On being an WIMWIan

So finally I have made it to my dream institute!!!! Honestly, I never thought (I only dreamt) that I could make it to WIMWI. However, once I got a GD PI call, I was more confident about my chances. And here I am today writing in IIM A 2007-09 batch blog and waiting for 21st June when I embark on one of the most elusive journeys in business and management.

How does it feel??? The feeling is obviously top of the world… Also comes the feeling “Will I be able to cope with the rigor for 2 years?” But when 250 people will get screwed together who cares yaar :-) The best part, however, is that you already feel the part of the IIM A community…. The yahoo group with 60-70 mails each day (must confess I have not read all of them), The orkut community, The welcome brochure sent by SAC, The party thrown by the mighty tucchas and the formal meet. The preppies are already there giving us updates about what to expect. All have contributed to the sense of belonging to the red corridors. Everyone wants to help you and has something to tell you. Just looking forward to experience what all of them have experienced!!!!

It also feels great that I have given my parents, sister and friends something to be proud of. If someone is more happy than me that’s my mom. Having not finished her formal education, it’s a matter of great pride for her that her son gets into one of the best institutes in the country. However, there are this uncles and aunties who come and tell me “ Arey yaar ab to lottery lag gayee teri, 2 saal ke baad to ab kuch nahi” They talk as if some names were put in a box and winner was picked up. When you give CAT multiple times, when you gather information for GD PI, money is not the one and only motivation. You also want to just be there because its IIM A. Anyways this flipside is easily overshadowed by the other great feelings.

Having met Mumbaites and Puneites from my batch, I can already imagine what kind of friends I will make at WIMWI… Just looking forward to be there…

Ahmedabad here I come!!!!!!

IIM Final results

April 27

I was really confused.... Whether to take a draft for MDI or not... Results aane wala hai ya nahi.... Finished my lecture at IMS.... One of my friend calls up... IIM C results out... Chill down my spine... checked IIMC --> Sorry, not selected...

I was shit scared... one down three to go....

After fifteen minutes... I and K out.... checked with trembling fingers...

Yeah, converted both... was very happy... my goal of reachin an IIM is attained... but still A result left....

After around 1 hour cheked pagalguy... A results are out... man... bhagwan ka naam liya.... keyed the numbers... this appears...


You have been selected for admission to PGP (2007-2009 batch), IIMA.
Note: Our formal admission offer letter is being sent by Courier. You will have to send us your formal written acceptance and return the other documents enclosed with the admission offer by May 14, 2007. In the meanwhile, please indicate to us by e-mail admission@iimahd.ernet.in your decision on this admission offer, quoting your name and Test Registration Number.

Man shouted on top of my voice... wow... it was always a dream... i did it... alll those CAT attempts, leaving my job.... sab vassoool!!!! called mom... she was not at home.... eyes went moist... called dad... they were so happy.... really lookin forward to joining IIM A...

Watch this space for my IIM life....

Thank you God...

IIM C GD/PI

Last IIM Interview… No way the least… IIM C

Dadar Catering College, 13th March

Case Study: Thanks to Pagalguy , I knew that there is a case study on the cards… It was about a low-cost airline facing lots of losses… They want a customer centric image and hence planning more friendly approach… However, also planning to overbook and give more confirmed tickets so that planes get filled… staff having lots of problems… what should company and staff do?

Decent… everyone spoke decently… I could also contribute 5-6 times ….

Told to wait… would be called in seating order of GD…

Was very hungry… no breakfast… went to catering college canteen… grabbed to vada pavs then ready after having 2 chlormints

4 people in the panel … P1, P2, P3 , L(Lady), moi issshtudent (S)…

P1: Come Good Morning
S: Good Morning Madam, Good Morning sirs.

P2: So how do you feel
S: Great Sir.

P2: OK, so you work for ****** ltd.
S: Sir, I was working for **** ltd.

P2: Oh, so what do u do now
S: Told

P2: So what was your role there
S: Sales etc. (told)

P2: oh medical electronics sales….
S: yes sir

P2: Tell me one thing, is there any sales involved… doctor already knows what to buy
S: Sir it’s a very competitive market… also prospecting and sales presentations are very crucial…( went on… told about steps in a sales process etc etc.)

