Wordpress Blog address!!

Hi folks..

Thats a more commercial kinda blogsite of mine..

http://www.freeurmind.wordpress.com

Word Press is no dount a good place to blog, thanks to my friend Ruhi. but blogger's no bad either..

Well I'll try posting in both the sites. But to make things easier I have put links to both the sites. Try working out!

Cheers!
Ankit.

Study abroad: Hope this helps! (Incomplete...)

Well well.. Isnt this the question you start with whenever you even thought of studying abroad? It did and still does sometimes when i wonder why'd I choose Sydney to do my Masters. But this is kinda vague question because it depends on many factors but primarily on what you want from your degree. Seriously before I had come here, which is by now almost more than a year, I had given around 3-4months of research looking for Universities, Courses, Places to study. Now, I'm no education agent, or an education abroad guide. I just wanna share my experience, so if you feel i'm wrong, i maybe!

When we as Indians speak of foreign countries, it is constitutionary for us (By 'us' i mean the general people, exceptions are always there) to rank US,UK,Aus in 1st,2nd & 3rd positions respectively. This has a significant impact. Interesting too! People already have pre-concieved images in their minds. SO you cant change them. What you can and should change is yours!

US was really the exclusive once, but the barriers to entry are being broken to this exclusivity. There are many other universities around the world which are coming up with world class stature in educating students. Now i'm not aware of the latest rankings of all Universities abroad. But they always differ. Theres no universal listing which is so authentic, that you can base your decision on them or at least lay your foundation. Ranking of all universities, schools change from year to year, based on different courses you look at, and based at places you target. But there is a basic homework one should plan ahead of proceeding. Most often I have seen students asking questions randomly, like work opprtunities post degree, residancy options, degree recognition, course content & quality, etc. C'mon guys lets be practical who has answers to all these questions?? Answers to such questions can never be concrete. They have to and should vary from person to person. Because all questions are linked to different factors, experience of the individual, the perception of the person you are asking.

(All my research was based on the hunt for a good B-School coz my degree of pursuit was an MBA.)

Based on my experience I shall try to list a few points one should look before approaching for the course, or the University abroad. But this is entirely a personal opinion, so best would be to take the path your mind instructs.

Sorry guys, I'll continue. In the mean time if anyone has any views..

Finished higher secondary. What next? :S

How many of us have felt the crunch in our gut when we have had to decide or are yet to decide what stream to take up after we finish our higher secondary. (Or if you had to choose courses in your school in some cases). I had a real hard time while doing that. You may call it a weak decision taking ability or lack of guidance, but since I passed that stage, I take it as a 'kinda' responsibility to help younger students (that definitely doesn’t mean I'm old, I'm young too! Just a couple years elder :) ) or people who are yet to pass that stage. I know it is very easy to blog, comment or just say it and pass on, but its tough to feel that phase of life when you feel that nothing's working out and you seem absolutely lost on planet MARs.

DECISION: A simple word that defines the ability to choose from between two or more options or alternatives?? (Not an oxford definition, just my interpretation) However it appears as a simple thing but now when I am amidst my MBA, I somehow feel what I was taught is all bull shit! Decision (making) can be so complex, it was a nightmare inside a dream for me! Boy how people on Earth love complexities, making simple things appear so difficult. I hate it when that happens.

By the time we reach class 11/12, you start thinking or maybe earlier, but I started thinking only then. We start the transition phase from a student to a youngster once we enter college. I think till in school we’re all 'kids' and suddenly you are termed 'teenager'. Lets talk of the options we have once you pass class 10. I think in most Indian schools you have to make a choice, (Remember Matrix!), between fun and seriousness. I say so because that’s what the normal image is. I don't know whether it is the reality, at least I wont comment on that.

Lets say FUN=Commerce, SERIOUSNESS=Science. I think the key decision making lies at this stage. 'IF', and I stress on that 'IF', we can forsee a little bit, or can just look ahead of our time, things would be a lot more easier for us. But I agree with the fact, that most of us have no time to do that, and overlook that, but no one is to blame for that, coz it’s the age. And by the way for people who have already made a choice at that age, please correct me or give your opinions as to what you felt and helped you taking that choice.


