With the CAT done and dusted, the only hurdle that lies in front of MBA aspirants is the WAT GD-PI processes. And what better than to learn from the experience of those who have already made their way through the same hurdles. In this article, we share one such WAT-PI experience for admission in IIM Lucknow.
Candidate: Lakshay Gupta
Candidate Profile:
Xth: 8.4 GPA
XIIth: 91%
Undergrad: 7.6 GPA (Engineer)
CAT Percentile: 99.69%ile
IIM Lucknow WAT Topic: Is the US-China trade war a zero-sum game?
IIM Lucknow Interview Experience:
Panelists: 2 Panelists [ 1 Male & 1 Female Professor from Lucknow & Noida campus respectively]
[ During the whole interaction, there was primarily one interviewer who was throwing the questions and the other was mostly observing (Probably the body language)]
Follow up question on WAT Write-up:
This question stemmed from the mention of game theory in my writeup. I explained the concept and how it was linked to the topic in macroeconomic terms.
Since I was a computer science graduate with no economics background, discussion flowed towards how I was exposed to the said concepts. I told them about my game development stints and newfound interest in the geopolitical scenario.
Question on interests:
A few questions on the gaming industry and the upcoming new trends in the industry along with the incumbent major players were also asked.
The panelists also raised concerns that gaming could deter me from my academic priorities especially since an MBA is a rigorous course.
P1 asked a certain trivia on gaming that I wasn’t able to answer satisfactorily. I accepted that I didn’t know the answer.
After having mentioned reading as a hobby, A question on the last book I read and key insights from the same was also put up.
Question on marks in certain subjects during under-graduation:
I told them how my lack of clarity and newfound freedom affected my grades, how I found inspiration and the journey to bounce back up. I was weak in certain areas but was strong in the ones that make a computer graduate, industry-ready. I talked about the projects I undertook.
Question on work experience: role and responsibilities:
I told about the 2 companies I had worked with and my role in them.
Explanation for the gap between the employment:
I was able to satisfactorily justify the reason regarding a challenging time during my last employment and how I handled it.
Follow up remarks:
The Interview was over by this time and I was picking up my folder to leave. The Interviewer answered the Gaming trivia I was unable to answer. Upon giving the same a bit of thought, I gave the rationale why that might not be the correct answer. He was satisfied with the answer and accepted that there was a flawed assumption while making the question.
Verdict: Converted
General pointers from the Interviewee:
● Interviewers generally look for a good fit to the institute and the course in a candidate,
● Make sure to have a topic that you can talk about inside out and try to direct the interview on that strength of yours.
● In case you don’t know something, it is recommended to humbly accept it. Staying true to who you are will go a long way.
● Panelists generally look for candidates with enough self-awareness to understand their failures & successes and a drive to constantly improve. Additionally, it will be great if one can draw out the learnings from their failures.
● A relaxed body language and a jovial face would help relax both the candidate and the interviewer. Usually, this has a subconscious effect on the confidence and quality of answers delivered.
Interview preparation tips:
● About yourself + Life experiences
○ School, College, Work Experience
○ Hometown, other cities you might have lived in.
● Hobbies and interests
○ You must have a strong knowledge base in whatever you claim to be your hobby.
● MBA related questions
○ Why MBA? | Why this campus?
● News
○ National | International
○ More than facts, informed opinion is what they seek [ Editorial helps ]
● Miscellaneous
○ Static GK: Indian Polity, Indian History, Indian Geography
○ Anything that gives the interviewer the impression that you are an inquisitive and informed individual
○ Know a bit about the city and state of the campus
About the Author:-
Lakshay Gupta hails from Delhi. He is currently pursuing an MBA from IIM Lucknow. He will be interning with Microsoft, Hyderabad in Product Management. He has completed his graduation in B.Tech Computer Science from VIT University, Vellore. He has worked in GE, Mumbai and a startup in Noida, cumulatively for a period of 21 months. He has a knack for devouring novels, making artwork and dancing uncaringly. Cycling is something that pumps him up and he can often be found cycling in and outside the campus.