The Cat and Mouse Race

A couple of nights ago, to celebrate the weekend, 7 of us sat together and played Poker. The game was interesting and went on till about 3:30 in the morning. We were all hungry and wanted to wait till Thadambail opened. While waiting for time to pass somebody remarked on the fact that how an MBA can change your life. One thing led to another and we ended up at the topic of CAT going online when my batch writes it. That's what 'the race' is about and I wanted you all to think about the difference this will create. In the last few years the CAT has been referred to as the most competitive exam in the world. With percentages of people getting in with respect to the number of people attempting very low, its supposed to be harder to get in to an IIM than to any of the Ivy Business Schools. So since, the CAT is going online next year, we were discussing what all the pros and cons of this would be. For one it is easier for the organisers to hold it because it will cut out the labourious and expensive tasks of transportation and correction. One of the more important aspects is that there will be no more of paper leaking and other unscrupulous things figuring in the scheme of things. The test is to follow the adaptive pattern that GRE and GMAT follows, except that a score will not be given immediately after the end of the test. It remains to be seen whether the percentile system will still be used, because technically percentile talks about the number of people you did better than in a particular test. Since everybody does not take the same test, percentile may not be apt. The adaptive pattern has its own advantages and disadvantages. It's better than the written paper in a sense that its more accurate in testing a person's intelligence. But, it also depends on the first few questions, so if someone screws up there, it might not be the best test for him. CAT has always been about speed and time management. Nobody knows how this will work. With the adaptive system you cannot comeback to or skip a particular question, so it might not be about speed anymore. Besides this, there is the psychological feeling about being more comfortable with a pen in hand and solving a paper than clicking answers on a mouse. I want to know what's your take on this, do you think the online system is better? or its better to have the good old pen and paper test. Will the 'cat race' be any different once you have to use the mouse to catch the CAT? Only time will tell.

Whats up?

It has been a bit more than a week since I got back to college. Lots of changes. For one, it is a bit of mixed emotion when you think upon the fact that you are a third year. The upper half of college, you have 2 batches below you, all that is fine. But it also happens to be potentially the most difficult year academically, not just because we might have more classes or anything, but just because people tend to take things a lot more seriously and by that they really step up and I might have to actually put in some effort to get through the semester. On other fronts there is a lot of anxiety. Club recruits, Basketball team, a new La Liga season, amongst many other things. There are some changes in college. Placements are going haywire. Bad combo of recession + Shastri in charge. Scares me what will happen this time next year, but then again that's a whole year away. Elections are approaching and the politics and all other nonsense that goes along with it have already begun. It is shocking what people can do to obtain fame, power and some underhand money. Basketball practice has started way before it has in previous years. Of course we miss Singh, but i think the team will go far this year as well, we're a closer unit than ever before. Coming down from home food to mess food is a hard task semester after semester. Usually what helps that process are the other eating options in and around college. That's been a disaster this year. NFC has some weird self service system, 3rd block canteen hasn't started yet, Kalash has gone under project renovation, and Amul samosas have lost their charm owing to them being duped of 18 grand last year from account debts. But such stabs are always expected, and that is what makes this place as lovely as it is. It feels great to be 'home'. Second year was full of events, some insignificant, some life changing. Third year only promises more, and hopefully ends up just as good.

Summer, Sports, Spain, Stomach aches.....

Its been quite an eventful last couple of months. And as i prepare to head back 'home' in the next couple of days, I was beginning to think of how great this summer has been. I have done things that I never have or would have before. In the world of sport a lot of things new have come, seen and conquered. Here is the story of the summer of sports,Spain,stomach aches,and some other things.

Summer is supposed to be that time of the year when we get back from college for two months absolute bliss away from college. This was the case for the first few days. Mom's food, Dad returning back to India for good, brother finishing his first hurdle of Class 10, makes for the perfect family time. After a while the repetition to life kicks in. This is where I started getting into some good habits like reading,blogging and gymming. Yes, these were the above mentioned things that i would have never normally done. But I'm happy that I finally have started. A formality project was done, although Poston was a great person to listen to. He has got infinite knowledge about anything under the sun and he speaks with a lovely smooth Brit accent, which makes it a heavenly combination to be audience to. And the crowd there was actually fun, contrary to what I imagined it would be.

In the world of sport, there are some major changes. What must be noted here is that we had something to keep us going all the time. IPL to start off with made sure no night was boring. And then the Euros and eventually Wimbledon. Spain deserves a mention here as the country that takes all the limelight in the world of sport this summer. Deserving champions of the Euro, they were a sight to watch for one and all. And if that wasn't enough, Rafa goes on to do the unimaginable - beat Fedex on Centre Court in the finals. What a great match that was. To call it the greatest match we have seen in a long time would be apt for a match of that standard. After 2 awe-inspiring sets from Nadal, only a man of Federer's calibre could have taken in to the final set. But it was seen that Nadal was the hungrier of the two and definitely deserves the trophy.

For some strange reason, I have suffered with stomach aches once too often these holidays. The latest of which occurred at the end of my trip to Pune and Mumbai. I spent just one day in Mumbai, and that was enough for me to realise that, that is not a place for someone like me. the city is just too big. Just the fact that one day was filled with horrible weather, getting ripped off by taxiwala, travelling in local train to one of the satellite towns which was in the news that day for a website promised free money to everyone who came there (Angry mob, Stones thrown, Policemen, Lathi Charge and what not), God level Vada Pav and Pav Bhaji, made me realise that this city is just too busy for me. Pune was a lot better. It reminded me of what Bangalore was 5 years or so back. Pity that they don't seem to realise and are headed the same way to see the city grow to a mess. Sincere thanks to Ranga,Krum,Ani,Shambavi,Mugdha,Sameer and Shaky for making our trip so memorable.

As a interesting third year of college awaits me, with possibly the most screwy semester with reference to academics, the first time the basketball team plays without Hardeep, an interesting football season ahead with all the transfer rumours about Ronaldo and Real, I cannot wait for what is to come after what has been a summer to remember.