Why B-school is a test of character more than anything else…

Calvin’s dad was right…some things in life need to be endured since they build character. But for those of us who believe we are already well endowed in that department, please head to B-school pronto for a verification test.

 

Take a case in point. One of our professors allows us to grade ourselves on a course. Only caveat, we need to ensure that the normal curve of grades is maintained. In English that would mean, all of us cannot take home a clean A. Some will have to settle for A- and Bs as well. Which of us will blink first and happily trade an exam off for a lower grade? Test of character #1. How we resolved this prisoners dilemma is a story for another day.

 

Another one, our professor grades an assignment and says that the average is too low. He gives us a chance to make up. The caveat – we could put in all that extra work and end up with nothing or just 0.5 more than the original. Test of character # 2. Do we or do we not take up the challenge?  

 

Another classic, placement season has begun and people are scrambling to get CVs prepared, mock interviews and the like. In the middle of all of this, one kind hearted soul sends out preparatory material for the entire batch to prepare. Gosh! What about competitive edge getting ruined and all that? Well, true test of character # 3.

 

I think B-school has changed me. I have stopped viewing situations as black and white. A whole new palette of grays have opened up to be chosen and assigned to the new circumstances we are being exposed to. This is why I think the whole B-school experience is worth it. It adds a dimension to your thinking and makes life so much more interesting.

 

As an aside, getting the K vote this time is Prof Henry Moon’s farewell speech to the class. Also, the absolutely fabulous end-term presentation in rural marketing by fellow blogger Preeth. Another K-cheer going out to those dean listers who also manage co curricular activities and academics. You guys define the ISB spirit of balancing acads with fun. Rock on guys!

 

The K squat score gets slapped onto the no-break-between-terms weekend between Term 5 and 6 and in fact Term 5 racing to a finish even before I could blink and say “whoa…” (I know! I know! This too is supposed to build character)    

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