How many times has one blasted on a question to you in your school life: "What is your aim young man/woman?" or "What have you decided as your career son/sweetheart?" <> And whenever that question bounces, a F4 Twister forms right inside your mind and you pray, that the person asking you could just vanish or die. I can still recall answering the same statement: "I haven't thought anything as such yet". And the wisely recommendation would follow: " You should start thinking son, its high time", and the conversation would end either me smiling at him and trying to look so damn confused or he starting to recommend me something, which I would never listen to.

But this is a very important point I guess. I took up science in my higher secondary, planning to do an engineering degree ahead. Ultimately I struggled for two years, and only because of a blessed soul and my fortunate friend, I passed my papers. When I dragged myself to the finals, I had already given up. I was an exhausted male, as if I had run the school for the last 12 years. I was more envious of my commerce friends whom I had never seen studying or tensed for a chemistry or a physics practical. If you have not laughed in a while, listen to this: I joined a B.Com(H) after torturing my poor little brain for two continuous years to relieve it. I was the laughing stock in psyche and amongst my friends. This was their comment: "You rugged you’re a** for two years, did not enjoy, kept crying the whole time, donated money to tutors (It was a donation, coz we never attended classes, yet paid them), flew whole country giving all crazy engineering exams, and then you finally land up in our land!". It was all absolutely true. I was such a confused donkey. I did all that and now in college I was trying to Dr & Cr the Ca & Na my brain was used to! I felt there was no one in a worse situation than me. But I had one consolation, the fact that I had another friend of mine in the same animal state. Ok, this was all for some fun in the blog. The bottom-line is, that it was not a such a sweet experience. Though I had the advantage of studying pure maths and knowing a bit of science that sometimes comes in handy.

People generally tend to limit their options in India a lot. Possibly because the course options in our country are not so versatile. I have never heard anyone doing a Bachelors in Sports or Bachelors in Tourism, or Event Management. But these courses do exist. The key lies in identifying your true interest. I was in science for 2 years, but never enjoyed studying it which never produced good results for me. I switched to commerce and liked it better. My results improves over the time. Now I think picking commerce was a good decision for me. But you cant really play with these things. Lets be practical. The most common courses in India presumably are BCOM, BSC, BBA, BCA, MassComm, HomeSc. I have not heard of any other courses. Well I may be poor in information management, but I'm just talking general.
As young students we do not have much information about each course. And we end up saying we're confused. Always remember: Everyone is gifted with a special talent! We only have to realize that.

Well the remedy for that is trying to find out about these courses and many more new ones. You never know where you land up! INTERNET (My Best Friend) has now privileged us to find out about them. I don’t have to mention it actually because the trend is changing gradually. Students have become more advanced, extroverts, and do a lot more research before stepping into a course. Education agents, career counselors giving free information in schools and organizing road camps or events have further contributed. So being aware, and looking for options is a very healthy way of keeping track of latest develpoments and will help you take a decision, wisely, and trust me you'll be a lot happier. Also look forward speaking to wiser people and experienced students or elders. They can be your best guides. You cannot expect your parents to be the only source or guide. They are less informed about the current education system in our age. So think, act and learn!

Comin Soon.. Is IIM/IIT the last resort??

MBA:Why out of 10 students 8 want to do it!

Talkin of the Indian Sceanrio, education standards have improved all over the country. Students look forward to study, complete their masters degree. The age old barriers of getting married immediately after under-grads, or joining your family business (if u have) or looking for a job ferociously, is being broken, though a lot needs to be done, not to mention that. But yet, people are fortunately recognizing the importance of education, the whole system, how much-so-ever it is corrupt or impractical. The approach has been changing past 10-15years, the number of engineers, accountants, finance wiz, IT professionals is on a sharp inclination (upwards of course!)

