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ncp
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My essays are like Biriyani. Updated on: 31 Jul 2007, 16:06
Originally posted by ncp on 31 Jul 2007, 14:40.
Last edited by ncp on 31 Jul 2007, 16:06, edited 1 time in total.
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All you Indian IT types would know what I mean. When I write my essay drafts, they are like biriyani. They seem great and I feel like "Ya, HBS has to take me now".

Three days later, the essays stink big time.

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGH!
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 14:55
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I've written drafts of four essays so far. So far 2 are total garbage, 1 is ok, and 1 is actually pretty interesting but about 50% too long. So ya, off to a rough start. I keep having to remind myself just to get my main ideas down right now, and then I will start cleaning them up. Otherwise I just end up deleting what I wrote.

Also, I would just like to say that I hate 250 word essays. They are too short. Clearly I need to learn to be more concise.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 15:05
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I finished one essay - used a phrase from Lao-Tse to make it sound all happening - sent it to one of my post MBA buddies, His response:

1) there is no 'in the professional frontier', (expletive)...'ON the professional frontier'

2) trading division of the investment banking industry ...LOL

3) economic development of south asia ... ROTFL

4) three phones on the NYSE ... Hysterical

5) Lao-Tse....Premature death due to laughter...

His email ended with the following

"hahahahahahaha..ur essay is a scream....it wins for 'best comedy routine of the year' especially the lao tse lines...am still wiping away tears of mirth....

it has to be TOTALLY reworked...u cn use this as toilet paper....."

Needless to say, I am like a deflated balloon sitting in a corner, no make that, like a plate of biriyani, baking in the sun for the last 3 days.

8-)
.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 15:06
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Sounds too harsh. Send it my way.

edit: Dangit now im hungry.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 15:14
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Is biriyani good? I don't know whether or not I should want my essays to be like it.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 15:20
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aviroop
I finished one essay - used a phrase from Lao-Tse to make it sound all happening - sent it to one of my post MBA buddies, His response:

1) there is no 'in the professional frontier', (expletive)...'ON the professional frontier'
Show more

So what? its a minor issue with language and English proficiency. It won't keep you out of school. Most indians write Till Date everywhere. I notice it every time, and its wrong, but its not the end of the world... Moreover, if you really want to get picky, referring to a career as "on the professional frontier" is probably a little akward whether you say "in" or "on" anyway. Usually theres a more succinct or clearer way of saying the same thing "Professionally... " "From a professional standpoint...." etc.. But even so, at WORST, its an "OK" choice of words to convey your meaning... Nothing serious enough that will keep you out of a school.

Quote:

2) trading division of the investment banking industry ...LOL
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A little bit strangely phrased, as an industry doesnt have a division (companies do), and could be more accurately referred to just as Sales and Trading, but doesn't strike me as especially egregious of a mistake. The only person I know who would really LOL at that would be someone who wants to go into IB or is in IB and is being arrogant. Its not perfect, but no adcom is going to deny you because you refer to an area with less than perfect familiarity.


Quote:

3) economic development of south asia ... ROTFL
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Whats ROTFL about economic development of asia? Seems like a plausible subject to be discussing.

Quote:

4) three phones on the NYSE ... Hysterical
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Out of context, hard to judge.

Quote:

5) Lao-Tse....Premature death due to laughter...
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Probably true, he probably deserved to laugh - Lao-Tse stuff is likely to be a bit cliche - .... but maybe not.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 15:33
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I read my essay and I too felt like laughing.

As an analogy - I think reading my own essay, is like sniffing my own farts - I never get to judge how bad it is.

Only when somebody else smells it and screams so loud that Iowa can hear, that you know that your essay is like your obnoxious flatulence, just like a 3 day old biriyani.

For those unknown to biriyani - Its a north Indian dish made of rice, cooked with spices (red pepper, cumin, saffron), marinated with yoghurt, and served with minced pieces of skewered lamb or chicken and baked potato.

