At the ‘Big One’ February 19, 2008
Posted by chitranshu in Career related stuff, IIM interviews.trackback
As promised, I am back with a narration of my WIMWI experience (thanks to Zutty for telling me what that acronym means 
). The run-up to the ‘big day’ was quite eventful too, e.g. my reaching the campus at 2 the previous night because of a train delay, but I shall start from the time that I got ready and reached the venue.
This time, there were more familiar faces around, partly because more IITB guys had their interviews scheduled the same day, the ones in the afternoon slot came around in the morning as well to see the atmosphere, and partly because some of the others have the same slot for all or most of their interviews as I have, so we tend to run into each other and exchange greetings and information and questions and answers even if we do not know or remember each other’s names. Anyway, the hottest piece of discussion that morning was that there is not going to be any GD this time, because nothing about a GD had been mentioned in the call letter. However, when the professors came out and announced the groups, and asked us to troop in to the respective rooms, it seemed that people had read too much into the letter.
As soon as we were all seated inside, though, the professors threw a shocker (it was not so shocking for me, I am more than happy that there was no GD) – they would give a topic, and we would have to write an essay in 10 minutes on a page that we had been asked to leave blank on our interview form. The topic given was ‘Worsening female to male ratio in India’ – something on which you can start writing immediately (unlike the IIML GD topic), and comfortably fill up a page in 10 minutes. After we were done, we were asked to wait outside and come in the same order for the interviews.
Once again, I did not spend too much time listening to others’ experiences or their preparation for the interview. I did listen to one friend’s experience, though, and it confirmed what I already knew, that there would be some grilling on academics, some on general career plans, and some on current affairs. And unlike the previous two interviews, this one would be ‘real grilling’. Anyway, my turn came, and I entered the interview room. From here on, let’s call the three interviewers P1, P2 and P3 (from left to right).
P2: What is your first name? (they were a bit confused about my first name and my father’s name, which becomes my middle name according to the convention in Maharashtra, so I clarified that) Please show us your certificates. (I hand them over) OK, tell us about yourself (standard blah blah, taking care to include some things for which there was no room in the interview form). OK, what is this Engineering Physics? (I tell them what it is. They confirm whether it is a 4-year course or a 5-year integrated course etc.)
P2: OK, so Chitranshu, since you are a physicist (umm…), could you tell me what are the different forces that act on the spoke of a bicycle wheel?
(extends a paper and pencil towards me)
Me: (after thinking a bit, and drawing a simple wheel, with one spoke) Sir, there will be one force inwards from the outer rim, and one from the centre…
P2: Could you draw it on paper and show me, instead of talking in the air? Can you show the free body diagram?
(Well yes, I was talking in the air, but they always make such comments to stress you out and see how you withstand it)
(I draw a spoke horizontally and something resembling a free body diagram)
P2: Horizontal is not so interesting. Draw it in the vertical position. That would be more interesting.
(I draw a vertical spoke, a part of the outer rim and the centre, a couple of arrows showing the forces, and a couple of equations)
P2: Don’t write too many equations. I do not want a detailed analysis. Just tell me what the forces are.
(HINT: The professor wanted me to draw a vertical spoke, not a horizontal one, which meant that there is a significant difference in the forces in the two positions which I had to account for in my explanation. Also, when he said he did not want equations or a detailed analysis, that meant that he was more interested in how I solved the problem and my demeanour while working on it instead of the actual solution. The questions posed will be different for everyone, but these basic things always apply.)
Me: Sir, there will be an inward force from the outer rim…
P2: What is it called?
Me: The normal reaction… (On a look of approval from him, I continue) And one force from the centre outwards to balance it. There is also the mass of the spoke…
P2: But that will be negligible.
Me: Umm, yes sir. And from the centre, there will be another force perpendicular to the spoke which will make it revolve.
P2: So, there will be an inward force and an outward force. What is this called?
Me: A couple? (I am just faffing now, but as long as I can pull it off, what the heck)
P2: So, will the spoke be under compression? (On seeing a look of confusion coming on my face) Or will it be under tension?
Me: Sir, I think it will be compression.
P2: Won’t it vary depending on the position of the spoke?
Me: Yes sir, of course it will, because the mg part will always be downwards, but…
P2: That’s OK. (turning to P1) Do you have any questions?
Now, I don’t remember verbatim the Q&A with P1, but his main emphasis was on why I prepared for the IAS exams, what I did in the meantime, my IMS experience (and when I said I liked teaching, whether I wanted to be a teacher), what is my current job, how does it fit in with my IIT degree, or since it doesn’t fit in, what do I ‘bring to the table’. The entire tone of questioning at such a time is such that it tends to stress you out and make you think negatively about what you have done so far and what you want to do in future, because unless you are really good with what you have studied so far, they will manage to ask something which you do not know, and then stress you out over it, and if you do answer everything correctly, they will ask you why you do not want to go for higher studies in that subject and why management instead. The key at this point is to stay calm and stick to what you think is right.
