A long awaited update post - Life, MBA, Job & Startup

Yes, this blog deserves at least an update. This is the place where I started blogging and went up to start a few websites :-) It is not that I have forgotten what I used to write and say to others here but things have been a bit slow paced these days or if I can say years :-).

I recently changed my job and switched to one of the big 3 consultancy companies in India. Life's good but there is this kid, still alive in me, who used to write about IIMs, motivation & what not. He tried to poke into a number of times before getting back into hibernation.

There are quiet a few updates I feel I should write here. First is the new job. As I said, it is a good place but you know how we are and what we are made up of. Though I do not actually take a book and prepare for exams, I still want to continue further education. But this time, it is not just backed up by emotions but also by a sense of responsibility & reality.

I had applied for Stanford Reliance Scholarship. Though I knew from start that I do not have a degree for IIT/NIT and there uncountable intelligent minds competing for mere 50 places. Though they shortlisted 65 this time, but it wouldn't change much.

I am planning to take a GMAT appointment something later this year. I am not sure if I will be able to meet the R1 deadlines of October, but doesn't matter. I will certainly write CAT this year as well. Yeah :D you can smile here :). This will be 8 th time I'd write this exam. Don't know when I will get a call or even bell the exam, but hell!! who cares. I will write it anyway.

There is this one thing I wanted to write and I am sure it will seem like a wish to become a next US president but it's a wish and wish has no boundaries. When I talk to my mom about MBA and getting in IIMs, but now it is more like getting into IIM-A only. Not because it is the best amongst its counterparts and is surrounded by glamor but because of the courses offered there.

Negotiations management - A course where teaching is done through movies and round of discussions & role plays. What a fantastic course it will be to attend. Most important, such course will not only help us in professional but also every where in life. Isn't it. Yet another similar interpersonal course is Exploring Roles & Identities. When I hear about such electives, I feel this is what you should to to IIM-A for. Not for salaries, fame or to show off, but to be a part of such courses.

Anyway, apart from MBA & job, I recently bought a Royal Enfiled Thunderbird. It cost me 1,19,000 on road and I am happy that this is my first bike bought of my own :)

In addition to this, I am in a process of registering a privet ltd. company. I always wanted to start something of my own and I am really happy that I found where to start.

So as you can see, I am all excited about different things I am doing and have been doing. More updates later :)

Ameya

To blog or not to blog; MBA, Career & Other updates

It feels nostalgic. It does indeed. This place used to be my another home way back in 2008-09 season. Nevertheless, it is good to be back and write something. In all these years, I have come a long way in regard of my career and other stuff. I may get promoted and I have also started a few websites. Apart from that, I am working on a small start up. Come on! start up is always a small. Unless you are born in the families of Tata or Birla.

Continue with CAT prep. or to not was the biggest question. Rather it is still around my mind. Some friends have suggested me to appear for GMAT and get out of the country. For that's not a solution, I think, I would not burn my ass this time by spending a lot of time in preparations. Of the late, I have started believing firmly that CAT is not just a common sense game, but it is also about the time your going through. Don't worry, I wont get philosophical here. It's harmful for the readership I know.

Though I said I won't be preparing this year that doesn't mean I am not throwing my hat for the contendership. I will and I must. Difference being, I will enjoy doing what I love. Blogging, developing websites, taking up SEO and Usability projects and certainly, continue doing my job at L&T. This place indeed has given me something that I must return before I quit. Precisely that's what I am doing now. Now don't think I am after quitting this place.

On a career path, I am pretty much on a accelerated road. Getting hands on multiple areas is a huge advantage. More over, you start to understand business process. And you start getting answer for most dreaded question. Why you want to do an MBA?

My mom says enough of this CATmadness and dad isn't talking much about it. Reason? They are after serious job of getting me married this year. Woahaa..it's not time yet guys. It certainly not.

In between all this, I have registered for free mocks of TIME and IMS. Let's see where you get to when you actually don't want to reach anywhere. :-) It will be good experience and seriously for first time in 4 years, now I understand what they mean by "Don't make CAT game of life. Keep it at enough distance."

