Interviews are meant to be tough, nerve wracking, stress inducing affairs and that's what I believed as well before I came across the experience I'll be talking about today.
Being a fresher, I didn't expect much to come out of my efforts this year, but having secured a modest percentile I started preparing for the interviews, having only a sliver of hope of getting into a top B-school. I interviewed with IMT Ghaziabad, IIM Amritsar and gave the CAP interviews as well. But, out of all these my IIM Rohtak interview left me feeling absolutely crushed. I couldn't manage to answer almost a single question despite having prepared. Disheartened I wondered whether all my efforts would be in vain.
That's when I got the PI call for SoM. I never thought that my interview would go as smoothly as it did leave behind finally converting the call. But, I really didn't have anything to lose and despite coaching centres warning me that my chance of conversion was quite low, I embarked on yet another Herculean task.
Before the interview we got to know that it would take place on a gamified platform, online in lieau of COVID-19 and that got me feeling even more stressed! There would be the interview and a document verification process on the same day. As for the interviewers, I had heard that one of them would a SoM alumnus, a SoM professor and a professor from IIT Bombay to check our technical competencies. Quite the challenge!
On the day of the interview I ventured onto the platform and to my suprise it turned to be one of the most pleasant experiences I ever had. I got the chance to interact with fellow candidates, existing students and it really helped soothe the nerves.
As for the interview...I was asked some really interesting questions. From which of my parents were more strict, to describing what my eye condition is (I wear glasses), it really touched on everything I had prepared and so much more. And I was accused of cheating while the interview was going on! But instead of freezing up I persevered. And that's what probably got me over the line. A small tip to fellow aspirants, brush up your probability skills, it might just help.
I came out of the interview exhausted. I couldn't answer everything correctly, but this was probably the best interview I had ever given and I was satisified. I exited of the virtual room, shred my experience, chilled for a bit, got my documents verified and then left after wishing everyone the very best of luck.
A senior told me that day that he too was a fresher and if he could make it ti SoM anyone could. And today I say the same thing. So, the very best of luck to all of you and hope to see you on the other side.
