Life @ IIM Ahmedabad: Nitin Porwal shares campus life, academics, culture & career growth
Kicking off the series is Life at IIM Ahmedabad, with Nitin Porwal, a Chartered Accountant who turned his childhood exposure to business into a dream seat at IIMA.
With CAT 2025 just around the corner, thousands of MBA aspirants are eager to know what life is truly like at India’s top business schools. To answer that, Shiksha.com has the series Life @ IIM — a candid window into the journey, struggles, and successes of students across all Indian Institutes of Management.
This series on student life at IIMs not just talks about what is there in brochures and their rankings, it brings an insider’s perspective on the IIM student's experience at the campus, from talking about their academic rigor and case-based pedagogy approach to the vibrant IIM culture and their unique fests, hostel traditions at these colleges, and peer learning. CAT aspirants will find this series helpful in understanding how IIMs shape careers, leadership skills, and personal growth of its students.
Life at IIM Ahmedabad with Nitin Porwal (PGP- 2024-26)
Q. Tell us about yourself and your journey at IIM Ahmedabad?
Nitin: I was born in a Marwari family where business and finance were everyday conversations, learning first-hand about this from my father’s grocery business. That early immersion into business led me to my Chartered Accountancy path, which I cleared in the first attempt in July 2021. For my CA Articleship, I worked with EY for three years in Statutory Audit.
I wanted to be at IIM Ahmedabad for its unparalleled culture of intellectual curiosity and the freedom it offers to challenge conventional thinking. The campus is a crucible for new ideas, diverse perspectives, and meaningful collaborations — far beyond financial expertise or leadership. For all obvious reasons, IIM-Ahmedabad was a dream institute as long as I could remember.
Q. Why did you choose this IIM over others where you got admission offers?
Nitin: I had been living in Ahmedabad for seven years before joining the campus as a student, having completed both my articleship and my professional stint in the city. Over time, Ahmedabad had naturally become my comfort zone.
Yet, stepping onto this campus felt like entering a different world altogether. The stories I had heard — about the iconic red-brick walls, the vibrant events, the academic rigour, and the unique culture — had always made this place feel aspirational. So, when the opportunity came, there was nowhere else I envisioned myself to be.
Q. Describe your first week on campus – what stood out the most?
Nitin: IIM PGP students from non-engineering backgrounds are invited to attend a preparatory course in Quantitative Methods before the regular session. As a non-engineering student, I was given the opportunity to join campus early.
The first week was truly overwhelming, whether it was my initial visit to the iconic Louis Kahn Plaza, exploring the classrooms, the library, or the sports facilities. While every aspirant dreams of experiencing these spaces — often having seen them through countless vlogs — being there in person is an entirely different experience.
Q. How would you describe academic culture: competitive, collaborative, or a mix of both?
Nitin: The academic culture at IIM Ahmedabad is both dynamic and multifaceted, blending competition with genuine collaboration. The curriculum’s rigor and the institute’s evaluation systems naturally cultivate a competitive spirit, encouraging students to perform at their best.
Yet, the profound emphasis on teamwork—whether through peer learning, group projects, or campus organizations—ensures that collaborative effort remains equally central to academic life, mirroring the realities of professional life. Students quickly realize that their journey extends beyond coursework. Group assignments, constant deadlines, vibrant club activities, and a wealth of campus experiences contribute to a holistic environment where learning is not confined to the classroom. This balanced ecosystem fosters excellence while equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in diverse real-world scenarios.
Q. What’s one unique academic tradition or teaching style you’ve experienced here?
Nitin: One distinctive academic tradition at IIM Ahmedabad is its emphasis on case-based pedagogy, which encourages students to engage deeply with real-world management scenarios and decision-making. Surprise quizzes, field visits, and project-based work further enrich the process. What truly sets the experience apart is the approachability and support offered by professors, fostering an environment of continuous learning and growth.
Q. How do you balance intense academics with extra-curricular activities?
Nitin: You gradually develop the ability to prioritize as you navigate the demands of campus life at IIM Ahmedabad. Each day brings a mix of academic deadlines, extra-curricular commitments, and opportunities for personal interaction.
Inevitably, the sleep schedule suffers, but the trade-off feels worthwhile considering the skills, friendships, and memories you gain. This dynamic environment not only strengthens your sense of discipline and flexibility but also prepares you for the fast-paced nature of professional life.
Q. Tell us about hostel life, social life? Any interesting ritual or tradition you want to discuss?
Nitin: The IIM Ahmedabad campus which is fully residential, its dorms become a second home for the students, where students bond over late-night discussions, joint study sessions, and spontaneous celebrations.
Traditions like Diwali decorations, movie outings, midnight birthday celebrations, and friendly dorm rivalries create bond. Students often pull “all-nighters” for assignments and equally enjoy late-night tea at “Bhavesh Bhai”.
The social scene is brought to life by numerous student clubs, cultural activities, and competitive events, this makes IIM Ahmedabad campus life unique.The social scene is brought to life by numerous student clubs, cultural activities, and competitive events, this makes IIM Ahmedabad campus life unique.
Q. How has being at this IIM shaped your career plans and personal growth?
Nitin: IIM Ahmedabad's rigorous academics, industry-focused curriculum, and peer-driven learning environment have helped me develop strategic thinking, resilience, and adaptability.
