The next step after successfully completing your MBA entrance exam is to prepare for the admission process of each B School. Many aspirants will go off track after the exams and take this stage lightly. But the PI + GD (the process can have a combination of written assessment, Group Discussion and PI depending on the college you are applying to) is as important as the MBA entrance exam itself. So how do we prepare for it? There is no secret ingredient for this, but one can always be prepared for most parts of it. This is the part 4 of the MBA Course FAQ Compilation List, 'The GD PI Stage' which will give you a head start into preparation for this step.
Part 4 – GD PI Stage
What is PI & GD?
PI & GD stand for Personal Interview and Group Discussion respectively. It refers to the post initial shortlist of MBA colleges. Once the students get shortlisted based on their test scores, they have to go through a rigorous selection process involving various rounds of Group Discussions, Personal Interviews, Essays, Case Interviews, etc. Generally, Group Discussions and Personal Interviews hold the highest weightage in the process.
How to Ace the Group Discussion in the B School Admission Process?
One important thing to understand is that GDs are not elimination rounds in the majority of admission processes. It is a method to evaluate your communication skills and to check how well you structure your thoughts. GD topics can sometimes be very abstract, generic or at times be related to a recent event. So, it is important to have some idea about the things happening around and especially major events in the business world or changes in the government policies and economy. If you are someone who is not much into reading or aware about current affairs, then it is better to start reading newspapers and business articles to get a fair idea. There are points to initiate, give direction, moderate the GD wherever needed. However, the focus is on value addition to the conversation and not just on putting your points.
How to Crack the B School Interview Process?
The personal interview (PI) round is the most important part of any B School admission process. The interviewers are looking for potential candidates who can add value to the cohort and it is your job to pitch yourself in the best possible manner in front of the panel. The best way to do that is by being honest and well prepared.
The most likely question in a PI will be to introduce yourself, and it is very important to have a very structured self-introduction. A well-structured self-introduction shows that the candidate has actually put in effort and makes your first impression a good one. It is also a great chance for you to highlight your achievements, passion and also any important event from your professional or personal life. This way you can catch the interviewer’s attention and turn the interview in a way you are comfortable.
But at the same time, you should be well prepared about the current affairs and major changes in the economy, especially from a business point of view. And it is not possible for everyone to know everything and the interviewer is also well aware of that fact. So be honest if you do not know the answer rather than beating around the bush.
Finally, be prepared to ask few questions to the interviewer by the end of your PI. This is a golden opportunity to make an impact. To do this, do some research on the institution you are applying to and find something unique. It may not necessarily be about the institution but connecting the institution to the question will give it more impact and gives the interviewer the image that you have done your ground work.
Explore more ways to ace the interview and guide it as you want. Click here
How to Ace a B School’s selection Process?
GD PI Stage is in no case a rejection process. It is to identify potential candidates with good track record and a sound thought process who can adapt to the MBA Curriculum and learn with the required pace. Each MBA institute and MBA course has a different ideal candidate persona in addition to basic requirements. The general traits MBA colleges look for are communication skills, confidence, general business awareness, etc. Over these requirements, each B school look for candidates with certain traits/skillsets. You need to study these traits through their alumni’s profiles. You will find a common pattern across all alumni of respective MBA Schools.
For Example, Great Lakes looks for experienced candidates with proven track record and a knack for innovative and fast paced learning. Hence, you will see most of Great Lakes Alumni having quicker growth pre and post MBA. Great Lakes also looks for diversity among their peers which is also evident in their alumni group. Their alumni are able to don multiple hats since they have a diverse perspective as a result of the peer interaction.
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Author -
BPR Committee
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
