Know how Ananya Mishra cleared the WAT-GD-PI at IIM Ahmedabad

Ananya Mishra

Once the result of CAT 2016 was announced, Ananya Mishra was determined to secure a seat in a top B-School. Soon, when she received a call from IIM Ahmedabad, it was a dream come true for her, and she knew that she had to give in her best and make the most of the moment. 

Clearing the Written Ability Test, Group Discussion and Personal Interview at IIM Ahmedabad is not a piece of cake, but CAT 2016 qualifier Ananya impressed the panelists. Here is what she recalls about her interview experience at IIM Ahmedabad. 

The interview was scheduled in the afternoon slot on March 10, 2017.

WAT Topic:

An argument of an anonymous author was presented in the problem sheets. It stated that 24*7 channels do not possess quality content, they are responsible for distracting the children and we should revert to the old practice of having just a couple of channels. We were asked to analyse the argument. 

Me: I analysed the strengths and weaknesses of the argument. I tried to find out if the author had substantiated the argument with any evidence. Since it was his personal opinion, it was an argument which was subjective in nature. I also tried to find out the assumptions that were made by the author and wrote about them also. I also wrote about the pros and cons of moving back to the old practice. 

The next round was the Personal Interview round. The panelist consisted of 2 male Professors, both of around 50 years. I was the 6^th person to go in for the PI. P2 asked me come in and said that he would be back in a couple of minutes. 

P1: It has been quite a long wait for you. You must have been discussing about the how the interviews of the other people went.

Me: No sir. As a matter of fact I was trying to get to know the other candidates in the panel. One of them is from USA and it was interesting to know his story. 

P1: Okay. I see. There are also quite a few from your college. Did you know them before?

Me: Well I am friends with one of them (told them the name). But our college has quite a few departments, so it is difficult to know them all. But I have seen them around in the campus. 

P1: You must be having placement offers. Which company?

Me: ZS Associates. 

P2 enters.

P1 to P2: Hey you know she is joining ZS Associates. They smile at each other.

P2: Really? Are you happy that you were placed there? You must have been thrown out of placements after getting the offer? Do you regret that?

Me: Told them how I would learn a lot there. The feedback from my seniors working there is also good. It was also the dream company to get into for many. I am happy to get the offer from such an organization. 

P1: So Company ZS Associates deals in the sales and marketing of Pharma industry. Do you know how this industry is doing?

Me: Told a little bit about the scenario in USA. 

P2: Name a subject which is of great significance that you have learnt during Engineering.

Me: Told them about iron and steel making and how important steel has been for the world. 

P2: How is steel made from iron?

Me: Told them about the process and how Carbon needs to be removed. 

P2: Why remove Carbon?

Me: Told about problems of having high carbon. 

P1: Graphite is Carbon and so is diamond. How is this possible?

Me: Told how they exist in different forms. 

P1: Why does this happen with Carbon only?

Me: I had no definite answer. I told them about the valency of carbon, the electronic configuration, and how carbon forms different types of bonds. 

P1 was satisfied. Looked happy when I said valency. 

P2: Your grades are quite good. Still coming for MBA? Did you not like engineering?

P1: Are your grades like peacock’s feathers? Did you just earn them so that it looks good? In that case even if you don’t like it in a B-School you will do well. How do we know you like what you do?

Me: Sir there are always topics you like and some you don’t. I personally believe one cannot do well if he or she doesn’t like what he or she is doing. Even if you look at my individual subject grades you will see that there are subjects in which I have fared badly, which shows that I cannot perform well if I don’t like what I am doing. 

P2: What else did you do in college?

Me: I told them about the business competition my team won in our college and how we went to represent the college internationally. 

P1: What was your business plan?

Me: Told.

Some discussion followed on that. 

P1: Do you have any hobbies?

Me: Told them about dancing. 

P1: What are the various classical dance forms in India?

Me: Told. (I had missed one)

P1: You have missed one. There is a state of the same name.

Me: I am sorry Sir! I have missed Manipuri. 

P1: Smiles. Why did most of them originate in the South?

Me: Told them they were ancient classical forms. They were performed in temples mostly. 

P1: What about Kathak?

Me: They were mostly performed in the courts of the Nawabs. 

P1: Where they performed in praise of the kings?

Me: Sir as far as I know, I think they were in praise of God mostly. 

P1 seemed satisfied.

P1: Do you know about Manipuri?

Me: No sir. I don’t know much about Manipuri. 

P1: Okay Ananya! That will be all. All the best. 

P2: Take a candy.

Me: Thank you Sir! 

Verdict: Converted!

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