Day 1 and first impressions

It's a funny feeling starting school again only a couple year after graduating from undergrad.

As I stepped onto campus this afternoon, I felt those initial jitters that you get from starting in a new and unfamiliar place, even if that place is situated within your own home country. This group is probably the most international gathering of people anywhere in Singapore and you can hear it already with so many different languages mixing in the hallways. For once, I'm a minority in my own country and it's a very eye-opening experience.

The INSEAD campus is really quite modern and functional. Lots of wide corridors and areas for people to meet as groups to work along with landscaped courtyards to just chill out in. I've been very impressed with the facilities thus far although I'm still finding my way around. If only the One-North MRT was open, it would make my commute to and from home SO much more convenient. Currently it takes me more than an hour door to door which is a bit of a hassle. The station itself looks almost done but it looks like the line itself will only open after I graduate. Pity really.

As with most "first days", there were quite a few forms to fill up and admin type things to take care of. For most people who left their previous jobs only just a week or two ago, this must seem like a holiday for them. But for those just coming from an extended time off from work (like myself), it's a big step up to the hustle of having to juggle multiple things again.

The opening remarks of course included the customary welcome and the big pat on the back for getting admitted. No big surprise there really. I can't imagine any school welcoming their students by actually saying:

"Guess you guys couldn't make it somewhere else so you're here huh? Hope you have a good time here anyway."

A fellow course mate of mine pointed out how funny it was that the Dean of the program and of the school kept bringing up HBS from time to time even if it was to make a joke or to bring up a point.

"We just had to admit them (50+ Indian nationals) here... we couldn't let them ALL go to Harvard now could we?"
"We have over 30 countries with >100 alumni, HBS only has 12" (I personally found that hard to believe)

I guess at the end of the day, everyone still reveres HBS as the #1 business school in terms of brand recognition but it does seem odd that the Dean would mention HBS so many times in his opening remarks. I doubt that at HBS class opening ceremony they even bother to mention other business schools. They're confident in what they have to offer and are extremely proud of it.

INSEAD's already done a fantastic job of differentiating itself and that's one of the main reasons why I'm here. I believe in the value of having such a diverse student body to journey with this coming year. Doesn't hurt that it's a 1 year program instead of 2 and that I can partake of it in my own "backyard". I know it's going to be intense but I fully intend immerse myself fully in the experience and see where it takes me.