NITIE Mumbai

My friend at NITIE was not very sure if i had to attend this one by traveling all the way to Mumbai. But i wanted to attend every single interview just to keep all the cards when needed later.

"When will the IIFT results be out?"

"Should be out anytime. It does not matter. I am coming tonight. Will be there at 12 30 AM. Stay awake."

"OK"

I was overjoyed at the thought of boarding an airplane for the second time.

The letter had told us to be their in the auditorium by 8 AM for registration.

"Go late man!... Its ok.. nobody comes so early" said my friend.

I went at 8 30 to find an auditorium filled to the brim and students standing along the aisles also with the students doing a presentation on courses, placements etc on a big screen. A slick slide presentation filled with graphic imagery, macro media flash apps and sync sound.

Large number of guys had turned out. The beautiful greenery of the campus was the only saving grace in the hot humid weather of Mumbai. Our tight formal clothing was not helping the situation either.

20 groups of 12 were scheduled for the day and i was in group 8. There was a formal verification of all the certificates by a group of faculty after which we were made to wait outside a room where a group was having its GD.

Then we went in. We occupied a semi circle of chairs in the same order. Across a very long table sat a panel of 7 faculty members( by far the largest and i was sure nobody would exceed that).11 boys and a girl who was at the center of semi circle.

There was a box at the center of semicircle with 12 notepads and sharp pencils.

A Lady at the center of the panel told us to take a pad and pencil each.

"We will give you a topic. You will be given 3 minutes to think and prepare your notes. Then you will discuss for 18 minutes. And one of you will summarize the discussion at the end of 18 minutes for 2 minutes"

She then held a board in front of us which had a paper stuck on it with a line

"Is Indian IT Industry truly world class?"

3 minutes of silence followed and the go ahead was given.

12 Software engineers and a topic like this. I guess i don't have to say anything. The girl single handedly outvoiced all 11 boys and was in firm control of the discussion. I was very sure she would make it to the final list.

I was 10 in the order. So i just went to the waiting room where all others were there and removed my tie and sat below a fan.

At around 1 PM one of the co-ordinators called out for my name and i went and sat outside the interview room. There was one other guy sitting who was scheduled before me.After they were done with that guy the co-ordinator said to me that the panel had decided to break for lunch and he advised me i do the same.

An interview after lunch is dangerous. High possibility of getting burps!. I went to the mess. The food was heavenly but i resisted over eating and came back and occupied my seat again.

I was wondering what will be the state of panel after having lunch. They would already be bored by listening to lame reasons for doing MBAs and crap.

Anyways i was called in. There were 2 old professors (OP1, OP2) and one young prof(YP1) sitting .

VC:"Good afternoon!"

OP1(smiles):"Please take your seat"

My seat was 3 meters away from the panel table. The farthest i had been till now.

OP2:"Please introduce yourself"

VC:Tape recorder on

OP2:"Sainik school? .. good!.. What are you doing here?"

VC:"Sir, i failed to convince my parents to let me go. I am the only son and unfortunately Kargil war happened and they were anxious"[I carefully worded my answer putting the blame on myself(failed to convince). Well nobody was to be blamed anyways]

OP2:"I understand. Thats fine."

OP2:"What you think are the required qualities for a good manager?"

VC:"Good Leader.Should be outgoing , high-spirited gregarious and extrovert"

OP2:"What do you think you will gain by studying here? whats different here?"

VC:"It wont be a 'you-talk-i-listen' which has been happening till now. More of a practical, case-based approach with hands-on experience of real problems, simulations of corporate environment providing an ideal spring board to try out ideas"

OP2:"What subjects do you think we teach here?"

VC:"Sir Basics of Finance, HR, Marketing. Accounting etc"

OP2 nods to YP1. At this time one more young professor YP2 joined the panel.

YP1:"So you come from belgaum. Tell us about the problem"

VC:"Sir both Karnataka and Maharashtra want the district to be a part of them. The state reorganization act of 1953 had originally made it part of Karnataka. As recent as early 90s when the congress government instituted Mahajan committee to look into the matter and even they declared it as part of karnataka. But majority of the district speaks marathi and thats one major reason why Maharashtra feels that belgaum should be a part of them. But then Sholapur district in Maharashtra has majority of population speaking kannada. Both the states had almost agreed on an exchange pact. While Sholapur is a major textile hub and contributes a lot economically, belgaum has nothing of that sort to offer. Even the lands are infertile and not much water also is available."

YP1:"Which state you think it should be part of?"

VC:"Sir, frankly as long as it is part of India, i don't really care which state it belongs to."

All the professors burst out laughing at this comment of mine.

VC:"Sir, on a more serious note, i would be really happy if any of the states could address basic problems of the region like Infrastructure, Literacy and Employment. That state would be the rightful owner of the district"

YP1 nods to OP2 and

OP2:"Tell us about what you work on"

VC:Tape recorder on.

OP2 nods to YP2

YP2:"No.. i guess we are fine.. its ok.. you can leave."

I thanked them and came out. 7 minutes flat was what i was in for. A 2-way airplane journey for a fish market and a 7 minute interview!.

I returned to my friends room in the hostel complex. Switched on my cell. I had a message.

"Congrats dude!.... Treat us!"

I immediately caught hold of my friend's laptop and logged onto IIFT site. Could not log in for a while. Results had been declared for sure. Finally the page loaded and a link was put up on the main page. There were two links one each for New Delhi and Kolkata campuses. Clicked on the Delhi Link, my heart raced hard and then came back the moment i saw my name. It was a such a relief. I was sure that i would be doing an MBA no matter what now!.

Had to rush to the airport. So changed quickly and caught an auto. As i waited at the airport i saw the huge TV screens flashing "BREAKING NEWS"

Some IIMA grad had landed a crore-package. Pictures of the red walls of IIMA, the stone building of IIMB and SIMB pune were being flickered. Almost every soul watched with their mouth agape at the screens. Gave me goosebumps. Trust me you have to experience it to feel it!.