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Questions Asked On IIM Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad
How was your IIM Ahmedabad interview?
In 2021, one of my friends attended the IIM Ahmedabad interview. IIM A was the only IIM to conduct in-center interviews last year. Students were required to go to the center give AWT, and attend their interview through video conference.
After the identity verification, students were asked to wait in a room for AWT. When the AWT round was over, they were called for an interview. My friend was 3rd in her panel.
- They asked a few questions regarding her background and past academics, first.
- After the introduction was done, they asked why she wanted to do an MBA.
- There were few other questions regarding politics and current events.
- She was also asked whether she got any placement offers or not.
Her interview went well and she was able to convert the call.
How academically intense is the MBA at IIM Ahmedabad?
Academically an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad is extremely grueling. There’s a lot to read, lot to do, and very little time.
The three classes every day is the easiest part. The real pandemonium starts when the bell strikes 1:10 pm. Students rush to the mess to have their lunch and wait for the surprise test notification. The notification usually comes around 1:30 pm. You can breathe easy if no notification came. If you get a surprise test, you will have to start ruffling through books and previous notes to prepare for it.
Each day, you will have to prepare 2-3 cases for the next. You also need to read the cases (15-30 pages long) and make a crisp presentation including your understanding. You also need to take care of assignments. During the second term, you will have to prepare for the summer placements, along with the usual academics. You have to refine your resume, meet with your placement adviser, and take part in club activities and interest groups.
Basically, you will be subjected to human stress testing during your MBA at IIM Ahmedabad. You will be put through every conceivable difficulty you may face in your professional life.
Who has the highest GPA in IIM A?
A 25-year-old student of IIM Bangalore, namely Udit Jalin, secured the highest-ever GPA at the institute. The gold medalist has a strong belief that managers should not run after huge packages, rather they should focus on the quality of work they are delivering alongside maintaining a good balance between work and personal life. This genius scored 3.9 out of 4.0 CGPA in IIM Bangalore PGP program, the highest ever recorded. Additionally, he scored a perfect grade of 4/4 in 13 of 26 courses with an AA grade in all courses.
He feels grateful to IIM Bangalore which gave him a holistic view of various domains of Management including marketing, operations, business strategy, and finance. His learning experience was enhanced by the frequent interactions and debates at IMB. The excellent pedagogy, he claims, helped transform his theoretical knowledge into practical implementation through research and consulting experiences of professors and peers.
When asked about the secret behind his success he gave 2 strong points
- Every manager should master time management
- Know your area of interest that will help you decide your domain and electives and you can focus on one thing.
What was your CGPA at IIM Ahmedabad and how did you achieve it?
Few of my friends attended IIM Ahmedabad. One of them scored 3.56 in his first year. Here are some of the common traits that you will observe in most people who score good CGPA.
- Attend classes regularly and internalize. The case-based pedagogy of IIM Ahmedabad is unique. You will learn a lot from the professors as well as your peers.
- Prepare for class. Read the case study that will be discussed in class.
- Select a good study group.
- Some examinations are different. Just subjective learning isn’t enough in these cases, you will have to complement it with objective aptitude.
Doing these will help you score better.
Is it a better choice for choosing FMS Delhi over IIM A or IIM B when compared to placement salary?
There is no question at all if you are optimising for salary in the short term. On average, you would earn more at IIM Ahmedabad and Bangalore than at FMS. In the long run, it will be much more dependent on you and a little bit on the profile you want to work in. However, ceteris paribus and on average IIM Ahmedabad or IIM Bangalore will earn more or as much as an FMS grad. Choose A or B if you want to maximise your placement salary.
Whether you should optimise for placement salary is a different question, and the answer depends on what you want to do with your life.
What is it like to study at IIM Ahmedabad?
It’s a great experience studying at IIM Ahmedabad. You won’t have a single moment during the 2-year span. One of my friends graduated last year from IIM Ahmedabad. Here is her experience in brief.
- First year at IIM A is a humbling experience. The student crowd is brilliant. You will get to learn a lot through peer interaction.
- The academic system at IIM A tries to build a gap between undergraduate studies and management studies. You will have a learn new subjects, irrespective of your background.
- Other than regular academics, there are other co-curricular activities and surprise quizzes. You will always have to be prepared. Doing the coursework in time will give you a competitive advantage.
- A major part of the 1st year goes into internship prep. Your internship will have major implications on your final placements as well. So, you need to spend a lot of time improving your CV and preparing for the interview.
