Back from Hibernation !!

Finally after a longggg break, I am back to blogging...its been 50days at NM....All these days i have been waiting to get a net connection but because of the various issues with net providers couldn't get it done...Now that i finally have Internet ,will try posting each day with all the updates diligently....Will try to write up all the activities which i didn't write all these days in the coming posts :)

Back from the break

Finally after a big break,i get a chance to update my blog .It has been very hectic since the last time i posted.I was off to vizag for a break.Had an awesome time with my friends and family.My resignation has been accepted finally.Joined NM Finally on 14th. will post more about my first week experience once i get my TP.The fact that i am writing this message from a mobile after a two day break speaks of how hectic it has been here

Fate-Destiny-Luck

As Shakespeare said "What fates impose, that men must needs abide; It boots not to resist both wind and tide"

On 22nd ,the ill-fated Air India Flight from Dubai to Mangalore crashed at the Mangalore Airport killing 159 people.As usual Fingers started being pointed at the administration and the various faults present in the system.I am no Aviation expert so I wont be commenting on what should have been done or what not.

I was very moved by the stories of various passengers that I came to know about.One thing that was I able to notice was if we were destined for it ,then there is little we can do.I am not talking about the destiny of us being succesfull or our future.That destiny lies mostly with us,how well we work hard to achieve those,what things we have done to realize those dreams etc.

Let me Quote few of the stories I heard :

- > There was one passenger who was flying to attend his father's funeral.Both he and his brother were supposed to come but they were able to get only one ticket and the younger one suggested that the elder one go first since he was more needed there and he would be catching a later flight.

- > There was one person who lost 7 members of his family and now he has been left alone.

- > A Cabin crew member was on holidays till 24th but he was asked to report 3 days earlier and he happened to board this flight

All these 3 show how unlucky they were and how circumstances forced them to be on this flight.

Now the other side of the coin :

- > A lady who was supposed to board the flight mistook the boarding time to 1pm when the actual boarding time was 1am

- > A person got stuck in traffic jam just outside the airport and he missed the flight narrowly..He might have been cursing the traffic all along but guess his opinion must have changed.

- > A person was not allowed to board the flight because some of his documents were not in order.How much he would have thanked the Security officer after the incident.

- > And finally how lucky were those 8 people that the flight broke exactly at the same place where they were seating and they were lucky enough to escape.

In either of the 2 situations,it was Fate,destiny that decided which way we were heading to.There was nothing much we could have done here.It all depended on the circumstances..These kind of situations increases our belief in God and we must thank him for looking after us well for all these wonderful years we had.

Choki Dhani Trip

On 19th my team organized an outing to Choki Dhani as a farewell to all the mainframe people who would be leaving the account on 28th..It was the last outing I would be having in IBM and more than the fun,I was feeling sad at having to leave such wonderful and helpful people.



Choki dhani meaning "a small beautiful hamlet" is promoted by Rajasthan Tourism to bring to various cities the village life experience in Rajasthan.

The entry fee is 400Rs and we get to see lots of traditional dances,puppet shows,magic shows,lots of games,rides etc etc and of course the highlight being the traditional Rajasthani food they serve.

Entire team had an awesome time,we enjoyed to the fullest,lots of laughter,dancing,jumping,jokes and eating :P This is by far one of the most memorable moments I had in IBM..Thanks to Vikas and Deepa for organizing such a wonderful event.

Admission to NMIMS

Now that I am joining NM in a few weeks time,thought I would write about my Journey from the time of written exam till final admit.

This year was my second attempt at NMAT.Though I had been writing CAT from my college days ,never tried NMAT because honestly I didn't knew about it..My scope during my initial days was very limited.I didn't know which exams were there ,which colleges are the best ones etc etc..The only things I knew was CAT was for IIM's and XAT for admission to XLRI.thats it..

So in 2008 when I came to know about NMAT and the exam pattern,thought I would give a try at it.2008 was the year when I attempted almost all the exams available to get an admit into B-school.

Questions were very easy and it was almost like a speed test.I attempted as many questions as I could and came out thinking I might have fallen short by few marks.As expected when the results were out I fell short by 13 marks ..91 was the cutoff and I scored 78..Took the positives from it..It was my first attempt and I attempted having very little knowledge about the kind of exam it was etc..Of course mistake was in me that I was not up to the mark..So no point in giving excuses..

For 2009 ,when I heard the exam would be online ,felt happy because I knew everybody would be on a level playing field.Previously when the exam was paper based,a few mins here and there in taking the paper at exam centres would mean a big difference as those 3-4 marks might decide whether one qualifies or not..As in online exam all would be having the same time,I was slightly confident.

When I opted for my exam center out of the 5 preferences I gave first 4 as Mumbai with different dates and last preference as Hyderabad..And I was allotted Hyderabad !!

