the plot - X's interview debrief
the set - a coffee shop with a grand old man playing a grand old piano and singin some good ol' songs in the background
the protagonists - A - the alum, X- yours truely
the scene - A greets X with a smile and a wave and tht automatically put X at ease. They start off discussing X's current work, organization and A tells X a bit about A's organization and similar experiences. Then A wants to know more about X's resume, basically education .. and then ask's X about X's background. A get back to the resume and gets to know a bit more about X's work and then finally the zillion $$ question - WHY MBA? X gives the reasons, but A wants more.. X gives more but A gives alternatives and is not convinced. X negates the alternatives and sticks to X's stand. Finally A says lets get back to it later.
Then A wants to know more about certain experiences of X.They discuss it at length.A finds X unconventional and delves pretty deep into X's experience. A asks X to check up a couple of interesting ventures and suggests a good read.A then asks X what friends/peers think of X and wht weaknesses X would like to improve on in the MBA. Here X stumbled a bit when A asks for an example. Then A comes back to the then zillion and now gazillion $$ question WHY MBA? X reiterates, gives some more concrete reasons but A is just not ready to part with A's money!!! A wants to know about X's career goals and although no where does A expliciting ask WHY Cornell , X does keep mentioning it throughout.
Finally after 90 mins A and X decide to part ways. Surprisingly A is not interested in knowing more about X's leadership experience ( or did A get it all when X was talking about experiences), team work, other schools X is applying to and the other general questions.
A makes an unusual request and says A might want to meet up with X again later since X has given A enough food for though (these are not A's words). X is a bit perplexed ( is this another litmus test??!!!) but absolutely fine with meeting A again.
As X walks off the stage X is happy that X was not nervous, it was a good conversation and irrespective of the outcome this meeting has given X a huge boost of confidence. ( X has practically nil interview experience)
Now X is back to obsessing over the 5 recommendation status', will A want to meet X again and discuss further and the charred remains of WHY Mba.
****the curtain***
21 Nov 2008, 14:47
Might want to meet you again later - huh?! 
(kidding of course 
) 