P2: Ya but still doctor will buy what he wants to…
S: Told more

P3: So what else u did at **** ltd.
S: (I was loving it, because I could passionately speak about my job experience)

P2: So you have written your interests include blogging…
S: Yes sir

P2: So what do you write about…
S: Lot of things sir… also ad reviews (Some conversation followed)

P2: So why is blogging good
S: Told

P2: But it spoils the language grammar etc. right
S: Told (Neutral stand)

P2: Do you read blogs
S: yes sir lots of them

P1: But tell me one thing…. (smiling )With so many nice photos and pics on the net will anyone actually read blogs..
S: (with a smile ) Sir I m sure there is time for everything…(went on)

P1: So when u were working how did u find the time
S: for e.g. when I was waiting for the client before a sales meet… a connected laptop always came in handy… and with doctors waiting time is anyways high (went on)

P1: so since you blog… I m sure u will have this interview experience on ur blog in a weeks time
S: yes sir… I do write about them

All panelists chatting: and we will be described as pink shirt guy, specs guy etc… All of us have seen pagalguy (Laughing)

S: Sir I do post on pagalguy too… but I use terms like professor 1 P2 etc… I feel it is not correct to use bad adjectives…

P3: anyways if u do also… it will not affect your chance of making it, we can laugh about that….

P2: So what do you thing about marketing using blogs
S: sir should I talk about internet as a marketing medium?

P2: no restrict yourself to blogs
S: told them about famous blogs, relevant users, pay-per-click etc etc (went on)

P3: Ok… so what calls do you have
S: sir A C I K

P3: All interviews done
S: yes sir, this is the last one

P1: Ok thank you
S: Thank you sirs…

It was a conversation… we were just talking…. Infact I got in some points which I wanted the faculty to know just in the conversation .. I don’t remember the Lady asking me anything….

This is all I can remember… I think there were some more questions..

So again I have no idea if it was good or bad… fingers all crossed

March kaisa bhi jaye, April should be good!!!!

Stay good guys!!

IIM Indore GD/PI

So third IIM interview for me

March 7, 2:00 PM , dadar catering college, mumbai

Around 20 people assembled in the hall(5 absent)… peculiar thing was one guy in black kurta and jeans …. And he had a lone I call… I m sure he was not interested

Anyways… we were Divided in 3 groups.. 7 people present in my group… 5 mins to read, 14 min to speak, 5 min to write a summary on back of your form…

The Case was about this guy AMAN who started a agri-related business with funding from a venture capitalist.. the person who has funded is not ready to put more money for expansion while Aman thought expansion was necessary.. the VC is also shown to be authoritative and dominating… there was a personal angle that Aman s family wanted him to take up a job and stop the entrepreneur funda… also a incident where Aman’s sister had said no to a boy (for marriage) who was suggested by VC…..

Long case.. lotsa characters, angles… But I thing overall we did well… Personally, I spoke around 5 times… Contributed well…

Then they told us to go back to waiting hall.. they told us that they will call us randomly so we shud not go anywhere…. I was the first one to be called by my panel …

Panel was nice and made me comfortable : Male Prof(MP), Lady Prof (LP), moi issshhhtudent (S)

MP,LP: Good Afternoon , have a seat

S: Obliges

MP: So How does it feel to be called first

S: Sir, since the order is random, I don’t think it make a difference, Everyones expecting their name all the time!!!

MP: OK, So why did u leave ur job at **** ltd.

S: Blah

MP: ok, so you have done your electronics and telecommunication engineering

S: Yes Sir ( Scared now , obviously not showin it)

MP: So what subjects you studied and liked

S: Sir I liked practical subjects like Mobile, PCOM, Television Engg etc

MP: So what is difference b/w GSM CDMA

S: Told (Yeah , Knew this inside out)

MP: Compnay to introduce CDMA in India

S: Told

LP: Why Vodafone wants to come to india and why HWL is going away

S: Told

MP: What do you think ESSAR should do

S: Told

MP: Why reliance is bidding for GSM BW now

S: Answered something, not sure if 100% correct ( Asked more stuff about different companies)

MP: Teledensity?

S: Told

LP: So lets talk about your hobbies

S: Sure madam

LP: You said you like watching and following Ad campaigns.. Tell me your favorite recent campaign

S: Motoflip campaign (spoke a lot on that, I think I spoke nicely)

LP: Do you know what is emotional branding, explain with examples

S: Told

Lp: lets c other hobbies… blog… whats this name

S: Madam it’s a truncated form of Web log

LP: inventor of blogs

S: I don’t know madam

MP: So what are BRIC countries and why are they grouped together

S: Told

Mp: who coined the term

S: Not sure sir, but I think it was one of the US based consulting companies ( Was not sure is it Goldman Sachs?)

MP: What are BIBSAT countries?

S: Sir I have not heard of that group sir!!!

Mp: Is it actually a group or I am just coining it?? (GUYS What say?)

S: Sir I have never come across that term..

