IIM Ahmedabad WAT- PI experience

Securing a seat in any of the IIMs is the dream of every MBA aspirant. However, getting an enrollment in the IIMs is not an easy task. Cracking the entrance exam is only half of the story – the other half lies in the GD/WAT-PI.

Like many MBA aspirants, Shubham Varshney, a graduate in BSc Physics Hons. too appeared for CAT 2015. It was his first attempt, and he scored 97.18 percentile. Considering his CAT percentile, he was skeptical about getting a call from any of the IIMs, but to his surprise he got a call from IIM Ahmedabad. Shubham knew that he had to make the most of this opportunity, and he put in all his hard work to get an enrollment in the college. 

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Shiksha spoke to Shubham, and asked about his IIM-A WAT-PI experience. Here is what he could recall:

Written Ability Test

The time limit for the WAT was 30 minutes.

Topic: The candidates were provided a case based on the views of an employee in the firm regarding a research. We had to find out the assumptions, and arguments to support and oppose the statement. I divided my answer into 4 paragraphs. The first paragraph consisted of the introduction followed by the assumptions made in the argument in the second paragraph. In the 3rd paragraph, I negated those assumptions in order to oppose the argument made. In the last paragraph, I wrote about the things which could further strengthen the point of view of the employee.

Interview:

Shubham was 2^nd in the Personal Interview list. The panel consisted of 2 members (P1- Lady Professor, P2- Male). Following is his experience at the PI.

P2 called me in.

P1: Sit down, Shubham. Make yourself comfortable.

Me:*smiling* Thank you mam. (P2 stood up and went to washroom).

P1: I see you have done Physics (H) and you passed out in 2015. Didn’t you take a job?

Me: No, Ma’am. There were not any good placements for Physics students.

P1: So, what have you been doing since then?

Me: Ma’am, since I didn’t have a job, I had time to rediscover myself and work on some major weaknesses which I used to avoid earlier.

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P1:*smiling* Can you name a few of them?

Me: Ma’am, I used to be weak in my communication and writing skills. Although, I tried working upon them earlier but it was of no use. It was something which had haunted me a lot. I had been laughed upon several times in school time, but last year I decided to face my fears, and I feel that I have come a long way in overcoming those fears. I know I am not perfect yet but yes, I am improving every day. Overall, it was one of the most productive years I have had till now.

P1: What other calls do you have?

Me: XLRI, IIFT, SP Jain, MDI, IIM S and New IIM’s.

P1: How come none of the other old IIM’s shortlisted you but Ahmedabad did?

Me: Even I have been asking this question to myself over and over again. My friends who got the same %le as I have, have a call from L, K, and I. I mailed all the institutes about it, but haven’t received any reply yet. As far as Ahmedabad is concerned, they have changed their shortlisting criteria.

P1: What is the new shortlisting criteria?

Me: Explained.

P1: Okay, I have heard a lot about Large Hedron Collider. Can you please elaborate how it works and what use is it to mankind?

Me: *I knew it will be asked in one interview or another. Had prepared well*

Explained everything about it. Told her about the applications of particle accelerators, and how it has yielded a new dimension to particle physics. (Meanwhile, P2 joins in)

P1: Why is it that we need such high speeds for the particles?

Me: *Easy one* Told them.

P1: That Higgs field theory seems interesting to me. Can you elaborate more?

Me: Explained. However, I couldn’t tell why photons are considered massless particles, and it caught her attention.

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P1: Why is it that photons do not possess mass?

Me: Tried telling them that light is considered to possess dual character, but since my answer was going awry, I apologized and said, I didn’t know the exact answer. 

P1 then asks P2 to continue further. 

P2: Shubham, here take some water and relax.

Me: Thank you, sir. Took a sip or two. And good to go. 

P2: I see that you completed your schooling from Shamli. It has been a lot in news recently. Why is that?

Me: *my eyes sparkled suddenly. For the first time, anyone noticed that* Yes sir, it came into limelight after the communal riots of 2012. 

P2: What do you think happened over there? Who was responsible for it?

Me: Told them about the two versions of the story that have been floating in the media. Explained elaborately about how the state machinery was at fault and how BJP used it to their benefit which led them to wipe UP in Lok Sabha elections. 

P2: *smiling* So, what do you think about freedom of speech?

Me: *was expecting this to pop up somewhere* Explained everything. Told them about my viewpoint separately. 

P2: Tell us about the two candidates in US elections.

Me: Gave them my opinion. 

P2: What is Big Tuesday?

Me: Told them about it. 

P2: Okay, there has been a big talk in Europe about a country wanting to leave EU recently. Do you know what is it?

Me: Yes Sir, Brexit. *though I, forgot the name of the two major parties in Britain..* Pardon me sir and ma’am, I cannot recall the name of the two parties of Britain, but I can explain you everything about Brexit. 

P1: Conservatives and Labor it is.

Me: Yeah, now I remember. Thank you. Explained them about Brexit.

 P2: Shubham, you did your undergrad from St. Stephens, but I see that you have 92.4% in 12^th. How come you got admission?

Me: Sir, 92.4 is my overall %le. I scored very low in English and Physical Education. But, I needed my PCM % only to get shortlisted for Interview. 

P2: How much was it?

Me: 97.33

P2: Tell us about your experience at Stephens. What else did you do over there apart from academics?

Me: Told them everything about it. How it was a life changing experience for me, and about the things I learnt from the college. Also, told them about Physics Help Centre, and trip to McLeod Ganj that I organised.

P2: *Mcleodganj caught his attention. I guess he was a fan of that place too*. Tell us about your trip. Where did you go? How was it?

Me: *smiling* Told everything. 

P1 and P2: That would be all. Thank you Shubham.

Me: *Poker face. Thinking why did they end the interview so abruptly. Where did I go wrong* Hesitatingly, I said Thank you. But on my way out, turned around, and asked if anything was left. (That was a funny scene).

P2: Yes, would you like a toffee or cookie? *smiling*

Me: *confused* Umm, cookie! Suddenly P1 started laughing, and I too smiled back with no clue what was going on.

P1: Take a toffee too..

Me: Thank you sir, but I am fine with cookie.. *smiled and left*

Overall, it was a great interview. But, I think that I should have done better at the end. (Will never forget this interview).

Verdict: Converted!

Also read: Biswanath Chakraborty shares his WAT-PI experience at IIM B