Alright folks, here is my IIFT WAT/GD/PI experience.
My profile:
General /Engineer/ Male.
IIFT score: 58.66 (99.55 %ile)
Work ex: 28 Months (I work for OFSS as a developer)
10/12/UG: 92/92/6.2
I'm also a published writer and had a startup back in
college.
Date: 2nd Feb Afternoon slot, Mumbai.
I reached around 1.25 PM. There was no document verification
done. The process started at 2.
WAT Topic: Urgent requirement of a public transport
infrastructure in India. 20 Minutes.
Basically I wrote about the traffic problems in India and
lack of connectivity which indirectly affects the economy. Gave a few examples
and ended with some potential solutions. Not sure how good it was, but I'm
definitely getting 2 less marks for my handwriting.
GD: Are the companies in India socially responsible. Everybody speaks one by one for two minutes
each, and then the floor is open for 10 minutes to be summarized in the end by
1-3 people.
We were 11 people, I was the last guy. Everybody chipped in
a few points, but it got quite repetitive with everybody mentioning how Tata,
Infosys and Reliance are using the CSR to do social activities. I mentioned the
work by MSMEs and startups, and how CSR shouldn't be the only parameter. The
floor was open for around 10 minutes where everybody contributed. The moderator
didn't really look very impressed with the points. He asked 2 people to summarize,
I felt like the 2 summaries didn't really capture the whole thing so I
requested for a chance and summarized it myself.
Interview:
Once again I was the last guy to be interviewed. The
students were divided into three batches. The panel taking the GD wasn't the
one that took the interview.
The interview process started around 3.10 after a short
coffee break. As expected, the interviews were quite chilled out with no
candidate being grilled too much. They were asking questions on current
affairs, academics and the interview form; nothing too deep. Most candidates were
free within 10-15 minutes. My turn came at 5.30.
As I entered the room, I was asked to sit down and explain
the things I did in the waiting period of two hours. I said I took a walk, had
a coffee, asked others a bit about their interview. They asked me if that
helped, I said it didn't. Both the interviewers were quite jolly. They asked me
to entertain them, since they are tired after so many interviews.
I told them that I have some experience in Radio Jockeying
and I could do a bit for them. They were surprised, and asked me to go ahead. I
did something like what we hear on radios, and included them in the things I
said, even played a song for them. They started laughing.
Now comes the part
where they ask me the question that nobody could ever ignore, WHY THE LOW
CGPA!!? And I started defending it with my usual answer. But they told me not to
defend my cgpa, as the extra currics are more than making up for it. I still
said that I could have done better.
They asked me what I do in OFSS, why I want to go for an MBA
and if selected, which field would I choose to go for. I answered it all. Then I was asked my CAT and
XAT score, and on hearing that I have other calls, they asked me what if IIML
also selects me. That's where I probably screwed up, and instead of defending
one institute, I started criticizing the IIM admission policy (Even I'm asking
myself why). Although the interviewers took that too casually and started
discussing what should be the criteria in my opinion, where I supported the way
IIFT and XLRI select candidates.
In short, the interview was quite relaxing, with no academic
questions or even current affairs/Finance for that matter. It was over in 10
minutes, give or take two. I'm sure the upcoming interviews are going to be very different from this.
Not expecting anything yet. But I guess it was a good
start to the season.
Some FAQs:
1.
Duration: The whole thing gets over in 2-4
hours, depending on your turn.
2.
The IIFT administration is absolutely student
friendly, no matter what's your issue, they're always supportive.
3.
Take a look at things like the IIFT Website,
Foreign trade policy of India and the recent GDP controversy, might come in
handy.
4.
Your parents can accompany you, at least in
Mumbai and Kolkata there is space for waiting.
5. I'll update as I remember more.