“Giving up is never an option” says Mohammed Yusuf, Wilson College TYBMS Topper 2013

An Interview with  Mohammed Yusuf, 2^nd rankholder, Wilson College (76%)

• Tell us something about yourself

Well I was born in the J.J. Hospital in Mumbai. I have done my high school graduation from our own high school in Dubai. And then I came here for further studies and gain a different experience. Anyways colleges over there were too expensive. I live alone in Mumbai, got a transport and study in Wilson college. The college is a great college. As it is one of the oldest and is the most prominent landmark that adds to Mumbai heritage. The crowd here is very good and all my mates are down to earth and from different classes and cities of the society. There isn’t much mixing as the students focus in their own department of interest. This college has taught me a lot of things. It has molded a person like me in many ways. I had never danced in my life but after coming here, I can copy a little dance I guess. I performed twice on the stage too. My college is the only college to have organized and achieved success in a flash mob for a noble cause “Save the female child”.

• Were you expecting to top in the exams? To whom would you credit the success to?

Nope, honestly I wasn’t expecting to top in my exams though I seriously think that I have got very less marks this time than expected in few subjects. To me 76 isn’t anything great. My mom just cut the phone when I told her about my percentage. I would like to credit this success to my HOD – Dr. Zuleika Homavazir in nurturing my academic skills.

• Did you prepare religiously from day One or A few weeks before the exams?

Well in some theory subjects like Service Sector Management, I didn’t have to prepare much as we were already taught really well in the college itself. Thanks to my HOD for being so effective.

Apart from this, I had made a schedule of 24 days in which I had given 4 days to every subject before the exams and had tried to study a little little everyday. Studying a day before the exams should never be the first time when you open the textbook.

• How did you allot time to different subjects? 

I would suggest that it should be a part of revision and studying new chapters as well.. that is what I find the most effective. I studied for 2 hours everyday in those 24 days before my exams.

• Can you share some insights on how to crack the subjects before exams? 

For practical subjects, I think students should keep their mind set in such a way that they don’t take stress and enjoy solving sums. Practicing is more important too but you can manage that in 2 days. For theory subjects, there is a trick to studying them. It can just be done by reading the introduction of every chapters or atleast the core chapter which actually stands the name of the subject. Even if you study in the end and even if there are more than 500 pages to study for a subject, you won’t find it difficult if your eyes and brain knows what it is gonna read at that time. It is like having the knowledge about how to start climbing and you will eventually be able to climb faster than before.

Case studies are totally based on how you start the answer, the way you write the first few sentences and decide how well you understood why was it given to you to answer it and are you anywhere close to justifying your reasons or the problem in it. Case studies, I feel you should read it properly like minimum twice. And think of what and how the answer should be written. I would say a student should write one answer properly rather than writing anything not close to being perfect by answering 2 questions.

• Do you think BMS student require coaching classes or is self-study enough? Had you joined any coaching class for a particular subject?

No,

BMS students don’t need any kind of coaching only if their attendance is 60-65% or more but if it is anything less than that they might need a touch to climb the first stairs.

I took coaching for Financial Management but even I wouldn’t have taken it I feel the results could have been the same if I would have tried myself. Also I believe it could have been better.

• Did you participate in college fests or extra-curricular activities? Do you think a BMS student can manage both studies and extra activities?

Yes I have been a part of the creative team of our fest ‘Adorea’ for 3 years and also I was the Creative head of our fest “Adorea” for the year 2011-2012. We have taken it to a higher level everytime and today Adorea is one of the fests which people look forward to come for. I had given entrance for C.A. (CPT) in 2011 November. I didn’t pursue IPCC in my 3^rd year as we h ad boards both 5^th and 6^th semester but I feel that yes people can pursue another course alongside BMS only if they are dedicated in it.

• Today, we often come across students committing suicide out of failure, depression or tension of exams. What do you have to say about this?

Students who suicide are a pussy. Anything in this generation is not about much knowledge you have, but how much apply it! And experience and confidence is the only thing you need to move ahead. I feel that there should be more ATKT options and strict correction too. Students should never aim to just pass and suicide is never an option because I feel ATKT is good thing when you make a mistake and you learn.

I feel the colleges should provide the answer sheets after correction, so that every student will know what mistake they had made.

I would like to give this message to the ATKT students: Be proud to fail because when you will get up, you will be better!

• Do you think the number of Industrial visits should be increased for BMS Students? Which industries have you visited?

Yes, IVs should be increased to being twice in a year.

Colleges should keep planning small trips or informal parties to keep the connection with people.

I have visited CIPLA Medical Company and 3 more which I don’t know the names of. Some textile industry in Chandigarh and some power house industries and learned about how the power is controlled in cities.

• What are the future plans post BMS?

I am gonna pursue C.A. or do ACCA – Association of Chartered Accountancy based in UK. I also wanna have a successful hardware (shipping materials business in UAE – Dubai or Abudhabi) so might work to gain knowledge in that field to start a business of my own.