Showing posts with label MBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MBA. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Deep quotes

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine forwarded me a short essay/answer he had written in response to a question posed in the business school application for Lahore University of Management and Sciences (LUMS).

Suffice to say, I could suggest no improvements to his masterpiece below:

Why do you want a MBA/Executive MBA degree from LUMS? How will you benefit from it? (maximum 4000 characters)



My motivation for joining LUMS stems from an inherent belief that there are no simple answers in real life. There is never a black or white answer, atleast for all the crucial questions. For those lucky enough to have it figured out, life must seem rather pale. But it is not for me to judge them. I live amongst non-linear roads, ones which wind back on themselves and where the forks in the road do not come with right way or wrong way signs. The only markers are your own judgments.


It is thus imperative to allow your instincts to be honed to meet such challenges. Our value systems and social constructs provide only a blurry view of which choices are better and which not. It is however a characteristic of every society to condition us in a manner that we become compatible with the society’s norms.



Isn't it absolute genius?!

You have to read it thrice to really be able to capture its full beauty. The first time you read it you sort of get sucked into believing its normal since the language isn't particularly jarring in the first sentence. Neither is the central theme particularly ludicrous - basically the guy just wants to be a flexible thinker but is expressing that in the stupidest way possible. Half way into the first paragraph, however, you feel your "what the FUCK is going on" sensation starting to kick in - probably around the time where the writer announces that his residence is third house down the non-linear road. So then you collect your thoughts and read it again, now prepared to appreciate the bullshit for what it really is. I would then urge you to read it a third time because there are some brilliant contradictions in there. Like, the "non-linear roads which wind back on themselves". He's basically telling the admissions panel that he likes going around in circles.

Just great stuff.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Hakuna Matata

Note: Names have been changed in a rather pathetic attempt to protect the identities of those involved.

The
exchange below is again, from a business school forum, and although almost a year old, is still quite amusing. A few points for background information:

1) YayHBS123, a student at HBS, is a really nice guy who has genuinely helped quite a few people through the application process. His inclusion in this post is purely contextual.

2) CantwaittobeYayHBS124 has just been admitted, and is thanking YayHBS123 for his help. While also a decent enough human being, his presence is integral
.

The post itself:
Originally Posted by YayHBS123

CantwaittobeYayHBS124,
Even without my help you would have got in... And now that you are here, do not forget to pay it forward. Very soon, someone is going to ... ask for your help. At that time ... help them with all your energy.
...

Reply Posted by CantwaittobeYayHBS124

Yes Yay,
You're absolutely right.

My favourite movie Lionking says - "In the circle of life.......you should never take more than you give..........in the circle of life!!"

I will remember that.

CantwaittobeYayHBS124

For more, please see this, this and this.

A-weema-weh A-weema weh A-weema-weh A-weema-weh. In the jungle, the mighty jungle...

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Cause and effect

Given my recent immersion in the business school application process, it was only a matter of time before I stumbled upon the various forums that engage in fervent discussion on the abovementioned soul-searching (sucking?) process.

Businessweek and GMATClub are the two most popular, as far as I know, and in addition to providing a wealth of information, they have also served tremendously well as sources of entertainment.

Case in point:

First, some background - the fellow quoted below seems like a perfectly likable chap, but has sadly been subject to a spate of rejections from various business schools. This must have LED to an incredible amount of detailed introspection on his part, because after much deliberation and reflection, this is what he said:

"One of my friends corrected a big mistake I made throughout the applications. The past tense of 'Lead' is 'Led". I have been using 'Lead' everywhere unknown to the fact that I was making a mistake. I thought lead is like read. What a stupidity...
One of the possible reasons for my dings so far."

At first, I laughed. Then, I felt badly. But at the end of the day, all I had to offer was concurrence - what a stupidity, indeed.