Tips to increase selection chances

We all have dedicated minimum 2 years for JEE prep, so at least some good amount of months should be dedicated to CAT/GMAT and MBA application process.

I would ensure that I have a high CPI. I would also ensure that out of all the things I explore, there should be at least some fields where I work with full dedication to achieve a peak. I would not be too adamant and narrow-minded while exploring.

I would have made more efforts in academics. Though in the long run, it doesn't matter much. But in the short run it does help in converting good graduate college applications or getting a shortlist from your preferred firm. I would have spent more time gaining knowledge about what is happening around the world from an economic, political and business perspective. This knowledge helps to drive thinking and build our own opinion about managing various situations. This is critical for not only interviews but also in problem solving during B-school & beyond.

Academics is something that you should focus on for sure - ultimately, it is perceived as a measure of your diligence, perserverance and intelligence. Pick up leadership opportunities wherever you can - they build character, teach you to work along with people, and are valuable lessons in how organisations work.

I should have given more emphasis on extracurricular activies by investing time on hobbies like reading; it would have helped me nurture all-round development. Having extra-curricular skills in your belt helps in having self-confidence.

Develop a profile through learning some extracurricular activies, or taking part in volunteering work; instances of a leadership role from personal life can be used to develop the story. Talk to as many people as possible. They will help you with the application process and other related stuff.

Should have had a good connection with professors. Diverse experiences like clearing competitive exams, winning national/corporate/international awards or competitions, getting featured in international research journals etc. also improves chances of impressing the MBA interview panel.

For CAT, I would recommend spending time on getting business and general awareness. For that maybe do some certification course such as CFA level 1 or maybe something from Coursera/Udemy related to some business domain. Just make sure, if you choose to do so, you should be able to answer questions about it in the interview. If you can't, you are out.

In a nutshell, extract more value from IIT than what it has academically planned for you. Work on your strengths, build on your key areas and create a story to tell.

Tips to maximise B-school experience

1. Live Internship/projects: When you enter any IIM, alumni from that IIM float applications for ‘in-semester internship’, also called as ‘live internship/projects’ for first & second year students in the company/firm they work in. Students aiming to land in marketing roles especially try to grab such interns and get as much exposure in different firms, some students even do 4-5 in-sem/live internships in their 2 years at IIM. These internships can pay/not pay subjective to the firm. Students try to grab these opportunities as soon as they enter into IIM.

   
   

2. Case competitions: Taking part in case competitions and live projects(point above) hosted by top-notch companies like Reliance, HUL etc. will not only add to your knowledge, but it’ll also be a valuable point in your resume. But make sure you do some research on how to solve them instead of doing them the wrong way. Finance, marketing, consult, analytics etc there are many good inter MBA school competitions within India as well on international levels.

   
   

3. Take on work experience:

   Sales and marketing roles are offered mostly to freshers and people with under 2 years of work experience. If you have a lot of work experience then it gets difficult to get a summer internship, but the job prospects are good if your previous work ex is relevant.

4. Peer Group: Take advantage of your peer group. Your peers will be a group of highly exciting and intellectual people. They all will surely reach great places in the corporate sector. Networking with them will help you throughout your life.

   
   

5. Time management is the key. It’s essential to have clarity about the few things you want to explore as the constraints on time would be immense.

   The whole course is designed in a way that it will push you to the limits of your endurance. You become so much better at time management, multitasking, dealing with setbacks - you have to be perpetually prepared.

   
   

6. CGPA & CFA: A good CGPA from IIT impacts not only the admission into MBA school but also the internship season within the first 5 months of your MBA. For a career in finance, clearing CFA level 2 at least before the start of your MBA will give you a big edge over others.

   
   

7. Don't become a part of the Placement Committee. It'll diminish your social interaction, you won't be allowed to take part in case competitions and you also miss classes. Despite the power, it's not worth it.

Advice on not getting disheartened inside IIT

It is very easy to wallow in self-pity; in the words of the great Hugh Laurie, doing things changes things. Not doing things will leave them exactly as they were.

Don't get disheartened if you don't have some specific tick marks on your CV. Work towards your areas of strengths, and focus on areas that interest you. There are enough opportunities out there, and you will stumble upon one that you will cherish, sooner or later.

You have 3 or 4 summer and winter breaks; I would advise to not just do project work with professors but actually do internships and utilize these breaks, you will learn a lot apart from just another CV point.

It is important to get clarity on what you want to do and why you want to do it. It is important to introspect and understand your redeeming qualities before looking anywhere else. Try to find a mentor who can guide you through your future. Someone who has had a similar path and excelled according to you. Missed opportunities are gone. So, focus only on the future.

We all dread the placement and intern season. We look at placements as if they are a destination. This mentality is becoming toxic to the point that not only does it hide the fact that it's useless from a long term point of view, but discourages and demotivates a person from achieving their full potential in the future.

It is about how you wish to present yourself on that 1 piece of paper - there is no set template.

If not for PoRs, go for volunteering positions, don't go for a blank resume. Have something good to write, whatever you do, do it right so that you have something good to talk about.

If you have a day 1 intern that doesn't matter; what matters is you have an intern where you have done good quality work and can talk about your value addition. Quality matters.

At IITB, I had the luxury of exploring and developing skills. The amount of opportunities at IITB were vast and thus, if I wanted to learn anything, there were communities available to do so. I really liked the fact that sports facilities were excellent and coaches were always ready to teach. There was emphasis on physical activities too. The prime example being, Indian Kabaddi physiotherapist was called for Inter-IIT, PoRs required the person to work, there were a lot of deliverables and PoRs were available at all levels.

Always put in the work because it can and will pay off in the end, and exposure is the key - whenever you have an opportunity to surround yourself with different people, or reading and doing your due diligence - do it! Because it opens your mind to so much more.

We all struggle with self-doubt at some point in our life. However, it is important to know that it can get better no matter where you stand.