Hi everyone

1. Company Name: A BPO company which is trying to move into BPM
2. Location: Mumbai
3. Function: Sr Mgr (Corporate Strategy)
4. Any other data which might be helpful
5. Joining Date: First week of May 2013
6. College Name IIM Calcutta
7. MBA Specialization - None
8. Summer Internship Org (and Project): A leading eCommerce company in US with operations in India - Operations project in south India
9. PPO or campus recruitment: Had PPO of 16 Lakhs + 2 Lakhs bonus from said eCommerce company for operations manager role. Rejected the PPO.
10. Lateral Placement: Yes, accepted laterals offer for above corporate strategy role
11. CTC (only if you wish to share ) 23 Lakhs CTC (with 16% variable) + 2 Lakhs joining bonus
12. Previous work experience profile, company and how long you worked: 5 years in media, IT and entrepreneurship

After the experiences of the summer internship, I had a crazily hectic and loaded term IV where I took seven courses (the maximum allowed) in a last-ditch attempt to raise my CGPA for final placements. Having a CGPA above 7.0 puts you in a comfortable position for final placements, and if you aren't above 7.0 by the third term, then the fourth term is your chance to give it one last shot.

The end of term IV pretty much marks the end of competitive academics, since grades in term V and VI don't count towards placement. In these terms, you are free to pick courses you really love, without worrying about grades - or perhaps courses with low workload if that is what you prefer.

Went on the Student Exchange Programme in term V, or 'STEP' as it is called at IIMC. After the wonderful experiences across Europe and a ton of Facebook updates, my two years are almost up, and am in the sixth term now, which is comparatively the most relaxed term at IIMC (or any B-school, for that matter).

Now the on-campus clubs are wrapping up, selecting club heads and handing over the reins to the next batch, while preparing for the new PGP1s who will be part of campus soon. Those who accepted their PPOs or got placed in the Laterals process have little to do, especially since most people take very few courses in term VI. The rest of the students are gearing up for the last remaining challenge, the final placement process, which will hopefully be a fitting end to two awesome years at IIMC.

Brrr. Did I mention that before I came here, I thought it never got cold in Kolkata? We've been having a really cold spell for some weeks now. But the campus is as active as ever.

The last time I posted on this thread was in the first term. It's already the third term, and my last as a PGP1. The PGP2s are enjoying their last few weeks on campus. Clubs and SIGs are being reorganized, with PGP1s taking over. Lateral placements are under way, but this is also the festival season here at Joka. We just got over with Intaglio '12, our business summit. Interesting speakers and challenging competitions galore... er, is this sounding like an ad? I was on team Intaglio and I guess it's still not worn off. Up next in ten days is Carpe Diem, the 'cultural' fest. Loads of fun to come in Feb.

One really cool thing in the past month here was the ICPL, our on-campus cricket league, with matches, auctions and even its own stock exchange. Both faculty and students took part in the matches. Teacher-student interaction is quite high even outside the class, in fact today there was a classy play put up by faculty, directed by students. The auditorium was packed.

Lest I forget to mention, we're also in the middle of the term-III mid-term exams, with one paper to go. Funnily enough, my last update on this thread was also before an exam. Non-academic ideas sure do peak during exam week, don't they?

So here's till next time, because I really must get back to Corporate Finance, where at the end of a chapter on capital structure, Messrs Modigliani and Miller are winning a Nobel for proposing that capital structure is, in fact, irrelevant. Hmm.

My day begins really early (in Kolkata dawn starts at 4:30), and since I'm from Mumbai I'm still getting used to the sun rays lighting up my face when my body thinks it should be dark outside.

We're a few chapters into all subjects, and the first graded tests and quizzes are happening. A week ago we had the Qualifying Mathematics test that I was dreading, but with the effort the PGP2s put in to tutor us facchas (including personal crashers for a handful of us who were having lots of trouble because of being out of touch with math for years) I cleared the Math quiz by the skin of my teeth and don't have to take an extra Math course. I love the co-operative spirit at IIM Calcutta, especially knowing that in the outside world each of us are extremely competitive achievers.

The official time table is not that packed except for two days a week, yet there's always enough to do. For example, we're in the third year of an eight year business simulation game that has taught me more about accounting in two days than my two years at my startup.

IIMC has a lot of interesting clubs to look forward to, but club activity hasn't really started in full swing yet; that's something I'm looking forward to after the PGP2 mid-terms are done with.

A lot has been said about the IIM Calcutta campus, but what makes this place awesome is the people and the spirit. Yesterday I walked into the reception to take a closer look at the receptionist's EPABX machine which I mistook for a strange computer, and I recieved such a warm welcome that the telephone dept head took me through a guided tour of the campus telephone exchange switching system.

Well, this is all I have time for now, as I must prepare for the first Accounting quiz of my life.

I'm in. IIM Calcutta PGP Class of 2013, here I come.

For some reason I was pretty much sure I'd make it. In fact, I wrote a blog post today morning.

on 43 Things

snip - double post