“Don’t study BMS as a course, enjoy it as a new learning process” says Mihir Babaria, UPG TYBMS Topper 2013

An Interview with Mihir G. Babaria, TYBMS Sem 5 Topper, Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Management

I am Mihir Babaria. A proud student of UPG College. I am a person who loves multi-tasking. I have been a part of various extra-curricular activities. Also I have been a private tutor for 4 years. Currently I am preparing for my MBA entrance exams.

Frankly, I wasn’t expecting a score of more than 80% as I was preparing for CAT and other entrance exams. But as I had classes for FM and SSF, I was able to give more time to theory subjects. First of all, I’ll credit my success to the entire faculty of UPG BMS who made this possible. Also, my parents who constantly motivated me to perform better.

I didn’t start preparing from day one because I was preparing for CAT and other entrance exams. But I used to attend lectures regularly and hence i had a fair idea about all subjects. I started preparing for it just 15 days before the exam after my CAT. As I was comfortable with FM and SSF as I practiced it at regular intervals, I just had to prepare for theory subjects. And 15 days was a good amount of time to prepare as I was clear about the concepts. 

I made a proper timetable for the last 15 days allotting more time for subjects which I wasn’t comfortable with. I used to study for 6-8 hours a day taking breaks at regular intervals. Also, i made it a point that I solve one FM and SSF board paper daily in the last 15 days so I didn’t have to prepare separately for it.

All the theory subjects require conceptual understanding. If you are able to understand the concept, you don’t need to mug up anything. I never learned anything by rote. You just need to explain the same in your own words. Also, all the answers should be written in point form and not essay form. This makes it easier for the person checking the paper to understand what you have written. 

For subjects like FM and SSF, practicing it regularly will help to understand the different kinds of sums and will make it easier at the end moment to revise.

For Case Studies, the golden rule is to write about “the concept which relates to the case and not the case itself.”

What is tested from the case study is how well a student is able to apply a theoretical concept to a practical situation in business. 

If you study regularly from Day 1, then there is no need to join any coaching classes. As I was focusing more on CAT, I had joined classes for FM and SSF which really helped me in the end.

I have consistently been a part of  various college fests and other activities.I was the Vice-Chairperson of my International college fest ‘Aahān 2012’. As a Contingent Leader of my college, I have won “Lashya 2011”, the annual management fest of M.K.S College. Also I have been consistently participating in various management events in different college festivals. College fests help you to put in practice all that you have studied in your subjects in theory.

Also this year, I am a part of UPG College’s Mentorship Programme wherein I am entrusted the responsibility of 10 FYBMS students to guide them in different areas such as academics, extra curriculars, etc.

 It’s the art of managing different things at one time. A student will learn a lot if he takes part in different extra-curricular activities and will help him understand the subjects better from a practical point of view. Hence a BMS student can manage both, studies and extra activities.

I didn’t pursue any other additional course as I was preparing for CAT but I would advise my friends to take up an internship during summer vacations.

It’s really sad that students are taking up such measures for not being able to cope up with pressure. I had a proper plan of what I wanted to do and how much time I need to allocate for it. Because of this, I was never under any kind of pressure and I didn’t ‘study’ BMS as a course, I enjoyed it as a new learning process.

Instead of increasing the industrial visits, the projects should be made more practical so that they provide more exposure and insight about the subject.  These kind of projects help in understanding how the concept is actually applied in practical life and in business operations.

Projects should be made more practical, other than the normal presentations. 

For e.g. in UPG, for Production management, we had to visit a production factory, understand its entire procedure and present on it. Also for Public Relations Management and Human Resource Management, we had to visit a company and explain how that company undertook its PR and HR functions.

PRODUCTION PROJECT – ENTREMONDE PVT.LTD FACTORY

I would just like to wish all the best to everyone who’ll be in TY now. Just focus on your target and don’t let anything deter you from achieving it.

“THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE IS THE WILL TO TRY IT AND THE FAITH TO BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE”

I am planning to do an MBA in finance immediately after I complete my BMS.