MBAUniverse.com now presents Q&A with MBA students who are studying at Prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) and other premier B-schools. The institutes include IIM Bangalore, IIM Indore, IIM Lucknow, SJMSOM of IIT B and others.
MBA Aspirant, this Q&A series will give you the idea of how IIMs and other premier B-schools conduct GD/PI rounds, what they tests in GD/PI rounds and student's advice to MBA aspirants.
Read below the Q&A with Nishant, the first year student of Post Graduate Programme in Management of IIM Bangalore.
Q&A with Nishant, IIM Bangalore
Q: What does your institute call/term the personal interaction and assessment rounds, and when and where were they held last your?
A: IIMB calls them GD (Group Discussion) and PI (Personal Interview). Last year, they were held in March. They are held in all metro cities.
Q: What was the 'format' of these rounds when you took them last year?
A: You are given a date for GD-PI. My GD group had 7 people, and the time allotted for GD was around 20-25 minutes. The discussion was on a case study given at the spot. The interview panel has 2 IIMB professors, and the interview went on for around 15 minutes.
Q: According to you, what do the personal interaction and assessment rounds aim to assess/ test in the MBA applicants?
A: I believe the GD round (esp for IIM B) tests your ability to think on the spot, clarity of thinking, listening and speaking skills. Also, your behavior in a group setting and ability to put forward an argument convincingly is assessed in GD. The interview aims to find out your clarity of purpose while opting for MBA education, and also tests your general awareness about things (anything). They also check how good you are conceptually in what you have learnt in your undergrad or at your work place.
Q: According to you, how should MBA aspirants 'prepare' for these rounds? What is your advice?
A: Reading newspapers and keeping updated with all the major happenings does help a lot, infact it makes you a lot more confident. Revising the concepts (atleast from courses one liked or did well in) from undergrad in required. Attending mock GD sessions and giving 2-3 mock interviews makes one realize the shortcomings and then one should look to improve on them. Importantly, preparing for GD/PI sessions is a good time to reflect and introspect on what are one's career goals and the reasons why one is opting for management career, and one should make use of this opportunity. Being relaxed and calm on the day of the interview (having a good sleep the previous night and an easy previous day helps) goes a long way in ensuring you give your best.
Click below to read the MBAUniverse.com Special series of expert articles on GD/PI.
MBAUniverse.com Special: How to excel in final frontier – the GD round
http://www.mbauniverse.com/admission_2009_coverage.php?id=1739