Unfortunately the date of my exam matched with the dates I was scheduled to be on weekend support for my application. But I had a really understanding and helpful team mate in Poonam and she immediately took over the burden of supporting even though it was my turn so that I could concentrate on my exam.

2 of my closest friends Badri and Amaresh with whom I shared this MBA preparation journey had their NMAT exam the day before mine at the same center and they instantly provided me all the details,help they could.

Badri being the ever so caring friend accompanied me to the exam center by waking up at 5 on a Sunday morning for the only reason that I wont be having any trouble going to the exam center.The centre was like 1.5hrs away from the place I was lodging at.We shifted 2 buses,walked 2 kms by foot and finally reached ..I don't know why these people give colleges that are so far off as the centres and this was the only entire for the whole of Hyderabad..

Exam went fine..Was feeling upbeat all during the exam time except during the last few minutes as I was left with many unattempted questions.Unfortunately I had to leave many questions unanswered and this would come back to haunt me.

I didn't expect much from the results after seeing the cutoffs predicted by various coaching institutes.On the day of results this was the message I got when I entered my ID.

NameSUMANTH VARMA G S SWritten Score
(Out of 360)RemarkMaximum ScoreLS
(96)QS
(144)ILR
(120)Total
(360)Sorry, You have NOT been Selected for Group DIscussion & Personal Interview
Minimum Score 53 79 66 233
Marks Obtained 75 83 75 233


I was expecting this but was very sad to miss by just 1 mark.I had earlier missed JMET and SIBM by just .25 marks..Thought my unlucky run is still continuing..In PG forums saw 1-2 ppl posting how come they were not selected even though they had 233 and the minimum mark required was 233.I didn't read much into it but a day later a mail from Pearson came as a good surprise for me..It read:

"

Dear Candidate,

We have reviewed your borderline score and after rounding off the scores, we are pleased to inform you that you have been
selected for GD/PI."

Now this was the first piece of luck I ever had in My MBA Prep.

Though it was good news,I kind of had no hopes because since I had the least possible score it meant I was virtually the last rank...2500 people were called for 300 seats and since NMAT gives 70% weight-age to written score ,my chances of getting a call were next to impossible.NMAT GD/PI was the last interview I had for this year and since I had no chance I went with a free mind hoping I could atleast come down by 500 ranks since I had a good academic record.

GD was decent and PI was the best I ever had..I was able to convince the panel well for the few questions they asked.But then almost all of them had a good PI since there were not asking tough questions.

Finally when the result came out I was surprised to see that my rank moved by more than 2000 places and I had been waitlisted for MBA Core.10 days later I converted my seat.Paid the fees immediately and confirmed my admission.

The entire Journey had been a roller coaster ride.

People whom I have to thank :
Poonam,Badri,Amaresh,Vasanth,Vamsi,Venkatesh

Without their help I would not have converted.

Promises I made that I have to fulfill :

1. Visit Chilukuru Balaji temple
2. Put Badri's pic with me during my stay in NMIMS as promised to him
3. Update my blog regularly while I am at NM

Finally,one thing that stands out is-I feel I was destined for NM.It may not be of an IIM range but seeing the circumstances I feel I was made to come here..

Getting a centre I did not want,Support work on my exam day,having to walk 2-3kms since no transport facility at exam centre,Surprise visit to chilukuru balaji temple,
not being selected initially,getting a review mail later to appear for GD/PI,moving by 2000 ranks in final list,Rejecting my GL convert etc etc..

NM here I come!!!!

Busy Day at work :(

There isn't much work these days in office since our application has been migrated to SAP and we would be released in next 10 days.May 28 is the last date in my current Project.
However I had to stay in office from 9-6 yesterday and again had to work in EST time at Home from 7-12.30am....FTP has been the norm of the day !!

Next week would be an Emotional one..Would be leaving my account after spending close to 1.5 years and having made so many good friends...will miss them all :(

Brief Introduction !!

Here is a brief intro about me before I proceed, so that you get to know from where my ideas take their roots :)

Briefly here it goes :

Currently working at IBM India Pvt Ltd as a System Engineer.Have a work ex of 32 Months.
I am a native of Vizag/Visakhapatnam ,Andhra Pradesh.Have spent my entire schooling,college there itself.Currently in Pune since last 32 months.

Will post each phase of my life in detail later as and when the right moment for it comes :)

First Post :) The Start

Finally after months and months of laziness, I start my own blog wherein I intend to update the things I do daily,My Wish-list,My thought process and take feedback to improve myself.

All this time,I was waiting for the right moment to start and now that I am changing track to do my MBA I felt this was the right time for me to take the plunge into the world of blogging.

I hope I get the time to post regularly..I hear people saying after the first 1 month ,it becomes real hectic with the assignments,exams,quizzes etc.Hoping I do find time inspite of this workload to post