Let me start by telling you that it is quite an experience. It has both positive and not so positive effects. But its all worth it, I am talking out of my experience so this may be slightly case sensitive, you can choose to ignore the parts that are not relevant.
I am an advertising personnel for the past 5 years and was keen to add a few relevant letters on my resume (read MBA). I was contemplating for the past four years. Infact three years back I took the CAT, which could (if I did well) get me into one of the most esteemed schools in India, the IIMs. I did OK, but OK was not good enough for the best schools in the country. So had to drop my plans that year. After that I actually moved jobs and came settled into Ogilvy Mumbai. Got into the job and forgot all about my studies, till last year, that's when it started troubling me like something stuck between my teeth. So I started hounding my bosses for a long leave, and since I hadn't taken one, I had every right to ask for a long leave. After a lot of contemplation and postponing, I finally got my leave starting Nov 19th.
Well, I guess, you would be wondering why am I giving you all the gyaan about how I got my leave and what is the history to my taking the exams etc, but the point was to give you a quick view of the mind set with which I went into my preparation.
I studied for six weeks. My very strong recommendation... One doesn't need classes and private tutors to teach you, especially stuff that you have learned at some point in your life. This time is to refresh your memories of whatever you learned in school college etc, and take my word for it, its not so difficult. Just give it a concentrated effort and you can rest assured you will get a grip of everything. In terms of time spent of various things, I spent about the first half week unwinding, the next two and half weeks for brushing my basics and the final three weeks taking tests etc to prepare for the final test.
I could have written about how I prepared etc, but neither am I an expert, nor am I wanting to write about that. I wanted to share with you the softer side of studying after you have been working for sometime.
I think these six weeks were when I enjoyed studying most. I enjoyed refreshing my memory of all that I had forgotten and take my word for this, it was damn exciting. Initially, to get answers right, I would even hear myself saying "I am not bad yeah!" Over the course of time I figured my levels and had in my mind built what I was expecting from my test. Its a different thing, I didn't really match-up to my expectations of myself, but that's a different story, am keen on working towards bettering my scores.
After the test, while I have to start the process of applying to schools etc, I have resumed work and it all seems so new and different. New because I have been out of touch for six weeks and a lot has happened in this period and different because I just about got used to having such a different lifestyle, void of traveling everyday, not dealing with crisis every next day and most importantly having the luxury of doing things at my own pace. I am working towards getting comfortable with my original lifestyle but honestly speaking the one thing that I really want to do more now is study. Learn more. Learn something new, whether it comes from faculty at a school that I join or from newer roles at my place of work.
I would like to conclude with saying that studying after a long time at work is tough, just as much as people make it out to be, but the experience is enriching. The opportunity of learning new things is extremely exciting in itself, its the same as joining a new job with an exciting profile.
Here's Wishing anyone who plans to take up studies, All the Very Best.
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