However, there are still most students i feel, who assume themself lost, confused, freaked out because of the fact that they do not know what they want from LIFE or what they want to give back to LIFE. This is not an allegation to the parents or a shortcoming, it is a situation which comes and goes in everyones life. But if we take a peek back, you can easily see the change. And then as we always do, can laugh on your past, saying at the back of your mind," I can't beleive I did that or thought that!". Because we all are humans, the same race, and think like. Those who don't think alike, are not supposed to be here. They would be eithr Warren, or Gates or Jobs, or anyone from the Forbes list!! :)

However I personally have felt it that out of 10 students, 8 at least say they would go ahead to do a Masters degree. If its an engineer he would have MS (Abroad) or M.tech (India) or he would be 'planning' an MBA down the line after a short span of work experience. If its a Science student it would mostly be MSc (India/Abroad). However coming down to my stream: Commerce. Don't laugh, i know it has negative value in India. But take a commerce student, ask him, "What are you plans next?". It would appear as if you have struck vengance on him. No less than an earthquake would occur in his head. Because he wouldn't have an answer.

Most commerce students i have come across are either grossly involved in all professional courses lik CA, CS, CFA, ICWAI and running tutions, or they would be working full time.The ones if spared by the above two prepare for CAT! We are talking of all those people. Honestly speaking, I have come across students who do not know the full form of MBA, and when asked they promptly replied, "MBA!! of course!!" With a what else do you expect look on ur face! I frowned at heart, honest confession. Because I have to confess that once even I did that! :)

But frankly i still do not know the answer to why everyone's so crazy about an MBA degree. The other day I had a guest lecturer in my UNI, from Germany, Dr.Eva. She has a M.Bus degree. When my class lecturer introduced her to us, saying that she has a MBA, which is known as M.Buss, she freaked out!! She said NOOOO.. This is certainly not an MBA. I was kinda surprised, coz actually it seemed so similar, and also she was the first one to be so against the MBA degree, whom I had come across that.

I still have to think and study to know why out of 10, 8 want an MBA!

INDIA: SuperPower by 2010

Do you agree with this statement? I read it at REDIFF (INDIA) and many other articles I read. However I still seek further opinions, as to whether India would be a super power by 2010 or not?

I personally agree with this, but partially. I think India can be a super power, but you ought to define what is being a super power like. Is it like being US or China or UK??

Besides you don't need a deadline to change a country. I think change starts in the mind. If we BELEIVE we can, noone can stop us.

What do you think?

INDIA: Hub of Innovative Entrepreneurs

India is definitely the hub of entrepreneurs worldwide. More than 100 companies start every year, irrespective of the fact most of them do not survive the competition, and die out sooner. But one cant deny the fact that people in INDIA are more risk-taking. Especially the disntinct 'marwari' class, here where people make it as a status symbol, and take pride in doing business.

According to research, INDIA ranks second in terms of innovation and the entrepreneurial viewpoint or approach. The list is led by Thailand and to my utter surprise the last name is JAPAN. Who would beleive that? Even US,Germany, UK are in the middle league of the race.
But the concept in INDIA is also changing today. People are encouraging their next generation to look for service options. They find it more lucrative, more 'relaxed' (god knows how!) and a much more safer and secure life. It is indeed a fact that majority population of INDIA is in the service industry, taking INDIA to the global positions.

A lot depends on many other factors in constituting this. For example, the background of the parent, the approach of the individual, the friend circle, he's bred in (one of the most important fctors), the people you stay with, your upbringing, the education today plays a very important role today and faces a serious challenge in creating more successful, powerful leaders.

The role of entrepreneurs has to be clearly understood in the present scenario. A distinct difference between an entrepreneur and a businessman has to be drawn. Working as a manager and working for a manager is a lot different. Then again individuals have their own ideologies. I have friends of all kinds. Versatility is the best traits! But you never choose your friends based on whethers hes doing service or is a businessman. However interestingly you can always strike a disticnt difference of opinions between both types and contrast them to each other. Thats what amazes me, and supports my personal effectiveness of being an entrepreneur!

Innovation is the key to sustainability today, in any regional or global scenario. One has to understand that managers or employees who think innovatively have the traits of an entrepreneur. What lacks in them, or resists them from achieving that is RISK taking ability. This can again be attributed to the fact that the person has never had an opportunity to take risk, or has never taken an initiative. And India was ranked 2 in a research for people with most innovative thinking. I beleive this is true in a context because the kind of development India has had in the past 5-10 years is beyond what we dreamt of, and also in the future its gonna be a super power by 2010. Cheers to Indian Entrepreneurs and the workforce of INDIA!