MBA 2014: 7 items to pack for your B-school

The Class of 2014 is soon going to join their respective B-Schools. This is an important moment for all the fucchas (new MBA students).

As you gear up mentally and emotionally to take the rollercoaster ride called MBA, we decided to compile a list of must-pack items.

To get a realistic perspective of what to carry and why, we spoke to the following graduates:
Mohd Farhan from IIM Ahmedabad, Sumukh Bharadwaj from IIM Lucknow, Megha Sharma from XLRI Jamshedpur and Abhishek Tripathy from IIM Ranchi. All the above four are first year students of PGP batch 2013-15.

Here’s a list of seven must pack items according to these four MBA students:

1. Time machines

Clocks. Big clocks, small clocks, loud clocks. Clocks on iPads, tablets, smartphones. All kinds of time machines are a necessity.

“With certain compulsory attendance requirements and regular late night sessions, you cannot afford to miss classes. I had four blaring alarm clocks to shock me out of sleep,” admits Sumukh.

2. Attire

Business attire (suits, white shirts, ties, formal skirts) is a must. While management colleges specifically instruct new students to carry formal clothes, others expect you to know it. “Formal attire is not just a placement interview necessity. At the beginning of the class, we have group and individual photo sessions. Students are required wear formal suits even then,” says Sumukh.

“Shoes are very important for MBA students. Women candidates tend to pass-off a single pair of shoes with every dress – be it saree, suit, skirts or denims. Please carry a pair of formal shoes along with your casual footwear,” says Megha Sharma.

3. De-stress

“First-year MBA classes are quite stressful. So carry anything that helps you de-stress,” says Mohd Farhan from IIM Ahmedabad.
“It could be anything – from a photograph of your family to your favourite movie or TV show,” adds Sumukh.

4. Internet and computer accessories

“Though the IIM Lucknow hostel has a good Wi-Fi connection, some students prefer to have their own routers for extra speed,” says Sumukh.
Other items that you might consider carrying are: LAN cables, extension cords, pen drives, hard disks etc.

5. Fiction books

“It’s a good idea to carry lots of fiction books to the campus. Agreed, every management college has a well-stocked library. But it’s always better to carry a copy of your own favourite novels,” says Sumukh.

6. Snacks

Stocking up on some mid-night snacks is something all the four agree upon. “Our campus is at a little distance from the main city. Though there is a mid-night dhaba, it is a good idea to stock up some quick munchies,” says Abhishek Tripathy from IIM Ranchi.

7. And every other item...

“B-schools are generally well-equipped and provide good facilities. So even if you miss out on any item, don’t worry. You can always take a trip to the nearest shop and pick up the essentials,” says Farhan. “But what you shouldn’t forget are your essential documents, laptops and tablets,” he adds.