I think I did an OK job of that, because even though I readily (and honestly) answered all those questions, I could feel the tension in my face. During his grilling, P1 moved on to the following:
P1: So, if you do not get through the IIMs, what is your contingency plan? Do not say IAS or IFS, as that is not a contingency plan. (It is not, because entry into it is as tough if not tougher than IIMs, and also because I had mentioned that I want only the top two services which require a rank in the top 50-60)
Me: Sir, I am confident that I will get somewhere out of these options.
P3: (now getting into the act) No, that is not an answer. India went to play Bangladesh, but it lost in the first round. Reliance Power IPO… you see what happened.
Me: Sir, there is a difference between being confident and over-confident.
P3: No, I am not talking about over-confidence. It is about eliminating risk. Risk always tends to zero, it is never exactly zero. You are from IIT, you should know that much.
Me: Yes sir, but there is only a limit upto which you can make a list of options.
P1: So you don’t have any contingency plan?
Me: Well, in the short term, I might stay with my current job, but in the long term, I don’t know.
P1: (meanwhile, he looked at the permanent address in my form) So, your parents stay in UP?
Me: No sir, my father is a doctor in the Railways, and his job is transferable, so they don’t have any permanent address. That is my uncle’s address in UP.
P3: OK, have you heard about Reliance Fresh?
Me: Yes sir.
P3: What were the problems that Reliance Fresh faced in UP?
Me: Sir, as with any big retail chain, the small-time grocers are…
P3: No no, that is a general problem. Tell me, what was the problem in UP?
Me: Sir, in UP, after the BSP government came to power, they were not in favour of the Ambanis, who seem to be on good terms with the SP.
P3: So, what is the current status?
Me: (actually, I had no idea) I think now they have opened some stores there.
P3: OK, have you heard about the Sethusamudram project?
Me: Yes sir.
P3: Can you tell us what it is?
Me: Sir, the Sethusamudram project is about dredging a canal through the Adam’s Bridge, or Ram Setu, between India and Sri Lanka. The present Tamil Nadu government, and to some extent, the Centre, is in favour of it, while the BJP and other so-called nationalist parties are against it, saying that it is Lord Ram’s bridge and it should not be touched. But, beyond the politics of it, I think there are a lot of other issues. For example, there is the environmental angle, that if the canal is made, then Tamil Nadu and Kerala would be more vulnerable to events like the tsunami that occurred in December 2004. Also, it will be prone to piracy and terrorist attacks, because northern Sri Lanka is under the control of the LTTE. And, we cannot compare it to the Suez or Panama canal, where thousands of kilometres were reduced. Here, it is only a few hundred kilometres, and since the canal won’t be too deep, the ships will have to go slower, so even that should be accounted for.
(I saw this question as an opportunity to display both my knowledge and confidence, which I thought were lacking in the earlier answers. Opinions might differ on whether you should take sides on any current issue, but you have to display some thinking, and not just give dogmatic or diplomatic answers)
P3: OK, have you heard of the Tatas’ new car? What is it called?
Me: Sir, it’s the Tata Nano.
P3: Why Nano? What does it mean?
Me: Sir, Nano comes from a Greek word which is a prefix meaning ‘10 to the power of -9′. It is smaller than micro, so for example, we talk about nanotechnology and so on.
P3: Does it have any other meaning?
Me: Umm… I don’t think so.
I do not remember if any other questions were asked, but soon after, P1 looked at the ‘extra-curricular activities’ in my form, and confirmed what each of them were, and if they were at the Mumbai level or national level. And while I was explaining that, they said, ‘ OK, that’s enough. You can leave. Please take a toffee’.
I thought I had not done too well, but after I came out, while I was talking to the next guy in line, his sister (a first-year student there) said, ‘if you have actually said all this, you should get through. They try to stress everyone out like this, but you should just be chilled out’. I think this ’stressing out’ thing applied for most of the interviews in the morning slot, while the ones in the afternoon were all very cool. Whether it was because they were tired or something else, I don’t know. On the whole, I am not sure whether I have done well enough to get a final call, but that’s probably because it is IIMA, so you have to be in the top slot to make it. And after hearing of 100 percentilers not making it to IIMA, you know you can never rest on your percentile to take you through.
Anyway, the next one is IIM Indore on 26th February. I’ll be back with that experience, and maybe a post before that too.
i think sir……….you did well……..have faith if u showed so much coolness then show it a bit more….best of luck:)……..god help u….
jaspal singh
@ Jaspal
Thank you for your wishes. I have confidence in myself, but whether you eventually get through or not is all relative. It depends on how others perform.
