There are a ton of things said about IIM Ahmedabad – how it hosts the brightest minds of the country, how it brands you for life and even how difficult it is to get in. One can always talk about the clubs, the architecture and the teaching material. But once you’re in, there are many tiny things which make the hallowed halls of this red-brick wonder the place to be – things only seen from the inside.

Faculty:

The pedagogy of the institute is widely talked about and heavily borrows from the Harvard style of teaching. The case-based method stresses a lot more on application than theoretical knowledge. While that sounds amazing, the real superstars of IIM Ahmedabad are the professors. In simple terms, they don’t teach. The hour-and-a-quarter lectures are complete sessions with theatrics, philosophy and lessons on life. Some put you in a hot-seat and play KBC with you. Some derive marketing lessons from Bollywood classics. While some put in hidden gems to discover while teaching the most banal of things, say, the mathematical derivation of the BSM model.

Culture:

Everything at IIM Ahmedabad drips with a culture cultivated for over more than five decades. The campus is littered with references to IIM Ahmedabad's past and how it has progressed while keeping in touch with its roots. Everyone at campus makes conscious efforts to celebrate and learn from the institutes legacy, an example of which is here – the recently established IIM Ahmedabad Archives website.

Students:

Even when someone talks about diversity at IIM Ahmedabad for hours, it’s still under-emphasized. A typical class constitutes CAs, lawyers, rocket scientists, fashion designers, ex-consultants and freshers – a hard bunch to find at one single place. And it is not just who these people are – it’s what all they have done. From international sportsmen to classical Hindustani music performers, successful entrepreneurs to social activists and from Masters’ graduates to freshers – one finds and learns from each individual at this common place everyone calls their home.

Library:

The Vikram Sarabhai Library is without a doubt the single-most appreciated space on campus. The library hosts a reading space, working space, discussion rooms and a kid’s section across five floors. More than a library, it’s a place for discovery. It offers some amazing services such as 3D printing, VR gear, e-Book readers and countless databases and news services. When one’s done the exploring, there are sleeping pods on the third floor!

Alumni:

The alumni at IIM-A are not simply students who have graduated. These are people who have lived experiences of a lifetime here. It’s not uncommon to find people reminiscing just outside your room – just to find they are alums who are just checking out who’s occupying their old rooms. Everyone has stories from their campus life – crazy discussions, near- “death” experiences and times of boundless fun – which tethers them firmly to the red bricks.

The thousands of things on campus teach you a million others. The threat of 8:44:59 entry in morning classes is absolute, the 1:45 quiz notifications are no joke and there are no negotiations on the 11:59:59 deadlines. The rigid schedules, tight deadlines and the cliched “academic rigour” make sure that the “A” in IIM Ahmedabad stands for academics but the faculty, students and everyone else on campus make sure that the rollercoaster ride is worth it.

Must Read If You Are Interested In IIM Ahmedabad: How I Got Into IIM Ahmedabad Defying All Odds In My 2nd Attempt

Qualities Necessary To Get Into IIM Ahmedabad

Even 100%ile May Not Be Enough To Get You Into IIM Ahmedabad

About the Author:

Aayush Gupta is a current MBA student at IIM Ahmedabad. He is a management graduate from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi.

Aayush Gupta

5 Things That Make IIM Ahmedabad Special