MP LP giggle a little..

LP: So you were in sales and marketin… I will give you a situation… we are in Alaska... and we are Eskimos… sell us a fridge

S: Tried something… (panel laughing beech beech main… I joined in too )

LP: have you heard about abbys

S: yes madam, told

LP asked me about who won what etc… didn’t know 2-3 things

MP: your grades are only average, we are disappointed

S: tried some explanation …

MP: have you given CAT previously

S: Yes sir third attempt… but first time I got calls

MP: Which all interviews are done

S: Sir A K

MP: how was the experience

S: told


MP,LP: Ok S, thank you and all the best

S: thank yous



This is all I can remember… I think there were some more questions….I think it was pretty decent… … no stress… fingers crossed


Next Stop C on 13th


Stay good Guys

MICA GE PI

I had the well-acclaimed mica GE/interview on 6th march at JBIMS Mumbai

Reached JB at 7 55 with drowsy eyes.. submitted all documents stuff … signed

9 to 10 30 was MICAT time… I m telling u maths was not simple… had a tough time… had some fun in section e (e.g. 64 s on a c b = 64 sharks on a calm beach)

Then found out that I m in the afternoon session… so went for a brunch wid some friends…

GE: Ok guys this was a shark market!!!!! 15 people shoutin hard… only saving grace was that in the middle we decided to speak one by one in line and everyone cud say something… we were stopped before time because of high decibel levels…

Was 5th in the panel for interview… 3 people Prof(P), young Prof (YP), Lady Prof (LP) and moi isshtudent(S)….

P: Come , Please have a seat..
S: Obliges

YP: So u have written that ur strength is sense of humour, tell me the best one liner u hv heard…

S: (I am absolutely blank, cant remember anything, I hv no idea why):

YP: Chalo, lets cut a deal… Tell us a joke , if all of us laugh u t thru…
S: (Tried remembering hard… still nothing gud… remembered a pretty stupid PJ which was not that funny) : Blabbered

YP: Since all of us didn’t laugh convincingly, you have to go thru the interview the hard way.
S: Yes sir, I think I deserve that… (smile)

YP: So why MICA
S: Told

YP: so u write ad reviews… where??
S: on my blog sir…

YP: tell me I will note it down
S: sure sir… told

YP: fav campaign
S: Lots sir, Surf Excel ‘daag acchein hain’ is one of them..
Lots of question answers on this ,,also on other campaigns….

YP: So what did u do at ****** ltd.
S: Told

YP: why leave nice sales and get into problems of branding and marketing
S: Told

P: why did u leave ur job
S: Told

YP: U seem to hv a high percentile… obviously u will not take up MICA
S: blah blah abt how MICA is very high on my list…

YP: so I m sure u hv plans to marry at some stage
S: yes sir

Conversation on what kind of wife I want… working-housewife etc etc.. then they asked me love marriage or arranged marriage… I gave lot of blah blah and then said very seriously

S: Love marriage can be arranged and arranged one can be loved….

P,YP,LP started laughing loudly,,, I understood I had said something which wud have sounded ver funny in an interview setting!!!

LP: So u finally made us laugh

I joined in and all of laughing for 30 seconds, pretty funny situation

YP: Ok ok , but this doesn’t mean u r thru

P: ok rate urself as a team member on a scale of 0-10
S: I think it will be 8 sir

YP: even after ur group’s GE
S: yes sir

YP: ok thank you S
S: Thank you sirs, madam

I think the interview was about knowing one as an individual… no stress and stuff…. In fact I was laughing smiling all the time… I think there were some more questions but this is all I can remember

Stay good guys

NMIMS GD PI

Had my GD PI in NMIMS,Mumbai today ..
NMAT Rank – 800+

GD 11 ppl…
2 Topics : 1) land grabbing by govt for industries.
2) Business without morals is meaningless

Group chose 1st one after a 6-5 vote…

I would say a civilized fish market!!!! Not very bad… best was that when faculty told us that 2 minutes are left, the group agreed that all of us will speak once givin brief summary… tht was gud

Was 3rd in my group for the PI

P1 , P2 and me isshudent…. (S)

P1: Hello so u r so and so (my name)…
S: yes sir

P1: Tell me something about urself
S: blah

P1: So u were working at **** ltd. In sales and marketing…y did u quit…
S: Blah

(P1 really knew about this company and my dept. , asked me lot abt it including no of offices, partner companies etc… knew quite a lot so it was ok)

P2: So why sales and marketing after engg.
S: Blah

P2: What after MBA
S: Marketing branding etc…

P2: give me names of 3 ad agencies active in India
S: Told

P2: But why u want to mass marketing form high tech sales jobs..
S: Answered

P1: u hv written in ur biographical sketch that u like discussions and they help u learn… explain with examples

S: Told

P1: So any other exams
S: CAT, XAT etc

P1: Calls?
S: IIM calls sibm etc.

