Wednesday, March 28, 2007

IIM - C : The one with the blog..

And so the final installment of the IIM interviews is here. The C interview. From the very beginning I gave myself a good chance of making it to C because of the following reasons:
1. They do not give weightage to your academic record. Other IIMs do.
2. Of all the other IIMs, they are rumoured to give maximum weightage to the CAT score (something around 70% for a fresher) And your's truly managed a 99.89 percentile!!
3. My instincts said I'd get C hands-down.

Anyhoo, the panel consisted of 3 interviewers. Two of them were supposed to be faculty and the third an alumnus of IIM-C. P1, P2 and P3 are the interviewers. I do have a vague idea as to who was the alumnus guy but as most of you who attended the Splash must be knowing, "We stand for the truth.. ONLY the truth!" :P

P1 came outside and called me in. I entered the room to see the interviewers engrossed in a discussion. Couldn't overhear anything substantial. They asked me to take my seat and I thanked them in return.

P1: Good afternoon Mr. Srinivasan. How are you doing?
Me: I am doing great sir. Thank you.
P2: Good. Now tell me about yourself.
Me: blah blah..
P1: So your dad works in a bank. So you must be knowing quite a bit about the Indian Banking Industry.
Me: *oops.. wrong footed start.. Red Alert red alert!* hehe.. No sir. I wouldnt call myself very knowledgeable when it comes to the banking industry.
P1: Why? Your dad never talks about work with you?
Me: No sir. That's not it. There was a time when I wanted to get into the banking industry. When I was very young. However my dad said I was not suited to be in the banking industry.
P2: Do you mean that he found you unfit to get into the banking industry?
Me: No sir, I dont think he meant that. And possibly he made the statement in jest or a fit of frustration. And me not being suited for the banking industry was his personal comment and not my opinion.
P1: Ohh.. ok. So if not banking industry what are you good at?
Me: *assumed he was asking me in what field I was knowledgeable* Sir, cricket.
P3: What? You're good at cricket?
Me: *grins* No sir. I follow cricket passionately.
P3: I dont. So apart from cricket do you follow anything else passionately?
Me: *Tell orkutting.. tell orkutting. Oh will you shut up for heaven's sake!* Sir, I do blog quite often. I think I am a decent blogger. Apart from that..
P1: Ohh.. so you blog. What do you blog about?
Me: *tell IIM interviews. I want to see the look on his face! Will you shut up for heaven's sake!* err.. Cricket.
P3: Again cricket? *chuckles*
Me: *tell it goddammit!* IIM interviews? Philosophy.. personal experiences..
P2: IIM interviews? How many IIM interviews have you attended so far?
Me: *gulp* Four sir.
P1: Ohh.. so this interview also is going to be blogged about?
Me: *ohh yeah.. ab aaya na line mein* Possibly sir.. :D
P1: Then tell me the address of your blog.
Me: *Its url he's asking. Anyways just check* Sir, you mean the url?
P1: Yeah yeah
Me: *tells the url. Readers are also advised to take a look at the url*
P1: Ok.. We'll read your blog. That also will be included in your evaluation! Ok?
Me: *shit. I need to edit the posts. I've written something bad about the IIM-K professor! #-o* Sure sir.. :D
P1: Prodigal? Why do you think you're the prodigal iiitian?
Me: *Because every other url was blocked and I had this sudden flash of creativity* err.. Actually sir *Voila.. found the reason! My mind works faster than a computer when it comes to cooking up answers!* I think I am the prodigal iiitian because I've never utilized my full potential or say capability.. I've never had to use it. In other words, I think my best is yet to come! *And thats a home run!*
P1: Why do you think you've not put in your best effort?
Me: *Oh no its not a home run! :( * Well.. hmm..
P1: I meant something must have kept you from achieving your best. What is it?
Me: Sir. Possibly lack of competition or the urge to better oneself.. hmm.. In some cases it has been changing priorities.. err.
P2: Fine. So you must have blogged about your interviews. So you'll have a fair idea as to what we're going to ask you in the interview, right?
Me: Sir, it is my opinion that every interview is unique in its own way. Especially the IIM interviews. No two interviews can be same.. or for that matter of fact, even remotely similar.
P2: No, I meant a few questions might have reappeared in every interview, right?
Me: Yes, sir.
P2: So, can you tell us the 3 questions which have been asked to you by almost all IIMs? Something like frequently asked questions. FAQs!
Me: hmm.. One question which has been asked quite often has been the tell-me-about-yourself question.
P3: Yeah.. that's a standard question. Next.
Me: Apart from that I've been quizzed upon why my institute is the International Institute of Information Technology unlike the other IIITs which have Indian in their names.
P2: Oh.. ok. And the third one?
Me: hmm.. :-s *sheepishly* well.. they've been asking me why I've performed so averagely in my academics.
P1: *guffaws*
P2: What? what?
P1: *Tells the reason*
P1: So now tell me Srinivasan. Shall I ask you the FAQs or some totally unrelated questions?
Me: *Jackpot!! $$$$ It cant be so easy. Come on!* Sir, I dont think I should be in a position to decide which questions you ask me. But I dont mind the FAQs either. It's your call, Sir.
P1: Aah.. ok. This is what I am gonna do then. I'll ask you FAQs and some outside questions. 50-50. Ok?
Me: Fine sir.
P1: So tell me srinivasan, why did you perform averagely in academics? *starts laughing and points his finger in aha-I-gotcha mode*
Me: *wow.. one jovial professor he is! Nice.. :D Tells the reason*
P2: hmm.. But you said you live in Hyderabad. Why did you not go home?
Me: Sir, hostel accomodation is compulsory. Just like the IITs.
P1: Ohh.. ok. So tell me what is the growth rate of the agricultural and manufacturing industry?
Me: *hain?* Sir I am not very sure. But I think it is somewhere around 2.5 percent.
P1: 2.5? /:) Think and answer.
Me: I am not sure sir. I think its 2.5 err.. 4.5?
P1: Take a guess.
Me: 4% sir.
P1: And what is the growth rate of the manufacturing sector. I am asking you the growth rate and not anything else. You know what growth rate is, dont you?
Me: Yes sir. Growth rate.. hmm. I cannot recall it although I did come across it in a newspaper article.
P1: Take a guess. Is it 10%? 12%? 17%?
P3: Or 50%?
Me: No sir. Its not 50%. hmm..
P1: Take a guess!
Me: Probably 17%..
P1: Ok. Now whatever the growth rates are, there is a huge difference between the two growth rates. Right?
Me: yes sir.
P1: Why is it so?
Me: *thinks for a while* I think it is because of the overwhelming presence of private players in the manufacturing sector which tilts the favour..
P2: You think there are no private players in the agricultural industry?
Me: *oops!* err..
P2: Do you think the government of India.. or for that matter of fact the government of Andhra comes and tills the land? Tell me.
Me: Sir, I did not mean that. I guess it just slipped my mind. What I meant was the amount of investment..
P2: No you tell me first. Do you think there are no private players in agricultural industry?
Me: No sir. I was wrong. There are private players in agricultural as well as manufacturing industry. What I intended to convey was the amount of investment that flows into the respective fields..
P2: Yes. Now he accepts his mistake. So if investment comes in, then you can work on a larger scale and provide better quality which in turn leads to a bigger turnover which leads to a greater growth rate. Right?
Me: Yes sir. I intended to come to this explanation at the end.
P2: So you should explain it so clearly.
Me: Yes sir. I guess I was a bit too verbose.
P2: Yes!
P1: You must be thinking why is this person being so mean.. right?
Me: No sir. I think he is just trying to test how I think under stress. In fact my L interview was on the same lines.
P1: Ohh.. how was it?
Me: Sir, the interview was very intense. Questions came flying at a great speed. I had little time to think and answer. I guess that was the whole motive behind conducting such an interview.. to see how I react under pressure.. how I take stress.
P2: hmm.. anything else?
P3: Speaking of mean people, why do we have 3 means.. arithmetic mean geometric mean and harmonic mean? We can as well have one average.. a+b/2
Me: Sir, because they have different applications.
P2: Who has different applications? Which companies?
Me: Sir, by they I meant AM GM and HM have different applications.
P2: ho ho ho.. okk
Me: *Is it Christmas already?*
P3: So what are the applications of the 3 means?
Me: *Dammit.. however hard I try to avoid it, it keeps coming back!* Sir, I am sorry but I am not aware of it.. the applications. *Looks at P2 with a twinkle in the eye*

