Congratulations on your results! If you did well, that’s great. The game is not over though. If you didn’t do as well, don’t fret – interviews are the actual game changer.
Obtaining a good percentile in CAT or any other management entrance test is the first step to gaining admission to a top MBA programme in India. The GDPI process that follows the tests is equally or even more important in determining the B School a candidate would gain admission into.
A candidate should therefore prepare comprehensively for the GDPI process. The process after the test involves:
- Applying for the B-Schools which open their applications after the test – some close before the CAT results are out. Be mindful of the last dates.
- Drafting detailed application forms for various schools. Each B-School or some B-Schools collectively (like CAP) would open application forms on their portals.
- The GDPI Process.
Detailed application forms
Drafting detailed application forms for various schools is one time-intensive step in this process. Each B-School or some B-Schools collectively (like CAP) would open application forms on their portals. They involve:
- Filling out your Academic Profile information
- Work Experience: Submitting proof for the work experience claimed. Some schools would also give candidates an option to provide their updated work experiences (from the one they have filled in CAT)
- Sections on Internships and Projects
- Co-Curricular Achievements
- Extra-Curricular Achievements
- SOPs and some other questions
All Schools would not have all of these sections. In General, it is recommended that you have proof of anything that you claim in the form of certificates, e-mails or otherwise. Some Schools would also ask you to upload proof for these claims along with the application.
SOP
I want to emphasise the importance of SOPs. Interview panelists generally peruse candidates’ SOP and other responses before interviews.
There is a high probability of questions being posed from those sections. B-Schools like FMS have marks for discussion on SOP specifically in the PI process.
Therefore, it is recommended that you take time in drafting their SOP and other answers. If necessary, you can get them reviewed by mentors to ensure that they represent your candidature well. While AI can be used to review the content, I would advise candidates to project their individuality while drafting their SOPs.
The SOP would also set the backdrop for the interview. You should be careful about the information that is conveyed as well as be aware of that in the interview. If done right, a good SOP might be instrumental in securing an admission to your dream B-School.
GDPI
Preparing well for the subsequent stages is important to perform well in those processes. Depending on your evaluation of your preparedness, you can choose to prepare by yourself, or with the aid of a mentor.
I would recommend seeking mentorship, especially if you are not used to similar processes. Mentors, with their experience, might be able to streamline and guide your preparation more effectively as well as give relevant feedback and tips to improve your performance. Even good communicators can benefit from a second POV to understand your blind spots, and further improve your performance.
Choosing a mentor is tricky – You could rely on feedback from people you personally know, or do your own research using YouTube. It is important to keep in mind that different people might have had different outcomes with the same mentor. Mentors might also not provide equal attention to all candidates which is another angle to be kept in mind.
Considering how crucial the GDPI processes are, candidates need to start preparing for them as early as possible.
Note for people who haven’t got their target calls
While you might not have gotten your target calls, it still makes sense to attend interviews. They give you some insights to how to improve your performance for next year while also giving you optionality – you might end up deciding that attending a slightly lower ranked B School a year early is fine.
In any case, attending an interview process can never hurt – try to attend them.
