Top B-schools open new Academic session: How to cope & excel

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
June 17, 2014
With Top B- schools starting their new Academic sessions 2014-16, what should you? This article answers this vital question and helps you to prepare for your first few weeks in your B-school.
In MBA you will rarely be provided with notes; rather, you are expected to figure out on your own what's important. Professors are however available during their office hours for help if you are unclear on any concept

Adjusting to college life takes time. No freshman student enters campus without at least a small amount of discomfort, anxiety and confusion.

Even if some of you opt not to stay in institute hostel and decide to live at home and travel to campus, you'll be faced with the challenge of meeting with other students who share your interests. You will need excellent time management skills and self-motivation, since this is not school years and teachers won't look over your shoulder anymore to make sure you're keeping up with the whole class.


Unlike your graduation, MBA colleges prepare first year students with an orientation programme that builds a strong bond among class members. Many colleges offer additional early orientation programs usually a camping trip or gathering hosted in a nearby city to foster relationships before the school year even begins.

While XLRI, SPJIMR and BIMTECHG have begun their new session, other Top B-schools like TAPMI Manipal will commence its Induction from June 29, IMT Hyderabad will start from June 17 while IIFT, XIMB, NITIE, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi, FORE and MDI Gurgaon are scheduled to start their new academic session in next week or so.

So, what all to expect in this new academic session of 2014-16 at Top B-schools? This article answers this vital question and helps you to prepare for your first few weeks in your B-school.
 

- Easy Transition

Top B-schools like XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai and BIMTECH Greater Noida have started their new session with Orientation programmes for first year students.

Students are advised to attend as many orientations options as possible. It will make your college transition easier if you already have bonds with your classmates. Orientation also gives you the chance to interact with seniors and alumni. You will find that seniors are equally excited to meet the first year students, and you become very comfortable in the college setting very quickly.

During Orientation programme first year students are told as to what is expected of them during their tenure as PGDM students in the institute.

 Forget the last 5 years of your education life, whether it was good or bad, because your next 2 years are going to be completely different and how best you can utilize them is completely up to you.

 

- The Immersion Programme

 Some B-schools like BIMTECH Greater Noida has since this year started a unique immersion programme wherein first year students will be divided on the basis of their education qualification and will undergo a 7-10 days Immersion programme.

Students will be given a crash course on subjects like statistics, economics, Introduction to accounting, Microsoft Excel, etc. The objective is just to create interest for the subject and to prepare a skeleton which will be dilated in next two years of management course.

These programmes help the students from diverse education background to be on the same level playing field in terms of various subjects and start the journey to the next two years of their management study.

 

- Special Orientation Programme

Top B-school like XLRI Jamshedpur has drawn up a Special Orientation Programme for the new students to update their knowledge before regular classes commence.

A unique feature in the first term will be the Village Exposure Programme and the Outbound Programme. Both the programmes have been designed to create awareness among the students of life in rural India, as well as the importance of team spirit. Such an integral and value-based formation will impel the future managers at XLRI to be innovative, competent and creative leaders.

 

- Get used to saying "Professor" or "Dr”

Gone are the days when you used to call your teacher as Mr. or Ms. Sharma. Get used to saying "Professor" or "Dr” Sharma instead.

Many of your Professors would be highly qualified and awarded individuals and hence they command every bit of respect and attention in class while they are teaching. First year students are advised to take benefit from their knowledge and expertise and in order to gain the most from their 2-year long MBA journey.

 

- You are expected to have an Opinion!

This is an MBA Degree and you are expected to have an opinion!

You are no longer a passive learner who just sits and listens to a teacher, occasionally writes a paper, and takes a test in which you are expected to simply restate what you have learned or been told by the teacher. In MBA you will rarely be provided with notes; rather, you are expected to figure out on your own what's important. Professors are however available during their office hours for help if you are unclear on any concept.

In MBA college your professors are expecting you to voice your thoughts, and disagreeing with the professor's opinion is considered an interesting debate, not an abnormal behavior. Class participation and providing your own perspective and analysis are key to success in the MBA college learning environment.

 

 - Your Social Life- Manage well

Balancing academic and social life is difficult especially in the first year of MBA college.

During school life, it was our parents who provided us with rules, regulations, monitoring and motivation but all of these are now in your hands. Being at college can be socially overwhelming - an array of evening and weekend activities is open to you, including lectures, club/organization events, hostel events, and of course, parties.

In addition, many students leave their hometown to go to a school in a place they have not lived in before, so a lot of time is spent exploring your new surroundings. Some students become so involved in social activities that they neglect their academics. While it is good to explore new surroundings and take advantage of social opportunities, it is essential that you cut out time to focus on your studies.

Some students find it helpful to spend studying time in the school library, where they can focus without any interruption. Forming study groups with peers from your classes can also be extremely helpful, as well as agreeing on a daily "study time" with your roommate, where your hostel room will adopt the atmosphere of the library.

 

- Roommates – You need to adapt fast

Unless you are coming from boarding school, you most likely will need to adapt to life with roommate. Although some think having a roommate is an infringement on privacy, a roommate is actually a great benefit in MBA College. The first few weeks of college can be a lonely time, you are in a new place with new surroundings.

 A roommate can keep you company and will help you adapt to college life because you are adapting together. You immediately have someone who can go to the dining hall with you, explore the campus with you, help you find a class location, and share your social network. In addition, with a roommate you can share the costs of college life. You and your roommate can figure out who can bring what into the room, and can split groceries, additional furnishings, and other costs.

 

- Multicultural Environment: Take advantage

Earlier during your graduation and school years, your friends probably were quite similar to you in terms of personality; your parents are probably a lot like your friends' parents, they probably even share the same income tax bracket, etc.

But in MBA college, things will be quite different. You will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of students who seem just like you but with very different stories. You quickly learn that "normal" simply doesn't exist. One of the best things about going to college is the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of cultures. Students from the other side of the world and the other side of the county will likely be your neighbours in hostel. Take advantage of this amazing multicultural environment that you might never have access to again in your life.

Many of you probably won’t join any Institute for further higher studies and hence this is your last chance to be among Professors and students. Learn as much as you can, network with as many as you can. This two year of MBA education will guide your future career and will help you to make a name for yourself in this very competitive world out there. Best of luck!

 

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