At IIM Ahmedabad, an important aspects is quality of peer interactions that we get to do. These exchanges bring together diversified perspectives from our classmates who come from varied backgrounds. Such learning with peers sharpens our analytical and interpersonal skill.
Through participative classroom methods, group assignments, and cultural diversity, IIMA creates the ideal atmosphere for holistic growth.
Q. One piece of advice for someone preparing to join this IIM.
Nitin: Do everything it takes to make it to your dream IIM. IIM Ahmedabad is truly worth every bit of commitment and effort. Be consistent and trust the process.
Having a good academic profile for IIM admission is very critical. The top 6 IIMs lay a lot of emphasis on Class 10 and Class 12 score for selection of candidates for WAT-PI round. The academic profile is evaluated again at the time of preparation of final merit list. It has been seen in the past that some candidates despite having 99+ percentile, were not selected for PI round due to low score in Class 12.
The academic profile is assessed for academic as well as gender diversity. Which means a candidate who studied Arts in Class 12 may be selected for PI with lower marks than a candidate who studied Science in Class 12.
Candidates aiming for IIMs must know that while the importance of academic profile is very important for top IIMs, it is moderately important for rest of the IIMs. For, other top MBA colleges, overall profile matters more than academic score. So, if you do not have superlative scores in Class 10 and 12, build a good profile with work experience and extra curricular activities to increase your chances of selection.
Yes, the CAT accepting MBA colleges conduct either GD/PI or WAT/PI. Since MBA is a professional course about business and team management, personality assessment round is essential to ensure that the aspirant has the flair for management which can be polished during the programme. Communication skills, problem solving ability, management and leadership are essential qualities for MBA thus, every B-School conducts GD/PI or WAT/PI.
IIM waitlist means the number students who are kept waiting for the second shortlist. The institutes select a number of students for admission out of which some miss the first list due to a few points. Such students are kept in waitlist incase any candidate from the first list chooses to not appear for WAT-PI. Those who are kept in the waitlist are invited for WAT-PI if there are seats remaining to be filled after WAT-PI round of the first batch of the students. Also read: IIM Waitlist Movement - Meaning and Past Trends
Apart from the CAT scores, B-schools consider candidates' written and spoken communication skills through Written Ability Test or Essay Writing, Group Discussion and Personal Interview rounds. The B-schools also consider candidates' overall profile such as past academic records, work experience and extracurricular activities or abilities. Candidates Class 12 scores and overall academic profile plays a decisive role in selection as institutes look for consistency in excellence.
The CAT admission process for non-IIMs includes Written Ability Test (WAT) or Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). For admission the institutes also take into consideration candidate's academic record and work experience. Overall, the admission process of all CAT accepting colleges is same where selection is based on candidate's overall personality, communication ability and consistency in academics.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
There are plenty of statistics that cadidates canuse to judge which institute is best for them for pursing an MBA course. In terms of reputation, IIM, Ahmedabad has one of the highest reputations of any MBA institute. However, this results in a significantly higher MBA fees at IIM, Ahmedabad which i
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
IIM Ahmedabad's selection criteria is entrance-based for the offered courses. Students need to meet both the basic eligibility and clear the selection rounds as well. Check out the table below to know about the selection criteria for IIM Ahmedabad:
| Courses | Selection Criteria |
|---|---|
| PGP | CAT + Analytical Writing Test (AWT) + Personal Interview (PI) |
| PGP-FABM | CAT + Analytical Writing Test (AWT) + Personal Interview (PI) |
| e-PGP | CAT/ GMAT/ GRE/ IIMA Admission Test (IAT) + Personal Interview (PI) |
| MBA-PGPX | Valid GMAT/ GRE score + Essay submission + PI round |
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
For admission to the MBA programme at IIM Ahmedabad, the required CAT score varies by category. Based on the previous year's cutoff (2024), candidates need an overall percentile rank of 80 for General and EWS categories, 75 for NC-OBC and transgender candidates, and 70 for SC category candidates. I
H
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, IIM Ahmedabad does have a reservation policy for MBA/ PGP programmes. As per the Government of India requirement, 27% of the seats are reserved for NC-OBC, 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST candidates, 5% for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD), and up to 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (E
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 months ago
To apply for MBA courses at IIM Ahmedabad, candidates are required to follow certain eligibility requirements. Firstly, applicants must ensure that they have completed a bachelor's degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (in the case of the candidate belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC)/
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 months ago
No, you cannot pursue and online CMLT course from IIM Ahmedabad because it does not offers that course. You can opt for Manipal academy or IGNOU for CMLT course.
K
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 6 months ago
The University College London institution bases its operations in London, United Kingdom not United States. UCL MBA shares its reputation with the IIM Ahmedabad MBA but serves diverse types of career aspirations. The Indian market-oriented candidates benefit most from IIM Ahmedabad's programs becaus
K
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 7 months ago
IIM Ahmedabad is a top-ranked business school in India with global recognition, strong industry connections, and high placement rates. Aston University in UK is well-regarded, especially for international exposure, but it does not match IIM Ahmedabad's prestige in management education. If your goal
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Beginner-Level 5
CAT score is a national level test and is not accepted by B-Schools outside India. For pursuing MBA in foreign countries GMAT score is accepted. Indian B-Schools accept GMAT score for admitting foreign/NRI/PIO students.
CAT is also accepted for Executive MBA, PhD, FPM and other such management programmes in top colleges in India. Similarly, GMAT is also accepted for admission to domestic students in to Executive MBA and such programmes.