IIM Ahmedabad Interview Experience: From Psychology to Entrepreneurship – A Unique B-School Journey
Candidate Profile
- Background: Bachelor’s in Psychology (Shifted from Engineering)
- Work Experience: Fresher
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 93%
- 12th Grade (PCM): 95%
- Graduation: 84.9% in Psychology
- CAT Percentile: 99.72
- AWT Duration: 20 minutes
Note: Profile details have been slightly modified for privacy while keeping the essence intact.
Interview Panel
- Panel Composition: 3 Male Panelists (P1, P2, P3)
- Position in Panel: Third candidate of the session
- Interview Duration: ~18 minutes (Shorter than peers' interviews)
- Nature of Interview: Conversational and Friendly
Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach
1. Icebreaker & Personal Journey
🔵 P1: Tell me about yourself.
📌 Tip: Always prepare a crisp, adaptable introduction. Be ready for interruptions—interviewers often pick interesting points to dive deeper.
🔵 P2: (Interrupting) Let’s talk about your research paper. (Discussion for 8–10 minutes)
📌 Tip: If you mention achievements like publications, ensure you're thoroughly prepared to discuss methodology, findings, and relevance.
2. Academic & Career Decisions
🔵 P1: Why did you drop out of engineering?
📌 Tip: Be honest but strategic. Frame such decisions around self-awareness, passion alignment, and long-term vision rather than setbacks.
🔵 P2: What do you want to do after MBA?
📌 Tip: Clearly articulate your career plans. If mentioning entrepreneurship, balance ambition with practicality—talk about gaining experience if relevant.
🔵 P2: Would you like to start a business immediately after MBA or gain experience first?
📌 Tip: Show that you have a realistic roadmap. Acknowledge the value of industry exposure before venturing out, if that's your plan.
3. Subject Knowledge – Psychology & Quantitative Aptitude
🔵 P2: What is your favourite subject in psychology and why?
📌 Tip: When asked about academic interests, convey genuine passion. Discuss concepts, applications, and how they shape your thinking or future goals.
🔵 P2: Let’s shift to maths—Explain how to find minima/maxima. Given: f(x) = x⁴
📌 Tip: Even for non-engineering backgrounds, basic calculus or quantitative concepts might be tested. Brush up on core mathematical principles, especially if your 12th-grade subjects included maths.
4. Closing the Conversation
🔵 P1: Okay, it was nice talking to you; you may leave now.
📌 Tip: Always end on a polite and positive note. A simple "Thank you for the opportunity" works well.
Observations About the Interview
- The panel was friendly and conversational, with no stress-testing.
- P2 dominated the interaction, while P3 remained silent throughout.
- The interview duration was significantly shorter than others in the same panel (15–20 mins vs. 40–45 mins).
- No questions on current affairs or general knowledge were asked—focus remained on personal profile, academics, and career vision.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- ✅ Highlight unique aspects of your profile (like research work) but be ready for deep dives.
- ✅ Be transparent about unconventional academic choices—frame them as thoughtful decisions.
- ✅ Have a clear, realistic post-MBA goal, especially if you mention entrepreneurship.
- ✅ Expect occasional technical or quant questions, regardless of your background.
- ✅ Interview length doesn’t always correlate with outcome—quality of conversation matters more than duration.
📢 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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