- Dorm life is an integrating part of IIM A life. Your dorm mates will be a crucial part of your support system for the next 2 years.
- There are various club activities, you can choose one depending on your interest.
- Second-year is a lot different from the first year. While the first year is more about getting used to academics and campus life, the second year is more about making choices. You will have to decide whether you want an exchange program or not. You also need to choose which placement roles you want.
- You will get to choose your subjects for the second year based on your interests. There are also no surprise quizzes in second year.
- You will have to spend a lot of time in placement prep in your second year. The final placement process is much more extensive.
In second year, you will get a lot of free time as well. My friend explored many eateries and also went on trips with her friends. Naturally, everyone has a unique experience on campus.
What is the worst thing to be in IIM Ahmedabad?
If you are joining IIM Ahmedabad, here are some things that you may find difficult to deal with.
- The environment on campus is quite competitive. You will start to realize the academic workload from the first week itself.
- You will be on your own. If you can’t grasp the coursework, you will get help from your seniors and peers but it’s only up to a point.
- In your first year, there is not much freedom. You will have compulsory sessions, placement sessions, etc. But this teaches you to operate within constraints.
Life becomes easier once you settle in.
Is getting into IIM Ahmedabad possible for an average student?
If you are already convinced that an average student cannot make it into IIM Ahmedabad, then you won’t be giving your best. Remember it's your mindset that determines your chances of admission.
I will narrate an anecdote of a friend who took the CAT, a few months ago. He had done a B.E. in electronics and comm. from a top local institute in Bengaluru and worked for 10 months in an IT role. He received a list of colleges he should target from his coaching based on his scores and overall profile.
Nevertheless, he wanted to get into IIM Ahmedabad. He had no one to guide him and his list did not have a single IIM. It seemed almost impossible but he did not give up.
Ultimately, he made it into IIM Ahmedabad and all his friends were shocked. They couldn’t believe someone with an average profile like him.
Should I Leave IIM Ahmedabad admission offer for RBI Grade B?
Let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of these options before choosing one of them.
RBI Grade B -
- RBI comes only after UPSE. Considering the political pressure of UPSE, RBI can be the best job in India.
- The salary package is similar to the median CTC offered at IIMA.
- RBI has great job security, irrespective of the ruling party. Govt. policies like privatization won’t affect RBI.
- Posting will be always in the state capital.
- RBI jobs have a great work-life balance.
IIMA -
- Batch size of IIMA is over 400. You will have to do exceptionally well to stand out from the crowd and bag offers from top investment banks and consulting firms.
- The course fee for the PGP is INR 23 lakhs. This can be burdensome for some students. Even if you get an INR 25 LPA CTC, after paying education loans, tax, EMI, etc, you will have around INR 1 lakh in hand.
- Many quit investment banking jobs or consulting jobs after a few years due to huge job pressure.
- The Covid-19 recession caused many recruiters to withdraw their offer even for IIM A,B,C. There are a number of things that can affect final placements.
Factor in all these points to make the decision that’s best for you.
How does ISB, Hyderabad compare to IIM Ahmedabad?
ISB Hyderabad and IIM Ahmedabad are among the most reputed B-Schools in India. Contrary to the popular belief that IIMs are the best option, ISB is better than most new IIMs. Here is a brief comparison of the institutes.
IIM Ahmedabad-
- Flagship program for IIMA is Post Graduate Program in Management. The course fee is INR 23 lakhs.
- The faculties of the institute are alumni of reputed universities across the globe. You will get help from the faculty regarding any doubts even outside the classroom.
- The college campus is well equipped with modern instruments to provide quality education. The classrooms are fully air-conditioned. The library stays open 24*7 for students and faculty.
- During the 2021 placement, the average CTC offered was 26.13 LPA. While the highest CTC offered was INR 1.32 Cr PA.
ISB Hyderabad-
- The flagship program for ISB Hydrabad is Post Graduate Program in Management (12 months). The total course fee is INR 36.3 lakhs.
- ISB Hyderabad has a great pool of well-experienced faculty.
- In the 2022 placement drive, the average CTC offered was INR 25 LPA while the highest was INR 42 LPA.
In terms of ROI, IIM A shows better results compared to ISB Hyderabad. The required fee is also less for IIMA. Unlike ISB, you won’t need mandatory work experience to join IIMA.
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