Matty! You rule….
All that missed in the whole scenario was your laughter. They would love to have someone with your laugh onboard!!!!
All the best!
hello sir
this is mansi.i am also a CAT aspirant .i am in BSC 2nd year.sir can u please tell me how do u prep and what if i dont have any extra curricular activity certificate.my emailid is mansi18gem@rediffmail.com.please help me sir
hello sir
I am a CAT aspirant and plan to appear in 2009 . Can u please guide me about the following:
1) I donot have much in my extra curricula activities . How much importance or rather weightage is given to this aspect?
2) I have not joined any coaching institute , i am preparing on my own from the study material of a couple of institutes …is that sufficent ?
3) In your posts you have mentioned that the interviewers grilled you on current affairs or G.K. …is that the same for everyone or was it because you prepared for I.A.S …in other words do i have to do a thorough preparation of G.K. for CAT?
my email id is harshini225@aol.in.
and thank you anyways for your posts are valuable guidance.
@ Mansi and Harshini
You need not worry about what you have or do not have looking at others’ experiences. Participate in extra-curricular activities only if you like them, not because its certificate might help you later on. But yes, do keep such certificates safe. They can be an additional bonus.
What you should rather focus on is preparing for CAT, and increasing your general awareness by reading newspapers and good books. Yes, it is possible to prepare for CAT on one’s own, but it helps if you have someone to explain things to you and clarify your doubts. Also, you need to be your own motivator when you study on your own. If you have someone to explain things to you among your friends or family, you need not go to a coaching class.
Matty has become “Sir”… ROTFLOL!!
Buddhe..
=))
@ Surdy
Abe seriously… that’s the worst part about these queries. I mean, I don’t mind answering them, but I hope they don’t call me ‘Sir’.
hiiiiiii sir,
Thax for your valuable inforamations
I am also CAT asprint,now doing first year engineering belonging from Kerala.Since people here are not much aware abt IIMs,guidence to crack CAT is very difficult,so i request you to guide me to crack CATs.. how should I prepare….?.kindly pls provide me systematic preparation method for appearing CAT after 4 years…
@ Arshad
You have a lot of time, so focus on your basics. Read a lot, be aware of the latest news in all fields, especially business and politics, and be in touch with your maths fundamentals. That is enough for now, and you can worry about more serious preparation later. All the best.
hey wts WIMWI? and all da very best…..
n truly dis is of gr8 help….to everyone……thnx a ton!
WIMWI stands for Well-known Institute of Management in Western India.
Hi,your posts r very useful! i am dng my B.tech 3rd yr IITG, i am Cat-2008 aspirant.I attend IMS classes,apart 4m that I have not started my prep seriously yet.Plz guide me how I should prepare nd how much time I should devote 4 cat
@ Mounica
Besides whatever you will be taught at IMS, you should get hold of previous years’ CAT papers and solve them completely. I mean, solve it in the given time, and then go back to each and every question (right, wrong or unattempted) and analyse it in detail.
Also, do keep reading a lot. That will help your verbal skills as well as your general awareness.
All the best.
Hello Chitranshu,
I just want to know how much and what you prepared n order to get selected for the IIM interviews.Im doing my I.T second year in Chennai and will be appearing for the CAT in 2009.Can u guide me specifically on what are the fields i need to prepare well in so that i be eligible to attend an IIM interview?
@ Vishal
Firstly, you’ll have to do well in CAT, for which you have to be really good with your school-level maths and english. Also, read a lot (newspapers, books, magazines, online articles, etc), as that will help your verbal skills and general knowledge.
Thanks a lot for your guidance Chitranshu.
By the way have u been selected into any of the IIMs finally? Or ur waiting for the results?Pls let me know
@ Vishal
As soon as I know my results, I shall write about them on this blog.
Hey Chitranshu,
I wanna thank you from the core of my heart. Thanks for taking the initiative of sharing ur GD/PI experiences and narrating them so wonderfully…..I am truly oblidged..
Keep up the good work and rock on
Bless ya
hi chitranshu
im presntly doin b.tech(cse) final yr prepin fr cat 2008 i hav jus 62% agg in my b.tech till now nd hav no wrk ex-ep will i be able 2 get into iim-a aaaa
hats off chitranshu………dude keep on sharing ur experiences abt ur life in iim (if got selected) and abt the courses.
all the best and may god fulfill all ur dreams.
@ Bhagyashree and Shailesh
Thanks.
@ Akhil
It is possible, but you will just have to work harder than others, and be ready to face lots of questions.
