite tiring, mainly because the roads aren't all that great. However, Nashik is a quaint little place.

The first thing I thought was "This is was Mumbai must've looked like in the 70s". Hardly any traffic on the roads, acres and acres of fields, just beyond the city limit, nice dry weather. Since it's winter, the evenings get cool, a little like Pune. Beautiful time to visit.

Since my stay was quit short, I could only visit a few places. One place I insisted on visiting was the Sula Vineyard. Nashik represents the Indian wine industry and I was keen to get a first-hand view of this fascinating subject. Coincidentally, our tour guide told us that the owner was a Stanford graduate and had brought a scientific attitude to the cultivation.

Most of the product is consumed locally. Some of it is exported as an economy wine to Europe, although they also produce a limited quantity of high-quality aged wine. Still, we have a long way to go before we can put India on the international wine map.

The tour was quite insightful. Sauvignon was the primary grape variety grown there. Almost 27 acres of vineyards dedicated to wine making. Awesome !! I shall be going back in March to witness the harvesting of both, the table and the wine grapes. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to indulge in some wine-tasting the next time around.

We also visited Trimbakeshwar. Like all other holy places, this one reeked of crowds, ceremonies and cowdung. I guess that's the price you pay for admission to heaven !! Still, it was better than some of the other places I've been to.

Overall a very satisfying trip. On an unrelated note, I officially submitted my resignation today. It feels a little weird to know that I won't have a job for the next 14 months. IBM has been a roller-coaster of a job and I'm glad I'll be leaving on a high.

I desperately wanted the sabbatical to fall into place as a backup for the placement season. However, the policy diktats don't measure up to my expectations. Perhaps, I'll be able to rejoin at a later date, I'm keeping the option open.

For the next few weeks, I'll be busy saying goodbyes at work...

Sea of Poppies

The last few posts were all related to my MBA sojourn, primarily because that's been been occupying large chunks of my time over the last six months. In between, I did manage to squeeze in time to read Amitav Ghosh's Sea of Poppies. I very rarely like epic Indian fiction which tends to go on and on without really going anywhere. A Suitable Boy is a case in point. However, Ghosh's novel is different.

It's fast-paced yet descriptive, bringing to the forefront India's contribution to the Opium trade and its impact on the local communities. At the same time, it manages to evoke a vivid and raw image of the life of a sailor. The book seems to be well-researched as the author has managed to include lingo that is suitable to the period and the occasion. Moreover, in order to capture the mood of the times, the author uses Hindi words in English (a precursor to Hinglish ?), thereby lending a more phonetic feel to the language of the book.

In the course of the story, it addresses various ills of the times - Sati, Opium, Untouchability, Racism, Imperialism, Missionary zeal etc. However, it does so without judging the characters, and therein lies its charm. There is also a sense of humor pervading through the book, a sense of hope, a sense that better things lie in store for the characters.

Being the fist instalment of a trilogy, I can only wait in anticipation of the next two books. As I simultaneously read The White Tiger, I couldn't help but wonder why the Booker wasn't awarded to Ghosh. Perhaps time will correct this error with Book II of the trilogy.

Videshi v/s Swadeshi MBA

With all the time on my hands these days, I can now afford to post twice in one day :)

There has been some heated debate on the ISB group about whether to go for an MBA from the US in these troubled times. I too have sailed in the same boat until last week and can very well identify with the conflict. Having been admitted to UCLA Anderson and CMU Tepper, in addition to ISB, I was momentarily unsure about which option to pursue.

To tell you the truth, this is an inherently personal choice. I had given the GMAT only so that I could apply to ISB. Later, I had to consider the question of what to do if I didn't get in and that's when I started researching US universities. Gradually, I came to respect and admire some of the schools.

Even before I started applying to US universities, I was cognizant of the cost factor involved. Shelling out 60-70 lacs for a two-year course would be a challenge. Therefore, I had divided my applications into 3 categories:

1. "Dream" schools such as Wharton, Sloan, Stanford, where I would have gone irrespective of the cost
2. "Schol" schools where I would have gone if the admission was accompanied by a good scholarship
3. "Safeties" where I would have gone if not admitted anywhere else

As it turned out, I made it to schools falling in Cat 2, but the scholarship did not exceed USD 20,000. For a while, I was elated with the admits. However, when I went back to the basics, I realized that:

• I wanted to stay in India
• I wanted a quick turnaround post-MBA
• I wanted a cost-effective course without compromising quality

