How I stayed motivated through several rejections to finally start my life at IIM Jammu -By Shreyansh Sangwan

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I vividly remember the day I received my admission offer letter from IIM Jammu. The email I received on 21 July 2020, was titled “IIM Jammu Chairperson”. I carefully opened it and was ecstatic when I realised that I had been accepted by the premier institute! The induction program was to take place two days later on 23 July, and I was overwhelmed to finally start my life at IIM Jammu. 

The induction program helped us understand the curriculum we would follow, and how our course would flow over the next few months. We also underwent a committee selection process. The entire experience felt surreal for it was quite a journey to finally be accepted by the institute. 

The feeling of being waitlisted

Back in April of this year, several offer letters from IIMs across the country were being circulated. To my disappointment, I was not able to secure an offer letter. I was waitlisted by IIM Jammu and IIM Visakhapatnam, which left an unexplainable void within me. However, I picked myself up and started to pursue my passion for UX designing. 

After several interviews, I finally landed a job with Sovereign Wallet Network as a UX designer. The work was very exciting and I thoroughly enjoyed the autonomy I had over my responsibilities. There was definitely a learning curve at my new job, but within no time I was at par with my colleagues. The environment of transparency and communication helped me work better at the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector. 

One fine day, I received an email at work titled “IIM Jammu Chairperson”. There it was on my laptop screen, an invitation to finally start my life at IIM Jammu. The offer letter drowned me with happiness, followed by immense confusion and reluctance to leave my current job. It was a tough choice, but I finally decided to pursue my MBA dreams. 

My life at IIM Jammu

The moment I started my life at IIM Jammu, I realised there were several drawbacks within me when it came to my knowledge of business skills. Realising my weakness and understanding that only a premier institute could help me overcome them increased my excitement towards the journey ahead. The first task I did after accepting the offer was to submit the fees for the first trimester, which I proudly did from my own savings. 

Considering classes took place virtually, we were provided with sufficient material to understand important academic concepts relating to business, management, and administration. The process of being absorbed into Microsoft classrooms, email threads, and WhatsApp groups was quite smooth.

Along with attending our classes, we also underwent the selection process of placement committees to grasp the essence of life at IIM Jammu. The selection interviews stretched late into the night, with my own interview being conducted at 3:00 am on the night of my birthday. Trust me when I say this, giving interviews on your birthday is a weird feeling! There is no better word to describe it, but thanks to my lucky stars I seamlessly sailed through the process. 

I won’t lie when I say I joined the life at IIM Jammu to experience the face-to-face interactions everyone talks about. Surprisingly, these online classes have been a one-of-a-kind experience to which I have become used to. The convenience of jumping between virtual classrooms from the comfort of my bed, and managing my time by reducing travel time is a silver lining to the entire process. 

Make the most of your MBA journey

In these few months, I have learnt several lessons that have enabled me to make the most of my life at IIM Jammu. To start off, joining a student committee, preferably a placement committee, is extremely beneficial as it helps you get directly involved with some of the most crucial processes of the campus. 

Pursuing an MBA is all about learning from one another, so don’t be shy to upgrade your skills by talking to your peers. At the same time, educate others on the tips and tricks you learnt during your tenure at corporate, as it helps everyone understand the latest trends in the industry. 

My life at IIM Jammu would be incomplete without attending webinars. Make sure you register for all the guest lectures and webinars that are hosted by your college, as it helps you upskill yourself. Having an IIM tag does not mark the end of your journey, it only pushes you to set higher goals for yourself. So stay focused, make goals, and keep learning!