Why I chose FMS over IIMs: Sayak Guha

FMS, Delhi

I chose Science as my course of study in school out of interest. I wanted to pursue Engineering not out of family pressure, but rather as something which interested me. During my graduation and through various other extra-curricular pursuits, I realised that working with people and leading teams is something that played to my strengths. Hence, I decided to pursue an MBA from FMS, one of the premier B-Schools of the nation. Also, I believe that I am more suited to be a driver of change than a follower hence MBA tied up with my long-term goal of running my own business as well. Having almost completed my 1^st year, I feel strongly that I made the correct decision. MBA seems to be the correct fit for me and I hope to embark on a successful career. At FMS, I am associated with the Entrepreneurship Cell, thus aiding alumni to setup their own ventures and learning about the start-up culture of the nation which I wish to contribute to someday.

How I cracked college admission

I sat for the various MBA entrance examinations such as CAT, XAT, IIFT etc. with CAT being my priority. I scored 99.59 percentile in CAT 2016 and received calls from FMS, IIMs and other notable B-Schools of the nation. Having had acceptance from IIMs as well as FMS, I decided on my institute keeping in mind various factors such as history and reputation of institute, batch size, location and ROI. During preparation I had enrolled in the GDPI program of CL which I found to be useful and informative. Having always been comfortable in speaking to various audiences because of my background as a musician, the GDPIs of institutes never scared me. I was confident in my ability as well as had faith in my preparation and hence was able to get into the institute of my choice.

It provided me with a great deal of clarity of thought which I feel is essential when one pursues a course like MBA. Overall, the experience was great and I am thrilled to have ended up where I am today.

What I gained from my college experience

As with all premier MBA institutions, college time encompasses a variety of activities, covering academics and additional roles and responsibilities. In terms of academics, I feel a strong inclination for Marketing and will pursue my major in the same. However, I also enjoy learning about IT Management and particularly with its rapid growth, I feel that it would be a dominant domain for many years to come. However, I enjoy attending all classes as getting to know about the various facets of business is a very enriching experience and something I wish to learn as much about as possible. I have been a performing musician for 10+ years and have continued musical performances in FMS as well. Along with that, I am an elected member of the Entrepreneurship Cell of FMS, Delhi. With the long term aim of starting my own venture, I felt that this was the correct society for me to be in. It has been a wonderful experience so far, being a facilitator for alumni of our institute and aiding them in their quests to be entrepreneurs. The learning curve has been steep but extremely enjoyable and gratifying. This has been the first occasion when I have left my home for an extended period of time. So, the opportunity to interact with some of the brightest minds from all over the country and from various cultures has been amazing. Along with that, the rigour of MBA life has been a huge motivator to improve myself and keep up with my peers.

Being a student-driven institute, I understand the important responsibilities which I will continue to take in the senior year and look forward to the challenges yet to come.

About the Author:

I am Sayak Guha from Kolkata. After completing my BTech, I am now pursuing full-time MBA from FMS, Delhi. I am also a musician, having been an onstage performer for 10+ years. I enjoy challenging myself to improve constantly and am passionate about being a driver of change, rather than a follower.