ISB seems to fit this bill perfectly. Given the present economic scenario, I'm concerned about the following:

1. Placements: I have heard of students from UCLA, Darden, Tuck etc being unable to find jobs. International students find it difficult anyway since most companies are unwilling to get into the visa tangle and don't always earn close to 6 figures.
2. Internships: For career changers like me, internships play an important role. As companies become cautious, it will become difficult to locate relevant internships, thereby directly affecting my chances of securing the job I want
3. Funding: I don't have any rich relatives in the US. Without any non-co-signor loans being made available by universities (after Citi withdrew the CitiAssist program) and the lack of sizeable scholarships, I would find it virtually impossible to cobble together the required amount. Of course, I could apply to schools like Marshall and Kelley, but the quality of the program would suffer, an option I am not prepared to accept.
4. Visas: The lottery system gives no guarantees of getting a visa after your MBA. Worst case scenario - Come back to India with a HUGE loan on your shoulders.
5. Indian Alumni & Brand Awareness: The strength of the brand and alumni associations in India is likely to be small when compared to ISB and IIMs. The benefit I would accrue is likely to be minimal.
6. Time & RoI: I would be spending the better part of the next 10 years under a mountain of liabilities. Plus, a two year course would be more time consuming.
   

when it comes to plonking for a US MBA. Therefore, keeping all things in mind, I'm 99% certain about going to ISB this year, ahead of other US-based universities. I have spoken to current students, past students, prospective students, professors, directors, industry peers and almost everyone seems to be in agreement with my logic.

As someone on the PG forums put it - ISB, the place to be :)

The ISB interview

The decision and planning that had begun in July '07 before I left for Canada acquired another milestone I received a call for an interview from ISB. After doing well in my GMAT and writing what I thought were coherent essays, I felt reasonably confident of at least being interviewed. Still, it was a relief to receive the official email in my inbox.

My interview was at Taj Lands End, Bandra. The Bandstand is one of my favorite spots in Mumbai, right after Marine Drive and it's always a pleasure to look out over the Arabian Sea. However, I was a little concerned that the panel in question might already have been fatigued by the time they got to my interview at 5:30 PM.

Anyways, the day started off rather badly. My suit wasn't ready, had to wear a blazer, which actually turned out to be not so bad. Combined with the Raj Thackeray fiasco, Mumbai was still tense. As it turned out, it would have taken a complete bloackade to stop me from attending arguably the most important interview of my life.

Mom and Dad were around for moral support and a quick drive. We reached waaaay ahead of time. The attendant wouldn't allow me to start on the essay till 30 mints before the scheduled start. I spent some time freshening up and chatting up the other candidates. Expectedly, very few people from the IT/Engineering background. I felt my hopes go up a bit :)

Finished the essay for the word "ferocious". I get the feeling someone at ISB had flipped the page to "F" in the dictionary. Everyone got an f-word that day :) My slot was delayed - I guess the interviews were longer than expected. Surprisingly, nobody prevented me from continuing on the essay. That was a little odd. Ideally, everyone should get the same amount of time. However, since the coordination was not being done by ISB, I guess it could be simply an oversight. It shouldn't really the candidate anything more than 10 mints to write a 100 words, anyway.

I was called not to one of those conference rooms but to an actual residence room on the 15th floor. Looks like someone messed up with the scheduling of the meeting rooms !! Anyways, the setting was quite informal and the view was excellent. There was Ms Hema from the ad-com, a gentleman from ISB and an alumnus.

The discussion started off with Raj Thackeray. The panel expressed surprise that I had traveled from Thane while many others had rescheduled their interviews. Since the TV in the lobby had been ON, I was able to offer further developments, much to my advantage (at least, that's what I think !!).

I was asked to recap my experience so far. They were curious to know why I hadn't shifted jobs like other IT professionals. My answer was simple - I enjoyed my work at IBM. I was provided for in every way - the money wasn't bad, flexi-hours, challenging work, international experience, vertical growth, WFH. What more could a guy want. They were keen to know whether I'd go back to IBM after ISB. Sure, I replied, provided the opportunity exists and fits. There followed a discussion about sabbaticals, policies etc. Hopefully, I managed to show that I had done my homework and was seriously considering the alternative. I feel many candidates will be asked this question, especially entrepreneurs, since the placements aren't likely to be great for the CoMMX.

