First Year - Things To Do

This is one question really blew me away. I heard this first from a girl who was in her first year at Delhi University. Her question was a simple one.

“I want to join ISB through the YLP route. I understand that I need to create a worthy profile. What advice do you have for me. I am in my first year at <A DU College>”

I kept staring at my laptop screen for 5 minutes. There were no thoughts in my mind. I felt like the universe consisted of just me and my laptop. This was surreal.

Readers would be thinking that I’m exaggerating the situation but I’m not. To me this was analogous to a child practicing how to run so that one day after some twenty years he/she would represent his/her country at the Olympics.

After some time, a flood of ideas came in my mind. Tell her to do this and that. Ooh, I think I should tell her to that thing that I regret not doing. No sooner had I begun writing an answer, I realized that I was giving the wrong advice. I realized that the advice that I was giving may not be applicable to her as it was suitable to my context. Maybe our context were same. Maybe not. The resources I had access to may not be available to her. She could be having access to better resources than I have.

Thus, I gave her an advice that I personally followed in my first year. This advice was given to me by my sister. It helped me. I’m confident that the advice would help you too.

The advice is very simple. Try to connect with your seniors (preferably students in their final year of college) and if possible connect with your alumni. There are many mediums to establish a connection. I prefer meeting people in person. One-on-one. Some may prefer Facebook. Some Whatsapp. Whatever the medium, establish a connection. Meet as many seniors/alum as you possibly can. Try to know what’s happening in their life. What are their plans. How is the thing they are working on right now act as vital step to achieving their goal. After a couple of months, you should have enough data to work with. (Yup. You should’ve expected a consulting jargon coming)

This is a powerful advice. Everyone reading this post is in a different environment with varying opportunities. Also, there is a time difference. The facilities that I had in my first year is nothing compared to what you have. I envy you.

Finally my advice to you, hopeful YLP Admit, currently in first year, is –

Don’t ask for advice. Ask for stories. From people who’ve traveled miles along the path. The path you’re putting your first steps on.

All the Best.