Back to blogging

It's been several months since I visited this blog. When I started this blog, I wanted this blog to focus on my journey towards MBA. But now I want to change the focus to my regular musings and my comments on current events, my interests and my hobbies, in short everything about me.
At this moment, hurricane katrina hit lousiana, mississippi, alabama few weeks ago and John Roberts confirmation hearings are going on, this is a historic confirmation hearings, because if confirmed john Roberts will be Chief Justice for decades to come. This guy is amazing in his courtship of senators. Democratic senators are finding tough to reject this guy. John Roberts doesn't answer many of the questions saying that they may come in front of the court. He even hesitated to answer the movies that he likes, before finally yielding.
This guy is photogenic, looks humble and his making a good case in front of senate. I am sure senate will confirm him next week. He will go on to become Chief Justice for decades to come.

Current Wharton Student

I met a wharton student last weekend and spoke to him about the application process. According to him, application readers are pretty busy people, so application has to be crafted pretty well. You should be able to differentiate from other people. Around 75% of the students who apply are pretty serious about the app, so you are competing with some serious people. You should be honest, have clear post-MBA goals, leadership skills and transferable skills to new profession(for career switcher). Leadership skills is not about leading a big organization. But it's about making impact, being accountable and taking responsbilities and executing things to make life better for people around you.
Now I am thinking, if I should really wait till 2007 to apply. I am considering applying in 2006 probably R2 or R3. Just got started Reading for GMAT with BARRON'S HOW TO PREPARE FOR GMAT. My preparation is very slow but atleast I am glad it got started. I am currently reading Richard Montauk's book, it has very exhaustive information about the MBA application process.
I love the process. I want to focus on the application process not on the end result(admission). If I do a good application, I don't need to worry on the outcome. The application process is helping me to identify my weaknesses and already enriching me.

Introspection

I am doing lot of introspection on why I need an MBA. My heart always wanted an MBA and it knows that MBA will open tremendous opportunities professionally and personally. I am doing lot of introspection to rationalize why I need an MBA and how will MBA help me achieve my life's goals. The opportunity cost is scary, two years of loss of pay and 100k in tuition and other expenses.
I am currently reading this book Your MBA Game Plan, this book is written by two guys who made it into top MBA school and they write their experiences. This book gives good insight into the admission processes and how to differentiate yourself from others and it also gives brief description about the schools.
I am going to start my GMAT preparation from today onwards. I first want to go through Barron's GMAT guide.

Success and Values

In life, success is not just defined by achievement. Success is defined by achievement in sync with your values. If you are not working within your values baseline, Success will not bring happiness to you. So, when you set a goal, that goal should be positive and within the realm of your values. Then the success will endure. Success comprimising your values will have short life, will not repeat. It's destined to fail.

Random mumblings

Reading too many blogs and too much information on internet regarding MBA admissions, application and post-MBA carrer prospects have left me with so much information(OVERLOAD), that I decided not to read any more blogs until end of this month. I want to get started on my GMAT preparation this weekend. First thing, I want to take a practice test to understand my strengths and weakness and then go from there.
My work is getting busy, I am trying to move into a different position within the company, lined up some interviews, should know something end of this month.
Sometimes I wonder if ROI from MBA is worth at this age. I am 31, by the time I get into MBA I will be 33 and by the time, I start my Post-MBA career I will be 35. If you strongly believe in yourself and are passionate about your career switch and post-MBA career, I still think it's worth it.

Reading Several MBA blogs

I have been spending several hours lately reading lot of MBA blogs
from http://mbaleague.blogspot.com. Some of the blogs are very interesting and thought provoking. I am kinda of getting a pretty good idea of what B-Schools look for in their MBA applicants. B-Schools basically want people who have clear cut idea of what they want to do, know exactly why they want MBA and how MBA will help them get there.
I was reading some of the statistics regarding selectivity. So In general, though there is a selectivity of 15% percent. People belonging to my category(Indian, Male, Technology(Read IT), there are so many more applicants, the selectivity seems to be 3%. Correct me If I am wrong, this is of particular concern, because people belonging to this category will have more competition as there are more applicants. Comments are welcome. Correct me if I am wrong.

Food for thought

There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent, or control, or hinder the firm resolve of a determined soul. - Ella Wilcox.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream." -- Mark Twain.