Hi Chitranshu,
I was in the same panel as you at the IIMA and IIMC process this year.I have been following your blog since a month or so and I must admit its very well written. Taking inspiration from you, I too have started blogging my GD-PI experiences. You can find it at http://ameyamaddy.wordpress.com/. By the way, which calls did you convert? I won’t be surprised to know if you’ve converted all 6. I had 5 calls (all except B) and managed to convert 4 (all except C). Would definitely like to stay in touch. Cheers!
@ Ameya
Congrats. I have a waitlist in A. Let’s hope I clear that and we meet in WIMWI.
@Chitranshu,
I really hope you get through man! Keep me posted. All the best!
hi sir
how was ur study planner in order 2 crack cat 2007 plz tell me
so dat i can follow it up nd try 2 crack it
chitranshu ,
keep it up?
well jst wanna knw……r interviews always on d unexpected side……like many of my knowns have told me that d CAT interviews r always unexpected like it cn b related to anything…….is it?
Hi Mr.Chitranshu,
I m a new aspirant to IIM .I have plans to write CAT exams next year.What books and web pages should I use to get started. Please Help me.
it was an absolute delight to read thru ur exp……:) n the knowledge that u sharared
@ Akhil and Ramya
Well, I have already written enough about my own experience with CAT. But it depends from person to person. How much you need to prepare depends on what your current level is, and there is no one fixed formula. I taught at IMS, so things were relatively easier for me.
@ kishlaya
Yes, you can say that most interviews are on the ‘unexpected’ side. But then, that is the moral of the story: that don’t expect anything for sure. Just prepare as best you can, and keep a cool head and be ready for anything. And I have seen people whose interviews were very predictable, dull, boring and so on.
hi it is really good that ur sharing ur experiences with many of us like me.iam raj frm vizag i have completed my grad with 60% in 2005 frm past 2yrs iam working in an insurance sector of india infoline,so can i apply for cat 2009.does my gap after my grad will be a minus point in applying for it.
can we apply for cat after doing my mba also
plz reply me
sir, although i am studing in IIT, I have am having a horrible record after 10th and before being selected for IIT.
I scored 68% in 12th , and after that i dropped two years before finally i cleared JEE.I want to know if this will seriously hinder my chances into getting into an IIM.
Please give me some suggestions if those are bad things for me.
THANKING YOU!
@ Raj and Kriti
Gaps in your student career will always be questioned, but if you can give a reasonable answer and convince them that you actually grew and learnt something even in that period, it need not be a negative point.
However, all this will come into play only in the interview. The exam is the same for everyone, and that is what you have to look at first.
people like u r boon in cruel society.atleast u took the initiative to help others.
hats off to IIMAian,our future entrepreneur.
i m trying everything for CAT but not getting the complete hold of it.i m unable to clear cutoffs of mock tests,suggest me.
i m not comfortable with the english section.i do read good books,articles but still not performing well.
seriously i m dedicated towards CAT.i want to be there,out of the crowd.
i am not losing my confidence but it hurts.
u r following the example of chetan bhagat,first IIT then IIM…
cheers
@ amit
blindly taking tests will not help. you should try to understand the funda behind each and every question, those which you get wrong and even the ones you get right.
and yes, stay confident. that is the thing which will help you most.
HI, I m preparing for Cat 2009 .n working as a s/w engg in tcs..so with this i’ll be showing work exp of three years.
-do u think work exp would help me in interviews n lighten the grilling ?
-I wasnt in sports at all but have been active in Painting and art field , have got a lot of certificates..will this make a difference ?
Hi,
I am preparing for CAT 2009, I am doing my btech in ICT from DA-IICT, Amedabad. I am in third year , I want to ask u if the projects i do or if I participate in competetions like Imagine cup, TGMC will they have any effect on my PI
@ Priyanka
Your work-ex will give you an advantage in the overall evaluation, but not in the interview. You should be prepared to be grilled a lot about your job.
Any extra-currics are a plus. They need not be anything specific like sports. Painting is equally good.
@ Pran
If you have any significant achievements especially at the national level, they can be a plus point, but you should be prepared to talk about them and be grilled about them.
can u tell me how to get a comand over grammer, i worry cuz i feel i wont be able to cross cutoff.
tel me wat are the no. of que. come in english section
i.e. 8 from grammer, 15 from passage,
because im unable to judge exact strategy to go through them.
hello sir my dream is to do mba through CAT in IIM A/B/C.only.
can u please advice me how to prepare for cat
Sir, I am doing my engineering B.Tech in Avionics (Aircraft Electronics) and I am preparing for CAT. What should I say when I am asked how I want to relate my field of study to management? Why I want to do MBA when I can join R&D in Aerospace and Avionics field?…. Please Help.
hai sir ,
i am currently doing my b.e . i wanted to ask you how ne should go for preparation for iim