Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026
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Rishab Rahiman, an aspirant who secured admission to his dream B-School, IIM Bangalore, takes us through his journey and experience of being a CAT topper 2022 to acing MBA admission rounds. He got calls from renowned MBA colleges like SIBM Pune, SP Jain Mumbai, XLRI Jamshedpur, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Lucknow but he chose IIM Bangalore.
In an exclusive interview with Careers360, Rishab provides insightful tips, preparation strategies, and encounters with esteemed interview panels, providing aspiring B-School candidates with invaluable insights and guidance. This interview illuminates the path for MBA aspirants, offering insights into selection metrics and unveiling the path to success.
Rishab: I feel ecstatic! It feels really rewarding after all the hard work and effort that I put in. IIM Bangalore was always my dream B School, and I feel quite lucky to have secured admission to it, on my very first attempt. It’s a new beginning, and I am eager to take on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Rishab: The process starts with giving the CAT exam. One needs to score a very high percentile (99+) to get a call from IIM B. This percentile will vary for OBC, SC/ST, and students from different educational backgrounds. Based on your CAT score, 10th and 12th score, work-ex, and gender diversity, you are shortlisted for the WAT (Written Ability Test) and PI (Personal Interview) round. The weightage for each of the factors changes every year, so keep yourself updated about it from the IIM B website. After the WAT-PI round, a cumulative score is calculated based on which the final merit list is drafted.
Rishab: After giving CAT, I got a call for the WAT-PI round at IIM B in mid-January. I had to fill out a personal data form for it and received my WAT and interview slots. The Written Ability Test was conducted online a few days before the interview which was scheduled inside the IIM Bangalore campus itself. It was a good chance to explore the campus and talk to a lot of students who are currently studying there. Overall, the whole selection process at IIM Bangalore was very structured and smooth.
Rishab: I have converted calls from SIBM Pune, SP Jain Mumbai, XLRI Jamshedpur, IIM Calcutta and IIM Lucknow. Selection procedures for IIMs were mostly the same. SIBM had an additional group discussion round in its selection procedure which was very different from that of IIMs. And SP Jain has its iconic group interviews (both technical and HR rounds). XLRI's interview round was extremely short and fast (mine lasted for around 5 minutes), however, I had to wait almost 5 hours for it.
Rishab: IIM Bangalore's WAT process was held online, days before the PI was scheduled. My WAT topic was "The Global Tech Layoffs and its Effect on the Indian Economy". I structured the essay by first introducing the topic. Gave reasoning for why it is happening followed by its effects on the economy. I finished it by giving an example of a company that laid off its employees recently and tried to explain its effects on the Indian economy. Layoffs were a common topic that most aspirants were aware of, but the effect on the economy part caught me by surprise.
Rishab: I joined TIME Institute for the PI-WAT process. I got to give a few mock PIs before my actual interviews. I got really valuable feedback on how to structure my answers, how to introduce myself and how to come out of tough spots in an interview. I started my WAT/PI prep only after XAT, which was on 8th January. I started reading magazines and newspapers to keep myself updated on the latest happenings. The main chunk of preparation though was about the things that I had mentioned in my application forms and revising my academics.
Rishab: Different institutes follow their own style of conducting the PI. For example, you can almost always expect a maths question from IIM Calcutta's interview panel. Your technical knowledge and general awareness is key to cracking IIM Bangalore’s PI. So, candidates must research a bit about the college which they are going to attend the PI for, beforehand. Know about the companies that come for placement, famous alumni from the college, the latest news about the city in which the college is situated and the city in which you are attempting the PI etc.
Rishab: A few topics that I was asked to write were on,
Rishab: If you do not know an answer, the best way is to accept that you do not know. That way you avoid beating around the bush or saying something stupid and unrelated to it, which can backfire harshly on your result. Always keep a smiling face and tell politely that you are not aware of it, or you are not able to recollect it. The panelists are usually very friendly and will always try and help you to reach the answer and will drop a few hints also.
Rishab: WAT is a very time-constrained task. Take a few minutes and jot down all the important points. Then start writing in a structured manner. Most colleges expect paragraph style. So avoid writing in pointers. Also, make sure you have ample time to finish the topic. An essay without an ending will not look nice.
Rishab: Time management is very important for WAT. Say the total time is 30 minutes to complete. To write 300 words, a person might need approximately 15 minutes. But here we have to do the thinking as well. So, it is recommended that you create a skeleton of your essay in the first 5 minutes and keep all the points handy in rough. Then just refer to that skeleton and complete the essay within the time limit. Every institute strictly follows WAT timings, so you will not get spare time.
Rishab: My very first interview was for IIM Lucknow. I was very stressed, and somehow the panelists were able to easily see through me. They made me feel comfortable and only then did they start the interview. Some panelists have their own way of breaking the ice by telling jokes or asking you to introduce yourself. After my first interview, I realized there was no need to panic. I am just going to talk about the things I prepared for, and if I don’t know any answer, it is OK to accept that I do not know. With that attitude, I was able to attempt my other interviews with more confidence.
