COVID-19 impact on GDPI for MBA colleges

Amid the outbreak of coronavirus, MBA colleges that are yet to conduct the GDPI have either postponed them or are planning to conduct them online through Skype/ WhatsApp/Hangout, etc.

IIM-Kozhikode released the CAT 2019 result on January 4, 2020, on the official website. Immediately thereafter, the process of registration for GDPI began. Almost all the IIMs have conducted the GD/PI/WAT in February 2020 but some are yet to finish the process. Similar is the case with other B-schools around the country where the GDPIs go on till June.

However, with the outbreak of coronavirus in India, many B-schools have either postponed their GD-PIs or will hold them online via Skype/ WhatsApp/Hangout etc. After the release of government advisory to close all the educational institutes across the country from March 18, 2020, the B-schools had to take this step in order to prevent the spread of the contagious disease.

According to Rishi Mittal, CAT 2019 topper who scored 100 percentile, “The GD-PIs scheduled to be held in February have been conducted. Those scheduled in March are being conducted on call or through Skype. The B-schools have refrained from calling anyone to the campuses.” “My interviews at IIMs went fine and now I am waiting for the final result,” he added with a smile.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow), Management Development Institute (MDI), Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi, etc, have announced that the GDPI rounds have been postponed indefinitely until the release of any further notice.

Jaipuria Institute of Management (JIMS) has informed that it will conduct the GDPI process online through online mediums such as Skype, WhatsApp, Hangout, etc. NITIE Mumbai will also conduct the PIs in virtual mode.

Similar steps have been taken by other B-schools to continue with the admission process amid the pandemic situation.

Also Read:

• COVID 19: Tips to Appear for Virtual GD/PI 
• COVID 19: Impact on B-Schools Across India

Here are some tips to ace GD

• Take initiative: In case you have a thorough knowledge of the topic, it helps to speak first. Speak confidently and keep in mind the body knowledge. Taking initiative brings one in focus and reflects the leadership traits. In case candidates are not aware of the topic, they must listen to others speak, form their own opinions and then deliver the content.
• Maintain the continuity of GD: Do not keep speaking continuously. Give others a chance too. It isn’t necessary to share all the information one possesses on a certain topic.
• Concluding the discussion: Concluding the group discussion is as essential as the starting. Concluding the discussion gives one an edge over other candidates. The conclusion should be short, relevant and to the point. It should be expressed after considering both sides of the discussion.

Parameters of assessment

• Ways of communicating with others
• Behaviour with other people
• Broad or narrow state of mind
• Listening skills
• Leadership traits
• Decision-making capacity
• Content knowledge
• Attitude
• Confidence
• Critical thinking

Tips to crack PI

• Emphasize only the vital characteristics of your personality. Don't spend a long time explaining things that have already found mention in the resume/ admission form. The introduction should highlight one’s achievements but in a very crisp way
• Do not reveal marks scored in Class 10 or 12. Answer such things only when asked. Also, do not speak about the strengths and weaknesses unless asked
• Give considerable thought to ‘what to wear’ to the interview. Go in for formals and make sure to look smart
• Be thorough with the subject of interest
• Certain B-schools make one solve a case study and that requires a different approach altogether. In this case, the candidate needs to reach a consensus and solve problems
• While giving the interview online, ensure that there is no disturbance in the background
• Make sure that internet connectivity is strong
• There should be no barrier to communication. This is needed to understand the point clearly with the same meaning as intended. It is also important that the views are clearly communicated to the interviewer

Read More:

• 80 Group Discussion (GD) Topics 2020 (MBA)
• 13 Must Do Things to Crack GD-PI-WAT
• Skills you must possess to crack Group Discussion round
• Personal Interviews: 5 Situations That May Stump You
• How to Handle Surprise Topics in GDs
• Dos & Don’ts of Group Discussion
• Understand the GD, Interview and WAT process for MBA admissions
• Know how to prepare for Group Discussion (GD) & Personal Interview (PI)