Calling all IIM Ahmedabad PGPX Applicants (2024 Intake, Class of 2025)

Hi, does anyone know how the waitlist for round 2 moves? Does IIM A publish consolidated waitlist after round 3? When can one get a clarity on whether the waitlist has a chance?

Hello everyone. I gave my interview on 6th in Delhi. If anyone would like to ask any questions that they may have about it then you can DM me and I’ll be happy to help.

Anyone willing to form a group for extempore discussion where we can discuss some topics amongst ourselves? DM me(no commercial interests plz.)

shanks2020 please add me

Please add me

Please add me as well

Please add me as well

Will there be another session ? If yes ,please share the details

When are the interview results expected ?

I guess only after interviews in all the cities are completed.

10th Feb is mentioned on the website.

Did anyone receive an admit with 680 on GMAT / 615 on focus?

The average GMAT score last year was 693, range- 630 to 760.

You can be sure that someone got an admission with 680

don’t think GMAT is a factor once you get an invite. experts can comment?

Hi, I got a past IIM A admit and student to interview a prof who sat on the panel this year. Sharing a few insights from the discussion, hoping this helps others. I know there may be more to the selection process than what the prof highlighted but this is exactly as it came.

1.The GMAT score is the most important for shortlisting an application for an interview. (The cutoff was not disclosed.)
2.The interview is very important for selection.
3.The interview tests basic facets like:
a. Is the person cut out for the rigorous IIMA curriculum?
b. Have they been working with one company for a long duration?
c. How much knowledge of the industry do they have, and does it demonstrate their sincerity and involvement in what they do? (Important for a future leader.)
The professor gave an example from the R1 interview: a person at IOCL working for the last 8 years had zero clue about the Indian and global oil industry and trends. Result- rejected.
d. What skills do they bring to the class, and how will they value skills and expertise of others in the classroom?
e. For people far from academics for a long time or for non-math background folks: How comfortable are they with numbers, and will they be able to do basic finance and analytical thinking?
f. The average work experience is around 7-8 years, so how does the applicant compare?

Best wishes

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, former INSEAD admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

very useful pointers. Can you please elaborate more on c) and f). does it mean they have negative perception towards frequent switches? f) more on is someone is +/-3 years of averae work ex? what can be a good a strategy ?

shanks2020

c) This is not related to frequent switches or not. There is a general expectation, and more so from the professors' side, rather than the non-academia ad Coms, that people who have been in an industry for some time have an understanding of the organization's goals, how their work impacts those goals, and the trends that are currently there in that industry. This is specifically to filter folks who do not have business acumen. For example (in my observation), someone who has worked across startups generally tends to be more informed about the startup's business models, business metrics and objectives, and current trends in the startup's industry. On the contrary, many applicants with engineering backgrounds who have served long tenure in PSUs, manufacturing, or IT, have a hard time seeing beyond their functional roles and responsibilities. I coach many applicants from this segment, and I see that they are often too focused on the technicalities of the job. The MBA application is usually the first time they contemplate the reasons behind their actions and grasp the bigger picture of their professional roles and responsibilities. Curiosity to understand the bigger picture of an industry is important for most B-schools as this is an important skill in a business leader and IIM A specifically looks out for this skill during interviews.

f) I am sure the PGPX has its own guidelines regarding forming its ideal cohort (the inverted bell curve of some sort) where they limit how many candidates from various age and experience points they can accommodate. The B schools don't want the cohorts to be very skewed as it impacts the MBA experience and results. For younger applicants, evidence of a steep career progression and a mature outlook is a great advantage. For older applicants, the ability to adapt, learn quickly and accept feedback works best.