P1: Ok tht will be it, thank you

S: Thank u sirs.

Lotsa sub questions on every question.... Thankfully work ex related and why mba…

Chalo lets c

IIM Ahmedabad GD PI

Venue: Ahmedabad 16th feb 9: 00AM

Electronics and telecommunication engineer

Work-Ex:2 years sales and marketing

So IIMA interview… actually that’s been a dream in itself let alone converting it… reached at 8 40… lil chilly … 23 people divided in 3 batches (8 + 8 + 7)… at dot 9 05 we were given the cases…(PL reach before time ppl). almost 5 people evaluationg our GD… was in panel 2…

Was a case study about Zimbabwe s agriculture finance corporation… it was in problems because they had computerized their systems without proper transition… public, media, and govt were all complaining…what shud afc do…

Gud case I thought… lots of points and angles to discuss… very little calculation ,,, 5 minutes to read… 20 minutes to speak and 5 min to write a summary… however they gave less time to write and many of us cudnt complete…

Overall our gd was good…atleast 6 ppl including me spoke well… no fish market… infact there were sorry thank yous n all……

Then came the PI… I was number 8 on my panel thts the last… was not askin everyone abt how theres went… wud hv put faltu pressure on myself… just revised some acads n stuff

3 ppl on panel…Prof 1, prof 2, Prof acads moi isshtudent (S)

P1: Please come have a seat… give me ur file..
S: Obliges

P1: So you seem to be a great guy… haan… (almost laughing)… so much in the form
S: (Whats happenin , stress????) : Yes sir very feebly….

P1: so you demonstrate bones, right?????
S: (Whts that ) I am sorry sir???

P1: You hv written it here…
S: Sir that’s “Bone Densitometer “ … it’s a product I used to sell whe I was at ******** ltd.

P1: what does it do?
S: long blah blah …mentioned abt osteoporosis, a bone disease because of lack of calcium, smokin and other stuff…

P1: (pointin towards P2) shud lecture him abt smokin

All of us hv a light laugh

P1: So what does patient with bad calcium shud eat:
S: eggs and milk preferably

P1: I m vegetarian and consider milk also to be non veg
S: Calcium supplements are available off the counter…

P1: No medicines for me
S: (Just forgot banana )… vegetables

P1: Which ones
S: I dont recollect sir

P1: ok anyways... so u were in sales for 2 yrs b4 u left.... did u like the experience...
S: loved it

P1: how were ur targets set...
S: blah blah blah...

P1: wats ARPU
S: i dont recollect sir( shit yaar , its avg revenue per user)

P1: What were ur 3 major learnings at blue star
S: blah blah (did decently)

P1: How do u define success for a salesman
S: blah blah

over to P2

P2: so u were in medical electronics
S: yes sir

P2: so what is telemedicine
S: lots and lots of blah blah (lucky yaar, had read a lot abt this while working)

Then P2 went into more more specifics of the same... examples... did well

over to PA

PA: so u r an electronics engineer
S: sir electronics and telecommunications engineer

PA: OK, (he structured this question very nicely in laymans language)... how does mobile switch to a particular frequency
S: explained the process...

PA: Ok, diff between transverse and longitudinal waves
S: gave some points , not satisfactory..

PA started getting into very basics of waves... 3d, x y z axis... almost 5-6 min faltered atleast 30-40% of the time... shit man if i cud hv 12th physics book wid me that time ... however, tried to smile still...

PA: Lets move ahead.... difference between light and radio waves...
S: Sir light has dual nature and...

PA: wait, consider only wave
S: sir both are electromagnetic waves... howevwer light has much higher freq.. its used in Optical fibres with much better BW...

PA: hmmm...ok

P1: Ok pratik,,, i think that will be enough... pl take ur certificates.
S: thank you sirs...

P1: btw what calls do u hv...
S: Sir A C I K

P1: OK thank you

Moi almost leaving..

PA: Please help urself with a toffee.
S: thanks sir..

Again the same feeling wat i had after K interview... no idea how did it go...almost 35 min

As for suggestions... do ur acads strongly from a practical point of view... e.g. for me it went into GSM CDMA from a basic phone call... and this was seen in lotsa interviews...

So small dream of appearin for A interview over ...

fingers crossed for big dream..

Stay good people....