The Customised Learning Experience

I realised that I haven't really talked a lot about this quarter and our the elective format at Darden. To start off the quarter has been very different in terms of work load. To a great extent Q3 and Q4 you can choose as to how much effort you want to put in and what you want to get out of the courses you have taken. While some choose to spend 3-4 hours on 2-3 cases everyday and bewell prepared for the class others read the case, apply framaework and are more comfortable learning the rest in class. They utilise the time for other activities such as club roles, case competitions, business planning, entreprenurial ideas or just plain relaxed lifestyle. You definetly can choose your lifestyle based on what you think fit.

Another big element of Q4 are the electives. Most people pick Q4 electives based on what prepares most for their interships while also considering interests. Hopefully the two align. I picked Consulting Process, Entreprenurial Thinking and Data Analysis and Optimisation. Peronally I am very happy with the way Darden curriculum is structured with core courses thorugh first 3 quarters and electives starting in Q4. Even more so on the fact that it is well balanced to give a good general management persective that sets you up well for any career you may be pursuing. On the electives themselves I am very happy with 2 of 3 and reasonably satisfied with the third one.

Recently we also bid on second year courses which are all electives. This obviously means that our entire 2nd year experience including schedules are customised. I think I speak for everyone when I say that its great to be able to design such an experience. You might be wondering as to why we select the entire second year on one go. We had the same concern but realised that its for pure logistical reasons and there are plenty of oppurtunities to switch courses later. I am really excited about some of the courses that I have taken up. Some of the exciting ones I am taking are Bargaining and negotiations, Games and Auctions, Management decision models , Entrepreneurial Finance & Private Equity, Derivative Securities: Options & Futures, Managing International Trade & Investments, Leadership & Diversity through Literature.

I can't beleive that we are in our last week of our first year program. If the first year was anything to go by, next year should be very very exciting.