Background
I completed my Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2020 from FLAME University, Pune; post which I pursued a one-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies and Research from the same university. Following this, I completed a one-year Master’s in Industrial Psychology from Erasmus University, Netherlands, in 2022.
Why BITSoM?
My goal of pursuing a Master’s in Industrial Psychology was linked to my desire to enter the field of HR. Post my Master’s I recognized that while my course had prepared me for the human-side and nuances of HR, I did not have any business knowledge. I had attempted to look for job but kept hitting a wall with regard to this lack. To be able to upskill myself, I decided to further by education through either a PhD or an MBA. I appeared for the GRE exam alongside a few other Indian MBA entrances, since I was uncertain about what decision to make. It was only after my GRE exam got over that my father and I found out that BITSoM was a new MBA college that also considered GRE scores.
Once we had gone through the university website, I decide to attend a virtual info session on BITSoM. Attending the session made the choice of applying to BITSoM very easy. The conversation regarding the structure of the program, the Personality Development Program, and the fact that student selection was profile based, were all very attractive. Post the session, BITSoM ended up being the first MBA college that I completed my application for.
Interview Experience:
The gap between my application submission and getting the call for an interview was very short. I had applied at the start of the second round of applications, and heard back within a week. During the virtual session on BITSoM, I had been made aware that the interviews focused on the candidate’s profile in detail, rather than focusing on subject knowledge or general knowledge. So, once I selected my interview date, I wasn’t completely sure how to prepare for it, apart from carefully going over my application profile.
My interview took place on 21st December 2022. Right from the beginning, I was told that the discussion was meant to be conversational and that the interviewers just wanted to get to know me better. They made me feel extremely comfortable, and it became very easy to fall into the flow of conversation with them. The initial part of the conversation was focused on my interest in Psychology and about a 6-month internship experience in recruitment and HR that I had had. They asked me questions about the projects that I had executed, what aspects I enjoyed about them, what difficulties I faced, and how I would change some aspects of it. It was a very pleasant conversation, because they picked a project that I had extensively mentioned in my application, and one that I was very proud of. The interview also felt like the interviewers wanted to hear my perspective and experiences, rather than give them answers that they wanted to hear.
The second part of my interview focused on my desire to join BITSoM and specifically, pursue a second Master’s after I had already completed one. I found this section of the interview to be most memorable. My interviewer started by telling me that my current profile looked ready for someone who wanted to get into HR, why then did I want to do another Master’s? After I informed him that I wanted to substantiate my field knowledge with business knowledge so that I could have a more holistic understanding of my domain, he asked questions that pushed me to reflect on my decision. I was asked if I was sure about my choice, if I realised how the courses in the MBA would be very different from subjects I had studied before, and if I recognised the amount of rigor the course would demand from of me. I found this conversation memorable because it also encouraged me to reflect on the reasons why I was making this choice and how sure was I really about the decision.
At no point during my interview process did I feel uncomfortable or intimidated. They ensured that there was sufficient room for me to ask questions give answers in as much detail as I felt necessary. The interview lasted for 45-50 minutes, and by the end of the interview I was convinced that BITSoM would be my first choice of college, if I got selected.
For anyone who is looking to apply to BITSoM or is currently preparing for their interview, I would suggest that they are very well-versed with their own application. Take time to fill out your application and fill it with the things about that you believe are your strengths. The interview process focuses on the sides of you that your application has brought out. So, take the application as a chance to showcase all of the aspects and achievements of yourself that you are particularly proud of. Also, during the interview, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to steer the conversation the direction that you want it to flow. Take opportunities to bring up your strengths, and moments where you have overcome any weaknesses. The interviewers at a BITSoM interview genuinely want to listen to what you have to say.