They exchange stares. Then they decide to put me out of misery.
P1: Ok Srinivasan. You may leave now. Just keep the door open
Me: Thank you sir.

I come out and people are like.. OVER? Already? You've been in there only for 12 minutes. I am like WHAT THE ****? Anyways so that was that. No one was asked any academics questions. At least none from our panel.

So after a gruelling month and half, I am done with all my IIM interviews! Hope I get into A.. [-o< I dont mind C either.. but I want to make it to A. Sudden urge.. dunno why! hmm..

Quote of the day:
All those who believe in psychokinesis.. Raise my hand!


PS1: Halley is back to blogging. Batch T-shirt looks good. And we rocked in Splash! Alright!! :D
PS2: Monday was one of the very few days when I've been very proud to be from ug2k3! :D ug2k3 rocks!
PS3: Yes, I got my hair cut and I do look funny. When you come to think of it, being a standup comedian isn't such a bad idea.. :D
PS4: The quote happens to be status message of Chandrachud who incidentally is a senior. Just trying to aknowledge the source.. Its pretty nice.. the quote! :D
PS5: And so the countdown starts. Final days at IIIT.. :(
PS6: Have been trying to compile a list of things-to-do-before-leaving-IIIT but I might be too late.. :-s
PS7: Avatar is good. Both season 1 and 2. Baba's making a big deal of getting drunk.. wonder why! :D ;)
PS8: Farewell around the corner.. *senti* Might come up with a senti post soon. MIGHT!
PS9: My friend Sivachandra is getting married. Congrats to him. Happy married life! Finally I'm invited to a wedding where my relatives wont pinch my non existent cheeks and ask me about my lineage.
PS10: ASR is bugging me for proxies! enna kodumai daa saami!! :((

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9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

What r u talking about ? :O

Anyway don worry u will get through :)

1:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

it looked good enuf, though i hope u get thru a :D

2:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hehe.. iim interviews are unique in their own way!

5:15 AM  
Blogger Argentyne said...

man .. i loved reading about your interviews :) Great going da! One smartmouth you are :P
Hope you make it to A :) All the besht >:D<

Ag

7:33 AM  
Blogger Gulam Hasan said...

oh u r one fickle minded guy :P
pehle u said u dint want A now u want A..What dyu want in life? tell me jo? TELL ME!!??
ok i guess i got a lil carried away thr ;))

12:49 PM  
Blogger Rocky said...

Get into good IIM
with Good I mean Goodlooking chicks

9:14 PM  
Blogger Sameera said...

hmm
lol@ps9 and ur non existent cheeks

ur friends are already getting married huh?
soon they will have kids and ull be uncle jo whose shoulders they will climb on and dance :p

1:33 AM  
Blogger Paro said...

Great posts about the iim interviews...had a great time reading them...U have got a great blog in here...Good going...

8:20 PM  
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