I am finally home. After nearly 2 months worth of travelling, hellos and goodbyes, and new beginnings, I am back to square one writing my first blog post and waiting for the next big leap over the pacific.
I am Arindam Das; a Class of 2017 MBA Candidate at UCLA Anderson School of Management from India. I had been working with a steel giant in the country for 4 years until I decided to pursue ‘the experience’. I have been in touch with a number of fellow Bruins and am so looking forward to meeting everyone that my eyes might just pop out like The Mask. But, jokes apart, it has been a nice experience knowing the fellow admits already and I cannot wait to meet the others.
MBA certainly is not a walk in the park...the months leading up to it aren't either. I am just listing a few things I have been up to:
1. Getting the Visa: Starting from streamlining the funding for MBA, waiting for i20 to interviewing etc. I am pretty sure I lost a few pounds until I had my Visa in my hands.
But wait there’s more...
2. Going through the accommodation options: The debate of university housing vs off-campus living went on for ages until I gave up and opted for university housing. The rooms are allotted according to lottery results, (and I did not get through in the first round.OUCH!), and then you start looking for room-mates. If you are too lazy to find one, UCLA matches room-mates randomly. I will share my 2/2 apartment with an Economics PhD candidate. How ‘bout that!!!
3. Facing the family: If you have any idea about Indian families you would know about the Bollywood-style emotional stockpile any parent possesses. No actually they are like the Zeus waiting to use his ultimate weapon. I am pretty sure the time has come when my family will say...
4. Saying goodbyes and many hellos: The next few years will be a blitzkrieg. I figured I will travel and meet my friends before I leave, and so I did! 17000+ miles!!! Thrown among those was the UCLA India Admit Trip (covered in previous blog posts :D) and it turned out to be the best 3-day outing ever.
5. Shopping, packing and delivering: The shopping list is a magical thing; each time you look over it there’s still one item left. Whaaaaat! Now packing all that in 2-3 bags is WAR! Additionally, UCLA Anderson keeps the incoming class on its toes through a series of pre-MBA deliverables, Parker CMC sessions and webinars etc. I have had my hands full and my fingers crossed the whole time.
So, my MBA journey has begun; taken off actually, and I am lovin’ it. In just under 10 days I will be in LA. The big question is...what’s neXt?