With this, I conclude this post on a note of sorry for not updating this place. I won't call it a blog. I will be happy to know your CAT stories and things that keep you motivated.

So, the journey is still ON!!

And the journey still continues...

Yet another CAT results. Yet another unexpected result. It seems IIM dream is delayed by one more year. I had prepared hard this year. I was getting good percentile also. Even got 99.9 in one of the mocks. But the percentile I have got on CAT 2009 is disturbing and harmful to confidance.
QA: 68

DI: 58V

A: 92
OA: 76.87
Above numbers are what I am sailing with now. I had never expected percentiles this low. I was damn sure about QA tht out of 16 attempts I would get at least 12 correct in worst case. DI, I accept I was doubtful about and as I always say, when I am doubtful of something, it turns out disasterous everytime. Verbal, I am not sure what to write about it. Should I even write and maintain this blog in english? I am not that bad to get horrible percentile like 92. It is my strongest section.
What next?
This quesetion is bugging my badly since results have come up. Sometimes I feel I no more want to continue what I am doing right now. I want to quit doing job in IT, I do not want to work on my websites or anything else.
Desperation and dejection is obvious when you put in so much of efforts. But that does not mean I will give up on my dreams. I will not. I have certainly taken aback but my heart is not ready to accept defeat. It may sound crazy but I may appear one more time. Till the time I get into IIMs or I get a chance to chuck them out.
It seems I need a lot of introspection. All the best to those who have calls.
Ameya

CAT re-test on 30th Jan 2010

29th Nov. 2009, when I appeared for CAT 09. 30th Jan 2010, I am again going to appear for CAT 2010. During the earlier attempt, my computer had gone wild and off. May be blessings in disguise. Don't know.
I am writing this post to retrospect. So many mocks, so many downfalls, dejections, rejections & one more attempt everytime. As I approach my 4th attempt at CAT, I have almost no feeling or at least I am pretending so.
I had a discussion with my faculty who is also an IIM A gard. I said to him, "I think there is still some problem with my basics". He said, "I don't think so. All you lack is keeping your head in those 3 hrs, for which I cannot come to rescue". He suggested me to take 3 mocks with no expectations and no string attached. I followed what he said. Neverthless to say, my performance was good enough to boost moral.
As I come to closing of this post, I want to share a few nuggets with you. Everyone says don't make CAT a game of life and death. One never understands it unless one faces failures & understand the importance of relations, family,friends, happiness & love. I also took time to understand this. Throughout these years, failures taught me how to live in a better way. How not to lose hope and accept what I am. I am not writing this post with any motive behind. I just want to write what I have been through.
I loved this journey and I don't know when it's going to end. It bother least to me. I must say, I have developed more on personal side. I have learnt to talk to my self and introspect. I have certain values and vision and I am going to follow them for sure.
With this, I bid good bye to all of you who read my blog. Just one line for all of you guys/gals. Don't ever give up on your dreams. Your day will come

Inspiration at its best

I stumbled upon a great post today. It is about life story of ABRAHAM LINCOLN. It shows the failures he went through yet he never lost hope. For 32 years he fought with his destiny before achieving his pinacle - his presidency. Read on

1832 Lost job. Defeated for state legislature

1833 Failed in business.

1835 Wife died

1836 Had nervous breakdown

1838 Defeated for speaker

1843 Defeated for nomination of congress

1848 Lost renomination

1849 Rejected for land officer

1854 Defeated US Senate

1856 Defeated for nomination for vice president

1858 Again defeated for US Senate


AND HERE GOES THE LAST AND PERHAPS THE BEST ONE :

1860 Elected as President.

I was amused by the number of failures and number of years he fought before achieving what he wanted. We usually lose our hopes, say that I cant take it anymore, it's enough for me. If you really think so, I can bet after reading this one, you must be propelled to change your thoughts

