From Farms to Finance: A Hort-Economist’s Journey to IIM Ahmedabad’s FABM Program
Candidate Profile
- Undergraduate: B.Sc. (Horticulture)
- Postgraduate: M.Sc. (Agricultural Economics)
- Work Experience: 4 months as an Academic Professional (AP)
- Other Credentials: Cleared UGC NET
- Category: General Female
- Program Applied: Food and Agribusiness Management (FABM)
Analytical Writing Test (AWT)
Topic: Related to Capitalism (exact topic not specified)
Interview Panel & Format
- Panel Composition: 2 Male Professors
- Mode: In-person
- Tone: Professional, technical, and mildly personal toward the end
- Date/Slot: Not specified, likely a pre-March round
Interview Questions & Candidate’s Approach
🎓 Academic Background & Transition to MBA
🔵 P1: Walk us through your academic journey.
📌 Tip: Create a narrative—link each step (BSc, MSc, work experience) to your growing interest in agribusiness and rural development.
🔵 P1: You cleared UGC NET. Why not pursue a PhD instead of MBA?
📌 Tip: Emphasize your desire to engage in impact-driven, scalable agri-solutions through business channels, not academic research.
🔵 P1: Why MBA?
📌 Tip: Show how MBA bridges the gap between research insights and implementation, especially in the context of value chains, policy, and market dynamics.
🧅 Agri Economics in Action – Focus on Onions
🔵 P2: Why do we see fluctuations in onion prices? When are the onion seasons?
📌 Tip: Mention supply chain lag, hoarding, climate effects, and seasonal cycles (Kharif, Rabi, late Kharif).
🔵 P2: What about onion export/import policies?
📌 Tip: Reference India’s export bans, Minimum Export Price (MEP), and import from countries like Egypt when domestic prices rise.
🔵 P2: What did you learn during UG that was applied in real fieldwork?
📌 Tip: Link theoretical learning (e.g., farm economics, crop planning) to grassroots engagement or internships.
📊 Research, Economics & Quantitative Reasoning
🔵 P2: What was your MSc thesis about?
📌 Tip: Explain your topic clearly—whether it involved cost-benefit analysis, market integration, or farmer behavior.
🔵 P2: How strong is your math? Define maxima and minima.
📌 Tip: Brush up on basic calculus. Clearly explain first and second derivative tests.
🏢 Career Goals & Industry Awareness
🔵 P2: After MBA, which industry would you like to work in?
📌 Tip: Mention agritech, FMCG, food processing, or rural finance—depending on your genuine interest and thesis alignment.
🔵 P2: Name commodity exchange platforms—India and abroad.
📌 Tip: Mention NCDEX, MCX (India) and CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) as examples.
❓ Personal Question
🔵 P2: Are you married?
📌 Tip: While this question borders on the personal, answer factually and calmly. You’re not obligated to elaborate unless you’re comfortable.
Key Takeaways for FABM Aspirants
- ✅ Be fluent with your domain—onions, crops, market systems, and seasonal trends are fair game.
- ✅ Articulate clearly why MBA over M.Tech or PhD—highlight scalability and applied impact.
- ✅ Thesis topics matter—explain your contribution and research relevance.
- ✅ Stay poised during curveball personal questions.
- ✅ Commodity markets, policy interventions, and agri business models must be in your prep list.
📢 Disclaimer: Real Stories, Modified for Privacy
🔍 The above interview experience is based on real candidate interactions collected from various sources. To ensure privacy, some details such as location, industry specifics, and numerical figures have been altered. However, the core questions and insights remain authentic. These stories are intended for educational purposes and do not claim to represent official views of any institution. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.
🔍 The above interview experience is based on real candidate interactions collected from various sources. To ensure privacy, some details such as location, industry specifics, and numerical figures have been altered. However, the core questions and insights remain authentic. These stories are intended for educational purposes and do not claim to represent official views of any institution. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.
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