Rejected. Given how my interview unfolded—particularly, how it ended—I knew the outcome. Many congratulations to those who made it.
Not sure how much my experience will help, but here you go! The panel I got had profs who were chill. (The panel in the adjoining room, however, had one prof turning up the heat on every candidate; one could hear his loud, disapproving remarks outside the room.) Now, this was my third year interviewing, and I had declined IIM Calcutta admit in my first attempt. Also, I'll be 38 by the time the new batch starts . So P1 (mid-50s) was persistent that I shouldn't be fixated on IIM Ahmedabad, I unduly took a risk by declining IIM C and by trying to get only into IIM A in my subsequent attempts. He asked why the fixation on IIM A. I couldn't get more than two-three sentences out for any question (except one about my article that won a big award this year) as I kept getting cut off. The interview ended when P1 asked why I want to do MBA, I said I need managerial skills to compete for senior roles in global media organisations, that demand skil—but I got cut off, P1 saying that I should go to media school, why I want to put myself through the hassles of learning economics, accounting, statistics, integration and all. I said that the roles I've been eyeing demand financial acumen, knowledge about strategic planning, change management etc. P1 said media companies don't come to IIM A for placement, and at my age it would be very very hard for me to get placed. I said media industry is only my preferred sector, I'm keen to work in project management in corporate, like my fellow journa—got cut off again and was told we're done.
This was unlike my last two interviews, where I could finish my answers. This time, I felt I kept getting cut off. P1 seemed to disapprove of my path and my MBA goals through and through. The note at which the interview ended (too old to get placed, wrong reason for choosing MBA) has me convinced that I need not wait for October 31.
30 Oct 2025, 00:48
