Chennai PG meet #4

Should have blogged on this yesterday . But couldn't find time coz I got back only at 11:30pm . So , better late than never .

Attended the 4th Chennai PG meet yesterday . For the uninitiated , PG is the shortform for http://www.pagalguy.com , an online forum for the CAT/MBA junta . It was created by this guy called Allwyn , who goes under the nick Pagalguy , or PG as he is more fondly known on the forum . I heard about this forum from my classmate Deepak ( aka DK )who was a member . Was pretty sceptical about it , till Girish ( aka : oxymoron ) told me its pretty useful for those serious about prepping for CAT . I joined around August last yr , and I can confidently say its one of the best decisions I ever made .

The thing is , for those who don't have a regular CAT study group , or whose study group isn't that motivated , PG.com provides an excellent opportunity to share CAT info , and benchmark yourself against some of the best brains in the country . I still remember , after every Sim/Mock cat , I used to rush home and log on to PG.com , and see how the others had performed . After sometime , you kinda knew who the "studs" were , and I used to start benchmarking my scores with theirs . I must say , its this benchmarking that really pushed me to score higher in my sims . I used to put all my effort into trying to pip certain ppl in the forum .

Pretty soon , the forum started yielding other benifits , as I started meeting ppl on the same "intellectual wavelength" as me . This is not some eletist superiority mentality that Im trying to project , but Im saying that I met ppl who shared the same interests that I did . All of us were interested in becoming something in life , in making something of ourselves . All of us wanted to crack CAT and make into the hallowed halls of that "The Indian Institutes of Management " . All of us were willing to work hard to achieve our goals . Don't misunderstand what im saying . I love hanging out with my college buddies , who have been like my family for 4 yrs . But discussion with them usually veers around " Macchan , check out the mayo " , or "Macchan , princi is an ass da " or " Macchan , X babe is going out with Y guy , after dumping Z loser " . The PG group was more fucussed on the singular objective of achieving something in life .

Pretty soon , we started issuing feelers to ppl in the same city , suggesting a meet of some sorts . The first one happened last yr , and there were only 5 of us . I shall always remember that day , coz we were latti charged by cops at IITM , during Saarang .

After that we've had 3 more meets , the last of which was yesterday at Bessie ( as it always is ) . We keep going there under the mistaken notion that some "Mayos" may show up nd brighten our day . They usually don't . But you know what - it really doesn't matter , coz the discussion we have are incredibly " Intellectually Stimulating " , if I may use that term .

For example , yesterday arnd 9 of us showed up . We did some idle chit-chat , moved onto Planet Yumm , and then hung arnd outside for an hr . Gugs was giving some gyan to some freshers , interested in knowing some strategies for CAT . Meanwhile Girish , Prashanth , this noob Pradeep and I had this amazing discussion on " Should UG Acads be included as a selection parameter for the IIMs " . I can honestly say, , that what followed was a debate of the highest quality . There were no winners or losers in the end , but the sheer quality of ideas exchanged was so high , that it was a privilege to be a part of it . I must say , exchanging ideas with your peers , who are on the same intellectual wavelength as you are , is indeed a pleasure .

I had a blast yesterday . Idle chit-chat , MAYO gazing , intellectual debates , PG meets always have something for all senses . I shal definately miss these meets when I pack up and leave for IIMB next month . But Im sure Ill be part of 1 more before I leave . We've only had 4 meets , but we are already like bum pals . Im looking forward to the next one . All you CAT aspirants who read my blog , make sure you register urself at pagalguy.com . Its worth it . Itll definately help keep you motivated and psyched up to take CAT head on . All the best .

da STIFFmaester