To start this special series to help MBA aspirants who will be facing the interview panel soon, we are publishing the first interview report of Prakriti Goyal who sat for interview on February 7 in New Delhi for a Top 10 Mumbai based B-school.
Prakriti Goyal who has scored 98.2 percentile in CAT 2012 is a bright candidate for admission to one of the best B-schools in the country. She is a final year student of B.A.(Honours) Economics and has a consistently good academic background to her credit. Her CV, apart from her academic background, reflects glimpses of social work she has actively been involved with. With all her extracurricular activities she has acquired more confidence.
Nevertheless, with an aspiration to get admission to a top ranking B-school, she feels a little nervous while going to appear before the panelists.
Prakriti is tall, slim girl wearing a season friendly dress. She enters the room after politely asking for the permission from the panelists (three in number). She greets the panel bidding them good morning with a smile. The panelist sitting in the middle asks her to take the seat which she does, not forgetting to convey note of thanks to the panelist.
1st member – Prakriti I find that you are perspiring. Are you feeling nervous?
Prakriti – Sir, Honestly speaking a little, since it is my first interview for admission to great B-school.
1st member – Be comfortable and just relax. Have a glass of water.
Prakriti - Thank you Sir, I am comfortable now.
1st member – Prakriti, please tell us about yourself.
Prakriti – Sir, I come from a simple middle class family. My father is an accountant with a private firm engaged in manufacturing of Shoes in Agra and my mother is teacher in a primary school. I have a younger brother studying in first year (Mechanical) at IIT Delhi. I have been a consistently good student although never topped the school or college. While doing honours in Economics I have been actively associated with Teach for India, a non-profit organization dedicated for elimination of social inequality in education.
1st member – Do you think this will make education equal in all walks of society?
Prakriti- Sir, the beginning is required. We are doing our bit for a better future of the country and I hope I am contributing well to bridge the gap.
2nd member takes over – I understand you are from Agra and your father is associated with Shoe Industry. Don’t you think that shoe industry in Agra is contributing towards polluting the environment?
Prakriti – Sir, thousands of workers are engaged in shoes manufacturing and ancillary activities like manufacturing of shoe laces, soles, uppers, packing boxes etc. While these are the offices that are situated in the city, manufacturing units have been shifted to outer areas. Besides, certain guidelines for operation to save the environment have been issued which have to be complied with by these units.
2nd member – You were born and brought up in Agra. Tell us about some past great personalities from Agra.
Prakriti – Sir, Great Urdu Shayar(Urdu poet) Mirza Ghalib was born in Agra and great Hindi writer Babu Gulab Rai also belonged to Agra.
2nd member – Could you give the full name of Mirza ghalib?
Prakriti – I am sorry sir for my ignorance, yet I will be glad to know.
2nd member – sure the name is ‘ Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan’
Prakriti – Thank you sir.
2nd member – Your form reads that you have an optional subject on International trade. Could you let us know the difference between ‘Balance of Trade’ and ‘Balance of Payment’
Prakriti – Sir, the balance of trade takes into account such items that can be verified by customs that is the exports and imports. If value of Imports is more- the country will have trade deficit; if the value of exports is more it will have trade surplus (Favourbale balance of Trade). Balance of trade in fact is a part of Balance of Payment of a country. But Balance of payment is a broader idea it takes into account even such items which may not be verified by customs like gifts and grants in aid, the borrowings. Whether in deficit or surplus the balance of payment account always balances.
2nd member – If the World Bank gives us a long term loan for infrastructural development, will it be termed as borrowing to correct our Balance of payment position?
Prakriti – It should not be Sir. In fact it is the IMF that grants loan to correct the position in Balance of payment and not the World Bank.
3rd member takes over – Why do you want to pursue MBA?
Prakrati - Sir, I alongwith my brother wish to establish and flourish good business of shoe exports. Pursuing MBA will help me to manage the affairs in a skilled manner. Now a days, when skilled management of even the domestic affairs, small events is required, gaining knowledge on how to work in a better and organized manner will definitely help me to bring out the best of me.
3rd member – What made you decide to pursue your MBA from this Institute.
Prakrati – Sir, the Institute has a good reputation and is one of the top B-schools of India with all the opportunities to excel in learning. A few of my seniors who happen to be the alumni of this Institute also guided me to join this Institute. The specialization in Foreign Trade which is rated as one of the best offered courses by this Institute will definitely help me to convert my dream into a reality. I have taken the decision after a careful thought. I am sure I will have a great time to enhance my knowledge and skills in this Institute.
3rd member – Thank you Prakrati. We hope you had a nice session. Best of luck.
Prakrati – Thank you sir.
End of interview.
To help our readers, after the interview, MBAUniverse.com sought feedback from interviewer on Prakrati.
This is what one of the interviewers had to say: “The personal interview continued for 18 minutes. The candidate answered almost all the questions precisely. She has a positive approach and good subject knowledge. She has a vision for future. Initially she appeared a little nervous which she admitted also, but during the course of interview she grew more confident. She has contributed to a social cause and understands her responsibilities as well. Will prove to be an asset to her MBA class, and also the organization she will join in future. We have recommended her selection/admission.”
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more such real-account personal interviews, to be published soon.