The panel size was usually either two or three. Sometimes I felt that the panelists play the good cop and bad cop roles. It is important to focus on all the panelists, and not just the ones who is being friendly.
Rishab: My IIM Calcutta interview was the best one. I was the last candidate for my panel, and I could feel that both myself, and the panelists were a little tired. They started off by asking me to sing. I was caught by surprise. I was not prepared for this googly. I pulled myself together and managed to sing a verse from ‘Bole-re Papi Hara’, and the panel enjoyed it too. Suddenly there was a rush of energy all through me, and the interview went very smoothly from there on. As expected, they asked me a mathematics question, which I answered in a very detailed manner. They asked a few questions about my job, and a few current affairs questions that I had prepared, and voila! my interview was over. They said I sang well and asked me to take a toffee.
Rishab: GK was not one of my strong suits, and I couldn’t answer many questions from different PIs. I tried to answer as much as possible, and if I had no idea, I would just mention that I was not aware of it. Also, since I had quit my job right before CAT, I was questioned about that choice by almost every panel, and I honestly mentioned the reasons behind my choice.
Rishab: In my IIM Ahmedabad interview, the panelists shot down a plethora of GK questions ranging from the Olympics to Nobel laureates, to the history of the India-Nepal relationship. Since they were static GK that I did not know, all I could do was smile and say "I don’t know".
If there is no way around it, it is all right to say that you do not know the answer. It will not have a negative effect on your selection unless you say 'you don’t know' to too many questions.
Rishab:
Rishab: SP Jain conducted a group interview which was very interesting. One must be very attentive to what others say and at the same time, not get carried away or get affected by how bad or good your peer is performing. Similarly, SIBM conducted a group discussion. Mine quickly turned into a fish market. During such times, make sure you stand out by being organized. One must not panic when the other candidates are making a lot of points when you have barely spoken one. Many just end up repeating the same points already discussed, just for the sake of more speaking time.
Rishab: My preparation for an interview would always start by looking at the previous year's questions that were asked. Many sources like iQuanta, HitBullseye, and CatKing provide previous interview experiences on their websites for free. They were the main source of preparation. Then came the Mock PI which was taken care of by TIME Institute for me. They regularly provided mocks PI catered to the colleges that I had calls from.
Rishab: Basically if you have a call for an interview, the panel knows that you are intelligent, at least academically. They might just brush on a topic or two to check if you remember things that you have learnt. But more than that, what I felt is that they want to check whether you are able to manage the interview stress, whether you are able to communicate the things you know, and how confident you are at tackling problems. It is not a big problem if you do not know the answers to a few questions. So, believe in the preparation that you have put in and be confident while answering. The panel is highly skilled, and they will know if you are bluffing or are just trying to dodge a question. Answer to what is exactly asked, and you will probably have a good PI experience. All the best!
Important topics for NIFT CAT are mostly based on your creativity, observation, design thinking, and visual communication skills. So here's list of important topics you should focus on:
- Observation and drawing skills: Human figures & gestures, nature & Scene drawing are important
- Creative Visualisation: In this you'll have to convert 2d shapes into 3d, making imaginary scenes from a theme, and story illustration from given situations.
- Design & Concept Development: You'll be making logo, posters with creative slogans, book cover design and many more designs.
- Color theory, creative use of texture & patterns.
- Imagination & Innovation: merging two object to make new thing, designing eco friendly or festive based products
Hello Aspirant,
On the CAT form, you should put your name exactly as it is on your class 10 marksheet, as that will be the official educational record. Then during document verification, you can bring a Gazette notification or affidavit for name change so that documents can match your Aadhaar.
Hello aspirant,
The CUSAT CAT 2025 inaugural real-time spot admission will take place at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) from August 4–6. For admission to a variety of undergraduate (B.Tech) and graduate (MSc) programs, the Common Admission Test, or CUSAT CAT, is an entrance exam. Every year, it features sections in mathematics/biology, chemistry, and physics.
For complete information, you can visit our site through following link:
https://www.careers360.com/exams/cusat-cat
Thank you
Hello Aspirant,
Yes, if your caste is listed under Central OBC and you come under the category of Non-Creamy Layer, then you shall be eligible for the OBC-NCL reservation in the CAT exam and IIM admissions, irrespective of its being categorized as OEC in Kerala. Remember to get a valid OBC-NCL certificate obtained as per the format prescribed by the Government of India.
Hey Vijay:)
Thanks for reaching out!
OEC,(Other Eligible Communities) is a state-specific reservation category used in Kerala,and it is not recognised as a separate category in central-level exams like the CAT.
For Central govt exams candidates must choose from the recognised categories: General,SC,ST,OBC-NCL,EWS or PwD.If your community is listed under OEC-SC or OEC-ST in Kerala,you should check whether it falls under SC or ST in the central list and apply accordingly.
Similarly,If your OEC community is in the central OBC list and you meet the non-creamy layer(NCL)rules,you can apply as OBC-NCL, otherwise you need to apply under the general category.
You can verify caste's status in the central list on the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) website.
Hope this clears your doubt!
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