After bringing to you the top MBA experts like Jaya Desai of IMS Learning, R Shiva Kumar of Career Launcher, IIM-C alumnus Sidharth Balakrishna, MBAUniverse.com hosted Srijan Pal Singh, Knowledge Advisor, PT Education on the Live Expert Chat on Wednesday, 24 March 2010. Mr. Singh is an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and a gold medalist. MBA aspirants posed their personal queries on GD, PI and essay writing to Mr. Singh. He clarified their perplexities on the second round of the evaluation process.

We bring to you today the excerpts from the chat:

ESSAY WRITING

Q: Sujeet: Most of the essay writing in the B-Schools is time bound. How should I ensure that am able to think, write and complete a well-structured essay in the given time?

A: The first thing you should do is to keep a note of the time given in your hand. Write the rough headings of the things you want to cover in the essay. After you are reasonably certain that the basic headings are done, quickly make a mental allocation of time between the headings. Also, prioritize issues which you think are important and take them first. Do practice some essay writing and try out the strategies. This will also help you identify and improve your writing speed.

GROUP DISCUSSION

Q: Amol: Which GD topics have high probability to come? Topics on current affairs or abstract topics?

A: GDs maybe of many types. Abstract, current affairs or based on case studies. It is difficult to predict a topic as they vary from institute to institute. Try to seek information from the previous year's interviewees in that particular institute and also those who have attended the GD & PI in that institute in days prior to your scheduled GD day.

Q: Shweta: It is said that in the GD round listening is important. I am a good listener, but by the time I can say something on the basis of someone else's point another candidate starts to speak out. How should I tackle this situation?
 
A: As there is limited time in the GD you need to grab the opportunity to tell others that you have listened to their thoughts. For this you need to be more assertive. Try to practice interjection in your mock GDs. If someone regularly speaks over you, politely (but with required loudness), pause him/her and seek a minute for your point and say out your point. You need to practice this, so start now.

Q: Sahiba: What should I do if other group members around me get aggressive?

A: Good question. Now this is one situation which many of you will find yourself in. Getting into a decibel debate is suicidal. One strategy is to wait. There are always those golden moments of pause in even a vocal competition. Learn to grab it when it is there.

You can show your skills as a moderator in these chaotic situations. Try to calm everyone down, and bring in some order on the table. When doing so, don’t end up being selfishly finding time for yourself, but genuinely try to get a fair chance for everyone. Remember, while there are points for content, there are more points for emerging out as the leader in the middle of crisis. All the best!

Q: Alok: In a GD, which role is the most advantageous? A leader or a moderator?

A: There is no one answer for this. I have seen leaders and moderators being the same person. You can always put up good points and also invite others to put in their points. In my opinion, one should forget the fact that only one of all those sitting in that room will be selected. This is not true. I have seen panels from which no one was selected. Just try to find your role by which you can contribute and make a healthy discussion with fruitful outcome.

PERSONAL INTERVIEW

Q: Nikhil: Will it be right to expect from the interview panel questions from the GD round?

A: The panel does not send any restricted set of topics they will discuss, do they? So the only thing to expect is the unexpected. I have come across panels which have asked about the opinions in GD. This will also test how much were you listening to others.

Q: Arun: I was a part of a lot of extra curricular activities (ECA) during my college days but now I am out of that. Will it be a wise idea to mention it during PI as I am not associated with ECA anymore?

A: Why not! Your history is very much a part of your profile, speak about it. But also be prepared to answer the question as to why you left them and of any plans to revive.

Q: Harman: What shall I do if I am not too sure of an answer?

A: Good question. My advice is based on common sense: Be truthful and do try. Tell the panel that you are not sure but would love to try if they allow. Believe me, they will never stop you. Go ahead try out the answer. Some more suggestions for you:

1) Do not try if you are absolutely clueless; genuine attempt is different from shooting in the dark.
2) In case you get the answer wrong, apologize gracefully and seek the right answer and keenly learn from it. All the best!

UPCOMING LIVE EXPERT CHAT
The next Live Expert Chat will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2010, 1 pm onwards. The expert for the chat will be Mr. Hirdesh Madan, North Head, Bulls Eye, Chandigarh.

Excerpts from the previous Live Expert Chats
To read the excerpts from the previous Live Expert Chats, click on the following links:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/aspirantinn-id-3032.htm
http://www.mbauniverse.com/mbaexam/mbaexamfullstory.php?id=3008
http://www.mbauniverse.com/campusinner-id-3021.htm

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for Live Expert Chats!