Of the Rodents..Of the Ravaged..Of the Resilient

This is not the place for it. I have 2 other posts lined up that need to be in print. I can't think straight right now . But I had to post.

Its nearly been 24 hrs but the fires are still raging, gunshots are still being fired, people are still missing, dead bodies are still being dragged out, the NSG, army and police are still battling and still the end's not in sight. I seriously do not know if I should be thankful for my loved ones and my safety, if I should be saddened by the grief of the victims and their families, if i should feel sorry or angry at the perpetrators, if I should laugh at or condemn politics and intelligence.
I just do not know what to do. I feel helpless, like million others.

The media has been at it since last night. Yes, we need to stay updated with the latest happenings. But do the perpetrators need to know from where the commandos are going to come in or what's the next strategy or where the top official is at the moment?

Operations are on since yesterday. But I am amazed and scandalised by the fact that a motorboat whizzed past coast guards, terrorists unloaded loads of ammunition ( and even asked some spectators to shut up), walked under CCTV camera, entered secure hotels with suitcases full of ammunition, hijacked a police vehicle...... 12 or so terrorists and a battalion of people fighting them. Still no end?

Its very easy for me to sit here and write. To rant . To get angry. To blame. To see obvious loopholes. But at the field there is a different story to tell.

I'm proud of Mumbai..its resilience..its spirit. Time and again Mumbai has been targetted. And each time Mumbai has bounced back brilliantly with each new day being the first day of eternity.
I know this time round too it will be no different.

I needed an outlet and had to vent. More on Ross and my Cornell Interview debrief coming up later.

CitiAssist Out, so is Duke (for me)

Now with Cornell and Ross in I just have not been able to concentrate and move on with the rest of the applications. As a result, Duke is postponed to Round 2 (a big MAYBE even then). More inclined towards UNC and Notre Dame at the moment.

I feel totally drained out and not motivated enough. Plus work, other commitments, festivities and family keeping me totally occupied.

The latest buzz for international students right now is the discontinuation of the CitiAssist non cosigner loans at Ross and MIT.
My 2 cents on this:
1) The loans stand discontinued from Nov 2nd onwards. And students have been asked to apply before that. The ones disbursed will not be recalled. So I am hoping not too many students are affected by it.
2)Schools will definitely try their best to come up with alternate sources. And hopefully something should be worked out by the next academic year.Else there will be a slump in international applications which will be a huge drop for schools in terms of statistics and diversity.
3) Round 2 in tier 1 schools (esp schools that had non cosigner loans) mite see a slowdown in international applications (mostly Asian). Though total volume will still surge (US applicants and some European will make up for it)
4) A lot of potential applicants will now look at Europe and Asia.
5)One imp. input I got from Owen adcom at the World MBA fair was that their school and certain others have decided to cut down on international students to ensure that finances are available for those admitted. This till now was not really the case with tier 1 schools. But maybe they might rethink strategy.

A lot of uncertainty, a lot of if's and buts out there. Life is not very beautiful right now.

The beginning towards the end.........

I've been part of the blogging as well as the mba aspirants fraternity for quite some time now but have never really penned down my thoughts, progress as far as mba is concerned....
i've read so many mba blogs by now and i realise its a great way not just to help out others and prevent them from making the same stupid mistake but also helps you keep track of ur progress, ur shortcomings and yes blow ur trumpet at the end of the day!!!!!!!!!!

so here goes........................................