First 99 of the season

After so many days I am updating this blog. I was rather busy in other stuff and some issues. Well, between all this, i got my 1st 99% of the season. Yeah, a good moral booster. I scored 79 marks in Proc Mock 5 there by getting 99.9%ile and CAT predicted %ile is 99.97, I dont know if it was fluke or I actually did it, but I was amazed to see myself scoring this high. It is just a matter of timing, luck & a bit of preparation too. I am ealted to see myself getting on the track.
I will try to update this blog more often now.
Ok, one more update, PG UDT 09 is out as I am not part of it anymore. The UDT tag chucks me one more time. I am happy to see the team formed. But, I have some questions also that i never asked anyone. This blog, being my personal place, I can surely write about it here.
They say, It's isn't about your scores, it's about your intense desire, dedication & passion. Still, my scores are not bad either. May be selectors think I lack the desire to crack it. What a farce!
Now I have to show it to them how much passionate I am? my desires? holy smoke, gimme a break..And the way people post "These people are the only one who r truley deserving & achievers". Ok, I wont write more here. But one thing is right here, and better get it straight, Hell with them, nobody on earth can disrupt my desire & motivation to bell it. So what I rarely get a good score. Doesnt matter anymore to me.
Such things, increases my self belief exponentially. I remember one girl, who had posted a nomination there in UDT 08. She was not selected in the team. Neverthless, she never returned to the thread. One fine day, i saw her post on UDT thread. It was sometihng like this:

Nobody belived in my abilitie, strength & desires. Only I did. Hereby,
I post my result to sum up the season and to tell everyone that one may fail to
know about other's intense desires, dreams and abilities.
Result: selected IIM BLICK, opting for IIM B

CL Prock Mock 2

Hello Fellas,
I am posting little bit late up here. Was little bit busy in many small small things. However, somehow i got time to appear for CL's 2nd Proc. Mock. I have been giving tests since last one month but this is when i am going to get the %iles and AIRs.

Duhh..i am not bothered much about it now, but it was a nice experience and i must say CL has finely executed the online tests. I was thinking that online pattern will make much of a defference in one's preparation/strategy blah blah blah..I found myself on a wrong side of the road after appearing for 1st online test. It was just another test. No much differences. The key was, there should be only one thought on your mind that you have to solve the question infront of you. Nothing else. If you keep on thinking about the strategy of online test, how will i change the appraoch? Man..you dont need this okey..

Anyway, as i said earlier that i have been taking quiet a few tests this last month, this helped me a lot to cool down my senses. I have taken almost 5 full length tests + 12-15 sectional tests this month. This scrapped my anxiety of the paper, strategy and what not. I was as cool as i never thought of while giving this test. Although i am not yet sure about the scores, i am happy with my performance in the test.

CL's Mock had 70 Qs with 40 in VA, 15 in DI & 20 in QA. Each section had time limit & test had to be solved in a particular sequence. i.e. VA first, then DI and then QA. I personally found VA quite doable but it indeed tested your VA skills. Specially of grammar. So if you are a person thinking that grammar is not your cup of tea, change your likings..

QA was also doable but i could solve around 10 Q only..I have to increase my speed in quant big time. DI was tough as many deemed so..But 5-6 attempt could have been a safe side in this paper.

I end up solving 33/40 in VA, 10/20 in QA and 7/15 DI total 50/70

Well, regarding the updates on perps, as i mentioned about the Chandra sir, He let me work 2 months on number system alone. This increased my comfort level in number syst. problems and boosted my hopes in QA. Now i am upto Algebra and he has given me time line of 15 days. Lets see, I am optimistic about the Algebra also. If i bang this one too, I will end up covering two biggest scoring topics in Quant.

I will continue to update my grammar blog here. I will also update about the Mock Scores. TIME's AIMCAT is just down the road now.

One thing that i learnt today: Don't think about not studying a topic as mocks have started. Irrespective of mocks, study that topic because ultimately you have to score on CAT and not on Mocks..

Cheeers,
Ameya