Tastes heavenly - but it raises a stink in your kitchen if you leave it out in the open for too long (2 days or more).
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 15:50
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Now that I've seen one thread mentioning both biriyani and fart on the same page, my life is complete !!!
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 16:37
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Biriyani when presented on nice tableware looks delicious and appetizing! Polish ur essays and over time it will be presentable. Have someone else review it and provide some comments. It's a normal phenomenon and you will be fine when u submit.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 18:07
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Well, lets hope that this time next year, I can say the same to someone else.

sm176811
Biriyani when presented on nice tableware looks delicious and appetizing! Polish ur essays and over time it will be presentable. Have someone else review it and provide some comments. It's a normal phenomenon and you will be fine when u submit.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 18:09
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thanks guys. i ordered in indian tonight cause of this thread.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 18:13
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i'm gonna stop by for some chicken tikka masala on the way home...heh.

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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 18:16
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I am going in for some Indian food tomorrow!!!!
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 18:21
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aviroop
I read my essay and I too felt like laughing.

As an analogy - I think reading my own essay, is like sniffing my own farts - I never get to judge how bad it is.

Only when somebody else smells it and screams so loud that Iowa can hear, that you know that your essay is like your obnoxious flatulence, just like a 3 day old biriyani.
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Dude... I have no idea how you manage to come up with these "deadly" analogies day in and day out. :?: :!: :?:
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 18:26
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Hmmphh... I blame it on GMAT and the app essay - side effects of too many MBA books
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 20:22
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rhyme
thanks guys. i ordered in indian tonight cause of this thread.
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How did you like HIM? :P
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 20:30
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rhyme
thanks guys. i ordered in indian tonight cause of this thread.

How did you like HIM? :P
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Hahahaaahahaaa....LOL... ROTFL... Hysterical... I forgot the rest.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 31 Jul 2007, 22:44
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You guys are a riot! :-D

Now I want Saag Paneer... yum...

these humor threads have definitely taken my mind off GMAT for a bit... :)
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My essays are like Biriyani. 01 Aug 2007, 20:49
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Is this a valid answer to the "Why MBA?" question on essays:

Your marketing plan has succeeded - I've fallen hook, line and sinker for it. An MBA degree from Kellogg has become, what marketing guys would call, an "aspirational product" for me. The tantalizing glimpses of student life, the lure of an Ivy League school and oh that picture of the Chicago skyline from your campus in your brochure.

I want a part of that brand name for myself and I am willing to go to great lengths for it. I've spent lovely summer evenings studying for my GMAT instead of running along the lake, I've been writing essays instead of lounging on my deck with a Corona (another brilliantly marketed aspirational product), I've been volunteering on weekends instead of going for that Simpsons movie. Will my career get a boost from this program? Sure. Will I be challenged and be able to get out of my comfort zone during my two years at Kellogg? Of course. But those are just side benefits of your program; the biggest reason for attending your program is the ability to say Homer Simpson, Kellogg MBA, Class of 2010. I become the brand and the brand becomes me.
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My essays are like Biriyani. 01 Aug 2007, 20:54
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english_august
Is this a valid answer to the "Why MBA?" question on essays:

Your marketing plan has succeeded - I've fallen hook, line and sinker for it. An MBA degree from Kellogg has become, what marketing guys would call, an "aspirational product" for me. The tantalizing glimpses of student life, the lure of an Ivy League school and oh that picture of the Chicago skyline from your campus in your brochure.

I want a part of that brand name for myself and I am willing to go to great lengths for it. I've spent lovely summer evenings studying for my GMAT instead of running along the lake, I've been writing essays instead of lounging on my deck with a Corona (another brilliantly marketed aspirational product), I've been volunteering on weekends instead of going for that Simpsons movie. Will my career get a boost from this program? Sure. Will I be challenged and be able to get out of my comfort zone during my two years at Kellogg? Of course. But those are just side benefits of your program; the biggest reason for attending your program is the ability to say Homer Simpson, Kellogg MBA, Class of 2010. I become the brand and the brand becomes me.
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haha..I wonder whether Kellogg can teach you anything new about marketing :)
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