Siblings Take Very Different Paths to Business Studies
- Release Date:Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sister attends UC, while brother pursues MBA in India
by George Hohmann
Charleston Daily Mail Business Editor
Neha Rana and her brother, Honey - natives of New Delhi, India - are studying business a world apart.
Neha, 21 completed her undergraduate degree in accounting, finance and business administration in May and simultaneously began work on a masters in business administration and Leadership at the University of Charleston.
Honey, 23, is pursuing a master's in business administration degree in New Deli.
Honey visited Neha in Charleston last month, and they compared notes. During an interview, they talked about some of the differences they've encountered.
While Neha is studying in Charleston, which has a population of 50,267 in a metropolitan area with about 300,000 people, Honey is studying in India's capital city, which has a population of more than 300,000 in a metro area with 9.8 million people.
Neha is studying 7,900 miles from home. Honey lives at home ("Everyone lives with their parents in India") while studying at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University.
"I always wanted to go away," Neha said. "That was my dream. I was treated as a baby at home - I depended on him (nodding at her brother), my Mom and Dad for everything."
Mom is a full-time Mom; Dad is a policeman. Neha and Honey are their only offspring.
"I got admission to a university in India, but I wanted to do something different," Neha said. "So I decided to come to the USA."
Neha's parents contacted a cousin in Connecticut, who agreed to scout for schools. A tennis player at the University of Charleston had met the cousin at a tennis school and heard of Neha's tennis skills. The player suggested Neha attend the University of Charleston. "We swapped about 20 e-mails with the tennis coach," Neha said. She was eventually offered a tennis scholarship.
Meanwhile, "My Dad made sure I would not go to a bigger school. They don't want me to get lost," Neha said. "I was only 17 when I came here. It was kind of strange and random, but that's how I came here."
Honey said, "I wanted to come here. I applied for a scholarship. But it didn't work out." And so he is attending the university in his hometown.
Neha's tennis skills have taken her to tournaments in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Pakistan - accompanied by her mother. As part of her studies at the University of Charleston, she recently went to Italy and Amsterdam without Mom.
Honey hasn't traveled as much. His Masters in Business Administration program does not have a foreign study component.
Neha has been totally occupied with school and tennis. In contrast, Honey completed his undergraduate degree, then worked for two years. So he has work experience and she doesn't.
The University of Charleston's Masters in Business Administration and Leadership program employs problem-based approaches in the classroom coupled with continuous professional practice opportunities. Students partner with business professionals in the classroom to solve real-world problems.
"We use accounting, finance and marketing strategies in one case," Neha said. For example, students might help find ways for a manufacturer to reduce costs.
In contrast, Honey is going through school step by step. He and all of his classmates study finance for three or four weeks. Then they study accounting. Then they study strategy. Eventually, each student decides on a specialty. Honey plans to major in marketing.
Robert Bliss, chairman of the University of Charleston's Herbert Jones Division of Business, said, "We have problem-based learning, where students learn by solving actual problems in a business. The faculty is used mainly as facilitators. Students have to solve problems based on what they learned previously.
"The No. 1 thing about the program Honey is enrolled in is it works for India, it works for Honey," Bliss said. "It's pretty much ingrained in their culture. Our program is more experimental, if you will. Problem-based learning is something you don't find at every university. It is in fact very rare.
"Students like the freedom to solve problems," Bliss said. "But Honey will have the educational background, then take one or two years working, then dive in and start his own business. Both work."
Honey said, "I want to start my business in the sports industry, where I can manage sports people, big shots - manage their business transactions, their schedules, where they go."
Neha said, "I will ultimately aim to work for Bank of America, their marketing department. I love to travel, love marketing. I like to meet people, see what they're doing."
