The Five Step Fix : How to get the right courses in Elective Bidding

Studying the average ISBian presents interesting anthropological opportunities. There are various pressures and demands laid on him/her that often induce behavioural patterns that are divergent from what can be safely qualified as ‘normal human behaviour’, a study of which can surely contribute a theory or two to the field of human behaviour.

One such exercise that brings out the quirkiest in the ISBian is the process called elective bidding. Having seen this process closely, I hereby suggest five simple steps by which you can master this process and arrive at the right set of courses.

Step 1:

Figure out which courses match what you want to do with life. This will usually end with the realisation that you have no idea what you want to do life. There is but a pale shadow left of all the glorious plans you mapped in your ISB interview.

In which case, move on to Step 2.

Step 2:

Figure out who the highly rated professors are. This is usually a pointless step that represents a complete waste of time, but one which you will indulge in anyway. Here’s why you are wasting your time.

Professors rated highly will lead you to going to class with high expectations which cannot possibly be met.

Low ratings will lead to you going in with low expectations and thus finding the course ‘decent’. But not good enough to convince you to take up the course.

Both of the above will together bring you to most popular spot in ISB –the ‘neither here nor there’ zone.

Step 3:

Go back to what the alums told you. It is possible that each alum you talk to will give you a completely different set of advice. Take it all in with equanimity and calm.

Step 4:

Take the results of all the above-listed steps. Map them out in a three-by-three matrix. Conduct an in-depth cross-benefit analysis into each course. Attach weightages to criteria mentioned in each of the above three steps. Run it all through Solver, JMP and MEXL.

Step 5:

Find out what your friends are taking and take the same courses.

Sreeram Ramachandran, Class of 2011