ALL POSTS BY: Venkataraman Viswanathan
Education in India and the US: Top 10 differences
I’ve done all my schooling, from grade school through my undergraduate Engineering degree, in India. As such, I am quite familiar with the system of education there. After a semester of studying here in America I have noticed several differences between school here and in my home country.
Of course, I’ve never attended graduate school or business school in India, so some of my observations are like comparing apples to oranges, but overall I think these are the most obvious (and interesting!) differences:
- University structure – Owen is just one part of a huge university offering various courses and houses a renowned medical center on campus. This gives me the option to pick up courses from various other schools, such as the law school.
- Diversity – The diversity in the classroom here is quite an experience in itself. My education in India lacked the kind of diversity Owen offers and I find it as a welcome breath of fresh air. It really opens your eyes to the challenges of working in a global environment.
- In the Classroom – The classes here are very immersive. Most professors spend less time lecturing and more time illustrating principles with sound examples. Class is also made livelier with presentations, movies, product demonstrations and personal anecdotes.
Nashville On a Dime
Venkat Viswanathan is a first year MBA student from India. These are his tips for students just moving to Nashville and trying to save money.
During these last 4 months at Vandy, I have come to realize one thing. Things are not that different in the US if you are an international student. But some international students have a unique situation to deal with when they travel down to the U.S. Such as, what is the best way to live in the US on a shoestring budget? Listed below is some info we gleaned through prolonged pain and suffering but which (due to the whiteness of our hearts) we give away for free. PS: This post is only for those who are really so hard up that you can’t listen to Dire Straits without tearing up.
BrandWeek 2011: Social Media Immersion
Last month was Fall Break at Owen, which means one thing for first-year marketing concentrators: BrandWeek.
Brandweek is a three-day short course of lectures and group activities for Owen students exploring the topic of how companies manage their brands. It is an exceptional chance for students with and without marketing backgrounds to learn more about working in marketing and brand management positions. Our focus this year for BrandWeek was brand building at work in social media and how it can amplify a brand launch, secure consumer engagement and generate business. This year, we were helping create a social media strategy for one of MARS Petcare’s top brands, Whiskas, to enable them to communicate effectively with their customers.
The first day kicked off with executives from MARS Petcare giving us an overview of the brand and the details on what they were looking for in the project. Next up was Mr. Jack Kennard, our BrandWeek co-leader, with helpful insights on how to go about making our case for MARS. He covered an entire gamut of topics including positioning, ROI, and the concept of cornerstones for brands.
Interview with OSGA President, Mario Avila
In this interview our current student body president, Mario Avila, does a light hearted take on life at Owen and his vision for the OSGA, while touching upon tips for international students and giving his recipe for surviving a power-packed day.