We moved on to my blogs. There was a long discussion on affirmative action and other posts. We managed to cover the role of the government in daily affairs, censorship etc. In between, there was a quick reference to my strengths and weaknesses and to my stay in Bahrain and Canada. The most interesting part was regarding the loyalty management domain. My functional expertise really helped me out in describing the three avenues of growth for such programs.

All in all, it was a very pleasant experience. Of course, doubts started creeping in the moment I reached home, but there I saw an email from CMU requesting an interview and a whole different cycle started !!

My advice to other candidates:
1) Know yourself and your application
2) Don't bullshit. If you don't know an answer, say so
3) Do not fabricate stuff that you have no clue about
4) Stay positive, exude confidence in your abilities and be relaxed
5) Take initiative in directing the conversation if you feel it's going downhill

Hope this post helps others to prepare for their interviews.

Edit:
A brief comment about my profile. I am an electronics engineer by qualification and hold a B.Tech from IT-BHU. My professional experience consists of the 4.5 years with large MNC in software services, some of it (over a year) international and some of it leading my own team (around 6 months). I covered a host of technical certifications, submitted some code assets and won a few awards during this time, finally being recognized as the top 5% across India.

I've traveled a lot and spent close to 15 years in the middle east. My academics have been consistent, sometimes even eye-catching and include 90% + on most exams, a scholarship from CBSE and a 1st class in Engg. I generally enjoy reading, blogging and playing the tabla in my spare time.

My GMAT Experience

For all the help and encouragement I received from the web in my GMAT preparation, here is my contribution to the pool of knowledge and experience out there.

Firstly, my score: Quant: 50, Verbal 44, Overall 770, AWA 5.5. The high overall score meant that I secured a 99 %ile. A caveat - I've had all my schooling in English and I have an IT/Engineering background. So if something sounds too condescending, I do not intend it to be so.

Well, I gave my GMAT in June in Montreal, Canada. I had decided a year before that I wanted to give the GMAT. So I had ample time to mentally prepare myself for the exam. I believe this is a crucial aspect. In order to go beyond the usual 720, you need to set yourself up to imagine the ideal score. The more time you have to imagine it, the better it will be. This approach allows you to focus and gives you a target that you can then work towards in quantitative terms. I had set myself a target of 780/6.0.

I started my preparation in earnest in Feb 2008, thereby giving me 4 months of solid preparation time. Throughout the period, I had a dedicated time slot of 1.5 - 2.0 hours each day, irrespective of work pressure. Since I was staying alone at the time, I was able to completely disengage myself from all social activities. No partying, no socializing for 4 months. In short - I became a monk.

When I took the first diagnostic test on GMAT Prep in Feb, I got a 720 with zero preparation. When I investigated the breakdown, my Quant scores was 48 but Verbal was less than 40. So, I knew that the focus had to be on sharpening my verbal skills. I bought the usual material - OG and Kaplan. I also started preparing from the LSAT questions. Even though these questions are really really tough, they will make GMAT seem like cakewalk later. I think the Kaplan 800 series is also excellent, since they really make you understand the difference between a good score and a great one.

I didn't give any test other than GMAT Prep. Mainly because the Kaplan CD I had bought didn't work. I believe this was a mistake on my part and I encourage others to take as many tests as possible. However, I solved several SCs and Quant questions from my CAT material as well as LSAT CRs and RCs. Needless to say, all this was in addition to OG and Kaplan.

When I had done everything, I solved them again and again, until I didn't have to think in order to realize which answer was right - It came to me almost instinctively. I believe this played a crucial part in helping me beat the time on the actual test. For those suffering from sever verbal deficiency, I have only 1 suggestion - Read, Read and Read. In those 4 months, read anything and everything you can get your hands on. It will help you understand the correct grammar and identify the gaps in your abilities.

To prepare for the AWA, I started this blog :) and prepared answers for around 10-15 questions that are provided by GMAC. There's not much you can do about AWA and personally I doubt if it helps; TOEFL gives a much better picture anyway.

The second GMAT Prep test I took netted me 750, with verbal improving to 41. However, I realized that I had messed up my first 10 questions. Irrespective of what books say, if you answer the 1st 10 questions correctly, it does help - mainly because the questions towards the end become easier. That way, you are not faced with time pressure in the last few critical minutes.

On D-Day, I arrived almost 1.5 hrs early. Thankfully, they allowed me to take the test immediately. Carry an energry drink and some snacks for the breaks. You need to keep the sugar levels up for optimal performance. Take all the breaks. It helps you refocus. I had decided that I wanted to get rid of the AWA as quickly as possible. I believe that typing out essays fatigues the mind and I wanted to remain fresh. So instead of the usual 1 hr, I finished mine in 40 minutes and went into the break.

During the Quant and verbal sections, I paid closer attention to the 1st 10 questions and I was fairly confident that I'd gotten them right. Also, I felt the overall level was pretty close to what I had on the sample tests. No surprises. I was able to save considerable time on middle questions and finished each of the sections almost 10 minutes ahead of schedule. I would like to stress that do not put yourself under too much pressure for each question. Also, do not make it an ego issue. If you don't know the answer, it's unlikely that you will know it after staring at it for 5 minutes. Eliminate 2 choices, guess and move on.

Before clicking on the final submit button, I was expecting around 740. I was pleasantly surprised at the 770. The AWA I got was 5.5, a tad disappointing but I guess in proportion with the effort I had put in.

And remember, GMAT is not the be-all and end-all of the MBA application. Your employment, profile, academic acheivements and other interest play an equally important role. The GMAT will only serve to highlight your application from within the pile that is received by the Ad Com every year.

Well, that's about it, I guess. If you have any questions, please leave a comment.

Why Foss-ing is good for health

No – that's not a typo !! I'm referring to the Free Open-Source Software and not the practice of dental hygine. I began my journey into this strange world a month back, after starting to try out Ubuntu's Hardy Heron Linux distro on my laptop.

Well, so far, my experience has been positive. While I admit that mine is not a full blown Linux installation since it is running as a loop-mounted device, it did offer me ample scope to get a feel of the new OS before taking the plunge into a full-blown installation. Overall, I feel Linux is a worthy alternative to users who are looking to break away from Windows and cannot afford, or do not prefer, the Mac OS X.

The first and foremost thing I noticed is how much a linux installation has improved. When I had last attempted to install Linux around 4 years back, I was so frustrated at making things work that I had to finally abandon the attempt. With Linux distros floating around today, you get Live Cds, Wubi, USB installation and what not. I feel this will go a long way towards easing newbie worries. Further, the installation went off remarkably smoothly. Everything on my machine was detected out of the box. There was some minor tweaking required to get the OS to run like I wanted, but it didn't amount to more than a couple of hours.

As regards the stability of the system, I have not expirienced any major crashes with Gnome, although KDE (the Kubuntu version) did cause me some headaches. Further, it follows the repeatibility rule – every operation if repeated in the same circumstance yields the same result. Always. This is not the case with Windows. For example, for no apparent reason, Vista sometimes refuses to connect to my router.

Linux security is not even comparable with Windows. Running without any explicit firewall or anti-virus protection, my system has been doing fine – no hacks encountered. Further, because of the lack of these resource-intensive programs, my mid-range laptop positively flies !! From what I have read, viruses on Linux only exist as proof-of-concept, since the user-access-based security makes it really difficult to gain control of the vital resources of the system via a virus.

As a developer, I feel it is of the utmost importance that Linux ships with almost all the necessary compilers for C++, Java etc. This is one of the pillars of FOSS, since it allows the user to look at what lies beneath the hood and make changes if required. It allows a developer like me to be productive. Given the tools, most people will put them to use. I feel this is one of the major drawbacks with Windows – users are assumed to be too lame to take matters into their own hands.

The eye-candy is amazing as well. The effects available with Compiz and emerald far outstrip the default ones provided by Windows Vista – all at a much lower hardware cost. While I use Gnome, I've seen KDE offer even more eye-candy. Besides, there are different types of desktop managers – Xfce, KDE, Gnome, etc, which allow the user to choose the desktop as per the hardware configuration and their preference.

I've heard complaints that Linux doesn't offer the same variety of programs that Windows does. I think that's a load of hogwash. Linux doesn't offer the same programs – what it does is offer the user a much larger variety of open source programs which are more elegant and get the tasks done in a better manner than the windows programs that people are used to. Sure, there is a learning curve, but believe me, it's worth it.

Linux makes people think. It makes people use the command line, edit hitherto unheard of configuration files and understand almost all the principles of computer science. It teaches the user to be unafraid of crashing the system and returns control of the relationship between a user and the computer to the user.

Finally, Linux is free. Free as in beer and free as in freedom. I believe this is a HUGE motivation to most users. Imagine a system which is better than everything Mr Gates has to offer, at zero cost to the user. I agree that there might be many who may not like Linux. However, what nobody can deny is that Linux has given the user a choice where none existed before. Ultimately, the user can decide what OS to use. To quote HP, it has made the computer personal again.