Group Discussion (GD) Topics & PI Experience by Bisharah Saeed, RBS, Kochi

In a recent conversation with Shiksha, Bisharah Saeed talks about his experience of GD & PI process for admission at Rajagiri Business School, Kochi. He talks about the questions asked by the panelists and also has a few tips for aspiring students.

Yes. GD & PI process is mandatory for all programs in Rajagiri irrespective of what you choose.

1. Is India ready for a digitalised world?

2. Discuss the upsides and downsides of introducing digital payments in India.

I focused on certain topics like cashless transactions, using the internet in today's world, difficulties faced by old people using the internet, underdeveloped infrastructure, etc.

Spontaneous research, writing down bullet points, answering only when necessary but answering with valid points, talking calmly, not getting impatient, respecting other's opinions, etc.

No, I didn't take any help from coaching centres.

Approximately 15 participants and 3 panelists.

The panelists consisted of professors at Rajagiri and for me, they weren’t too difficult to tackle because they didn't ask me questions that seemed to be too tough. It was more like a friendly conversation and some discussions regarding my work experience. The overall strategy to clear the interview would be to stay calm, focused and answer the questions to the point. Not panicking is an important criterion. Even if we don't know the answer, it is okay to say no as long as you can come up with a valid reason why you don't know the answer. On the other hand, I would also like to point out that the interview process can vary according to the panelists.

Self-introduction, details about my work experience and why I chose Rajagiri.

With the help of YouTube videos and constantly practising at home.

I felt it went okay because I was able to answer their questions and showed no signs of tension. Even if I didn't know the answer to a question, I had made up mind not to panic in front of them.

Personally, I think this is subjective because what I understood was that there is a limit to which books and coaching can help you. What one person might feel comfortable with, others might not be. Before attending the interview at Rajagiri, I attended 2 other interviews and I feel this experience is what helped me secure the admission at Rajagiri.

I never panicked and I think this is what each student needs to master before an interview. I would not want to change any moment. As I said earlier, the interview process went pretty much smoothly.

It was a pretty good experience. I mean you really get to know your strengths and weaknesses after the interview which lets you know what should be improved for the next time. Also, sitting in front of experienced professors and answering their questions helps you to increase your self-confidence and gain insights about how an interview would be like which can also be useful when you are applying for jobs. The GD process lets you know how you should behave in a meeting and to respect others' opinions and counter them politely. On a personal note, I am really satisfied with the interview process.

It all depends on your confidence. Never get stressed or tensed during both sessions, especially PI. Stay calm. If you don't know, just say no rather than saying something entirely out of context. In GD, if you start first you get extra marks but doesn't mean you will fail if you don't. Just write down important points and when you feel the time is right, share your points but never ask another student to be quiet or reply in an impolite way.

It is not just about saying a 100 points. Its about saying a few valid points at the right time and creating an impact.

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