Cranfield MBA programme starts on 2nd OCT 2006. But we have a 2 week preMBA programme which tends to help us get acquainted to the 'Cranfield methodlogy', adjust to the lifestyle and basically get to know more about the people n places, if you are new to this place.

WEEK 1 on campus accommodation (Mitchell Hall) :

Have never been through the range of emotions in such a short span of time : the pre-MBA program week 1 was .......er, exciting !?!

Blood pumping fast, sweat dripping from the decisions made and possible outcomes, each member trying to voice his/her opinion on the round table straight out of King Arthur's Circle of Knights, battle lines drawn for a fight to the finish.......the business management challenge was a real chance to reveal our true selves without fear of real repurcussions. It was fun, it was exciting but above all, there was one simple message in the end. ...... there is no coming second. Unfortunately that is what happened to our team with a miniscule margin of a few thousands both times......aaargh !!

During that week, I had to visit my HSBC bank for study loan formalities and so had a lovely trip to Milton Keynes. And that shopping mall ...sort of never ends....and then later on realised that MKC is basically centred around this one shopping mall, the railway station, the theatre and the rink ! Its got everything......and for some more, we have Tescos at Kingston !

Got to know the CSA (Cranfield Student's Assoc.), its drinks, its people, its games and movies.....watched SILENT HILL which was supposed to be a horror but the sound got drowned out by the laughter of beer-happy people ! Joined the gym....realised that there are more girls ( %age wise) in campus than the MBA programme....so thats a relief !

Had the session on Project Management and he's an amazing speaker.....in fact we all tried imitating him in our Globalization presentation.....we are getting there ! Our team management lesson was learnt using wooden planks and how each unit and individual would fit in a streamlined process...a.k.a. we played around with the planks till we found a solution !

Tennis is a beautiful game, especially when we have friends who can lend you their rackets and balls...tennis balls. The grounds are very good for jogging and there are apple trees near Lanchester Hall surrounded by fallen apples.....it is so surreal !

I was staying at Mitchell Hall on a temp basis and have shifted to the village yesterday. Its a good house (3 BHK row house, ground+1) shared by 3 students and bus service every 1/2 hr reaches university in 9 mins.....so reasonably happy. Again, since it is a rural setting, MK is the only place to find fun and decent/inexpensive shopping (including Sainsbury & Tescos).

WEEK 2 at my place

PreMBA Week 2 was slightly more hectic with lectures on Strategy, Accounting, Strategy (the F1 way), Globalisation, etc. plus the usual amount of sports and gym and running around.....avoiding the rain, catching the bus in time, catching the food in time (Mitchell Hall catering which is open to everyone closes at 1930 hrs !!).

Quite some travelling involved in this part of region and for some reason, do not think that bikes (bicycles) are safe here. The road between the university and the village do not have sidewalks and cars go woooshing past.....at night I would be woooshed upon. So am actively thinking of buying a used car (red Rover 214i 1.4L 3 door 1997) which will cost me about 1700 quid (including 600 for INSURANCE.....saale chor govt loag !!) But have fresh resources in my bank from the study loan that I took and .....more money = more spending = more happiness = more will to study/work = more money !

Had a grand last preMBA day PARTY on Thursday evening and man was that great !! And if that wasnt enough, after that party got over at around 2200 hrs, we went over to the CSA where another big party was going on ! So party, party, party all the way......certainly is a good way of knowing the various types of beer and .....lives around. But since am a shy kid, had few beers....and nothing more....see that ring over my head ?

Aur kya, its gettin cooler and for some unknown reason, my room is the coolest....hmmm....may be its haunted.....coz I do hear noises at night.....aww, no that's just me intestines doing salsa !

So that was my preMBA till now....there are many more things such as parties and late nights but gotto rush for now.....have to start preparing for the actual MBA programme and its fast accounting schedule. The next few months are going to be hell, the very reason why the school managment took us through heaven during the preMBA !!

posted by Sanjay Banerjee at 7:44 AM