MBA vs. Engineering

I just recently concluded my final exams of my MBA life! Wow I can't believe that I survived these two years. As I lay back on my bed and enjoy these mindless moments my mind just can't help drifting to think about the contrast between the exams I had in MBA and in my engineering studies. There was a marked diffidences between the way the exams are administered in MBA and engineering.

For one, the exams in MBA are most of the time 'Open Book' or 'Open Laptop' (simplifies your task to a great extent doesn't it?). Whereas engineering was all about cramming as much theory as you can!

Secondly, in MBA as the professors say, "There is no right answer"! So there is no way you can fail, can you? On the other hand, in engineering according to the professors the answers cannot be ever right! I specifically remember that once for of Computer Programming exam I had copied one answer word-to-word from the text book, but the professor gave me only 5 marks out of 10! I approached the professor to ask what was wrong with my answer and this ishow the conversation went:

Me: Mam why have I got only 5 marks out of 10 for this answer.

Professor: Well you have missed out on certain key points.

Me: Mam can you tell me what aspects I have not covered?

Professor: Please go and check XYZ textbook and you will know what you have missed out.

And I am thinking to myself: darn you dumb-ass I have copied the answer word to word from that textbook so how could I have missed anything! But of course I could not tell her that and so had to be content half the mars even though I had done such a wonderful job of copying!

Lastly I think the major diffidence between MBA and engineering exams is about what the professors say and what they mean. MBA professor are generally very straight forward and say what they want to great amount of clarity. But as every engineer would know that the engineering professors are notorious for confusing the students either because they themselves don't have a clue about that they say or they get incredible sadistic pleasure out of screwing the students! Also they have this incredible knack of confusing the students because they never mean what they say! Here are a few examples:

What they say What they mean

You'll be using one of the leading textbooks in the field.	I used it in engineering!
If you follow these few simple rules, you'll do fine in the course.	If you don't sleep, you'll do fine in the course.
The gist of what the author is saying is what's most important.	I don't understand the details either.
Various authorities agree that...	My hunch is that...
The answer to your question is beyond the scope of this class.	I don't know.
You'll have to see me during my office hours for a thorough answer to your question.	I don't know.
In order to answer to your question, you must recognize that there are several disparate points of view.	I really don't know.
Today we are going to discuss a most important topic.	Today we are going to discuss my dissertation.
We can continue this discussion outside of class.	1. I'm tired of this - let's quit. 2. You're winning the argument - let's quit.
Today we'll let a member of the class lead the discussion. It will be a good educational experience.	I didn't have time to prepare a lecture.
Any questions?	I'm ready to let you go.
The implications of this study are clear.	I don't know what it means either, but there'll be a question about it on the test.
The test will be 50-questions multiple choice.	The test will be 60-questions multiple guess, plus three short-answer questions (1000 words or more) and no one will score above 55%.
The test scores were generally good.	Some of you managed to pass.
The test scores were a little below my expectations.	I am so happy that none of you did well!
Some of you could have done better.	Everyone flunked.
Before we begin the lecture for today, are there any questions about previous material?	Has anyone opened the book yet?
According to my sources...	According to the guy who taught this class last year...
It's been very rewarding to teach this class.	I hope they find someone else to teach it next year.

Well thats it for now...... until the next post....

CHEERS!!!!