I remember Tathir Bhai telling us during our admission days that even a regular day at IBA is a good day. You come for a 9 AM class and somehow end up leaving at 7 PM because something always keeps you there. 

For me, IBA events are a huge reason I love IBA. I remember the Boishakh last year. It was genuinely one of those days I'll remember. The energy, the colour, the fact that for one afternoon nobody is stressing about assignments. Farewell hits differently, too. Even though we weren't very lucky regarding freshers, but it is still thought to be one of the most interesting events. 

Football, basketball, badminton, … — the tournaments get surprisingly intense here at IBA. The quiet kid from your class turns out to be terrifying on the badminton court. There's a whole different side to people that only comes out on the field.

Sogra is the garden on campus where we basically chillout.. Some of my favourite hours at IBA have been there doing absolutely nothing productive. On the other hand, bunker and library are the opposite. When deadlines hit, everyone migrates there. Presentations, group work, etc find their own meaning there.

The “IBA” tag does have a value on its own. I went to multiple sponsorship meetings for events, and the moment I mentioned IBA, the whole tone of the conversation changed. They get more attentive and more willing to engage. I've been in similar meetings during college. The difference was noticeable.

One of the biggest pros of getting into IBA is the company of your peers. Everyone around you tries to push you further upwards in life. You’ll have one of the strongest alumni networks. You’ll enjoy the friendships here.

Batch drama exists; I won't lie. But by the end of it, everyone comes back together. The friends you make here show up when it matters — be it sharing notes, sitting through your rough days, celebrating your wins like they're their own. It's a small batch. You can't escape each other. And eventually, you'll be glad you can't.

If you're preparing for the admission test right now, keep going. What's waiting on the other side is genuinely worth it.

Arik Ayat Khan,
IBA BBA 33rd Batch.