My college not only offers classroom studies but also what is needed beyond classrooms, says Sameep Santosh Bharane

I was interested in Science and typically (Biology and Chemistry) since the very beginning. Coming from a family background of Science graduates, I was more eager and enthusiast to pursue Science as a stream. After doing my Masters in Biochemistry,  my aim was to consolidate my post-graduation in Biochemistry.  I searched around for a couple of courses and arrived at a management programme that connects the best with my background qualification. I thought I had sound technical knowledge but management knowledge is as important because any relevant industry that I am going to work for is all about ‘business’. I’m a Biochemistry-qualified person, so the MBA in Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Management is an obvious choice.

To know how a business is handled, one must have management knowledge and MBA is the perfect course to improve and polish yourself in the area of management.

MBA not only teaches you about business or management but it also teaches you about team building, teamwork, managerial skills, decision making, communication skills, leadership skills and many more.

I found out that there are three colleges in Mumbai which offers courses that I was looking for. Among these, IES Management College and Research Centre is the pioneering institute. While searching for colleges and courses,  I visited the websites of colleges, also read the faculty profiles, placement records, infrastructure and  collaborations of the colleges. I chose IES MCRC because the atmosphere and environment of the college is very magnificent and of course, the placement support, which is 100 per cent. IES MCRC alumni, over the years, are well placed across the pharma industry in leadership positions. Then after doing this short research,  I applied in IES MCRC. 

And, personally, for me, IES has a very special place in my heart. My mother is a School Teacher at IES Secondary High School, Marol. So with a deep sense of attachment came to IES MCRC,  which provides' value addition through education'.

I appeared for different qualifying exams such as CAT, MBA-CET without any coaching classes as one of my friend is an MBA graduate he guided me about the entrance exam. Then I started preparing for my exams by even taking help from Youtube, solved past papers and giving mock tests online. This strategy boosted my confidence and helped me in cracking the entrance test. Simultaneously, I started preparing for GD and PI. After applying, I got a call for GD/PI. I was quite a bit nervous because I was giving it for the first time.  I performed well managed to clear both and later on I got a notification of my selection in IES.

I started preparing for my exams by even taking help from Youtube, solved past papers and giving mock tests online. This strategy boosted my confidence and helped me in cracking the entrance test.

Preparing for GD/PI was the most difficult and challenging part. I had to overcome the fear of failure. My method was just Practice, Practice...& Practice!!! I visited websites to get an understanding of current affairs and social matters. I did pretty well in GD which made me feel very confident in PI that followed.

We spend our whole day in college as we have two hours of lectures, so we hardly get any free time. But the college offers you a state-of-the-art library to read books, journals, magazines. There are self-learning courses, leadership and training modules that enhance students’ personality.

We have different subjects such as economics, accounting, business environment, marketing, sales management. In the extra-curricular activities, I was the head of the Technical and Creative Team for ‘INSIGHT 2019’-Annual Pharma and Healthcare Conference, organised exclusively by the students. The designing of posters, banners, brochures, promotional campaign was executed with great precision by my team. Organising events of this magnitude gave me live experience in strategic and operational areas. The promotion of INSIGHT in under-graduate colleges brought hundreds of students from pharmacy and science colleges. They could eventually become future students for Pharma MBA at IES MCRC.

I also participated in intercollegiate competition and attended seminars that are organised by the college. These provide a chance to interact with the most eminent leaders from the industry. If given a chance I would like to work in my dream company, interact with people, networking, learn new things, face new challenges.

Before being a part of IES MCRC I didn’t have a chance to interact with the people or take part in activities such as outbound training. These have helped me build my personality, team-building skills, teamwork skills, communication skills, decision-making skills and leadership skills. My college not only offers classroom studies but It also offers what is needed beyond classrooms such as live projects, seminars, case studies, CII Yi membership and many more.

I am starting my internship in Alembic Pharmaceutical limited, a leading pharmaceutical company. This is the stepping stone for my career because it will give me three months of work experience and an opportunity to develop my skills and to connect with the corporate world. I aim is to get the PPO (pre-placement offer) from this eminent organisation and to work with them to enhance my knowledge in the corporate sector.

About the author:

Sameep Santosh Bharane is a student of PGDM in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Management at IES Management College and Research Centre. He also holds a Masters degree in Biochemistry from SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce. Sameep has a keen interest in information technology, learning new things and likes to face new challenges.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha