My first encounter with the MBA GD/PI...

First GD/PI for MBA (dats after a disastrous interview around a year bak...50 min for TCS where I was tested not for intelligence but stamina I guess...I was sure I won't get the job..though miracle I did..) ...which probably the easiest too..since it wasn't technical, n thats what the trend is at IIT Roorkee...mmm not the first choice to do your MBA from, I accept..infact it was more or less like a mock trial, the first experience to me...

Landing on Delhi airport (trust me one of the scariest airport with the huge huge traffic problem) and sittin in the car from there to a non stop journey to Roorkee (oh v did hav one dinner stoppage...u can't skip meals when with parents...can u?? ) , it was tiring for sure...infact it took us about 7 gud hours to reach there (thanks to so many weddings and their baraat on highway...took abt an hour amidst the traffic jam caused due to them...guys do marry, please do...but don't block roads...)

Anyways it was over 12 when v reached roorkee...another hour more by which v checked in a guesthouse...in just 15 min to fall dead asleep(thats 8th wonder of the world for a gal who sleeps after 3 in nite usually)...

And trust me, seeing the impossible n tiring route to reach Roorkee, I was sure it would be the last place I wud want to end up at...n those were the thoughts in when I woke up next morning...lil did I know, they were soon to be changed...

The GD/PI was scheduled at half 1 in noon...me being me, n my mom being my mom, reached the venue at dot 1:30...(I just hope I wasn't the last one to reach there...sighs) Anyways got done with the registration...sat in the mail hall, listening to the presentation from seniors (they showed some slide which had lesser info than what I already knew abt IIT Roorkee n its MBA program...either they knew lil, or I had researched too much...yahooo...)...and then the HOD came (I was absent for half his speech...getting myself registered as my name was called) and that was it...

A group was called for GD/PI...rest of us were sent to some lecture theater (later told, it was where the first year classes are held) and I went in there thinking either the seniors are going to bore us wid there talk, or plain simple rag us (that too when v aren't even selected yet...that sucks...) and surprise surprise surprise...that an hour or so inside the lecture theater (from where groups n people were called from time to time for GD n PIs) turned my entire view abt IIT Roorkee....the seniors were really cool...the interation really fun n happening...and for sure they were as helpful as you can dream of...right from easing our nerves to helping us...to tell us how to handle which panel...who is sitting there...how to respond..they helped in the best way possible...a real heartfelt thanks to them for sure...

Anyways (how many times did I use anyways, anyway??) finally stepping in the GD...I was in the second last group...n just to adjust people v had 9 candidates in out group instead of usual 7...(the more the merrier...or is it???)

Anyways (again !!!) the seniors told us before hand v r more people, n more chances of it becoming a fish market...just don't argue...Stepped in the GD hall...3 co-ordinators...(staring us...oh my my was my heart beating faster....)...and they allotted us 9 minutes for the discussion, a min to think abt the topic n another minute to conclude...As for the topics, v had to choose from "Winners never quit and quitters never win" and "Politicians are not interested in disaster mitigation but relief"...We initially agreed to do it on "Winners never...." until a work ex guy stood up (I don't like him for sure...) and said, "Guys we are aiming to be managers...v need serious relevant topic not abstract one"...it was finally voted after arguments and ended up with "Politicians..." (sobs sobs...)

Anyways (sighs...) we started...a single gal in 8 guys...n the 3 co-ordinators were guys too...single gal between 11 males...oh my god..thats the bad condition of FMR...(specially in IITs)...pitched in thrice wid some points (won't appreciate or condemn them no blowing horns or hating myself) par it was all in all a fine GD...talked about Satyam, abt Tsunami, floods abt security issues, 26/11...except the guy who concluded did it the bad way...I was shocked...n was staring at the guy for a moment...common yaar if u can't conclude properly, don't jump in to try n have the last word... (Yes I'm angry for it...the bad conclusion affects the whole group...)

Anyways (kill me please...I'm just re reading what I have written...) I was ushered bak to the lecture theater where I again listened to the fun seniors...till I was called for my PI...I was 4th last in the panel, a panel famous for being good (lucky me somewhere) who as per seniors believed in giving u chances...try to select u rather than reject u...but still baba it was my first PI...I had to be tensed n worked up (thats ur duty to be...understand that)...

Another 20 minutes later I was called in the room...(Oh My God..there I was with 5 demons in front of me...my worst dreams...okie I won't even talk about my heartbeats...n this they said is the best panel in a college where u r not technically grilled...shockin..)

One lady in my left hand corner...a good aged professor besides her (my chair was between these two...n these were the two who grilled me) the third chair was empty...the next two chairs had professors in it...sipping tea n eating biscuits...(common it was me who needed energy..I barely had eaten whole day n they were feasting...life is unfair..)

Khair (what a change from Anyways !!!!)...jo hua so hua...the interview started...with the usual..something about yourself...I just mumbled the words that I'm in 4th yr Btech n have completed my education from a number of cities that those two feasting professors interfered..."Can you b a bit louder...even v have to hear.." Okie sirji...repeat kar diya...n the professor in front interfered.."why so many schools"...told abt my dad's transferable job...then what job was what the lady asked...which bank the professor asked...Nanhi si jaan was replyin all this n in between the sipping n eatin stopped (Kyun bhai..kha rahe the to khate rehte na..sawal kyun)

And there he asked me..."9.3?? Thats a pretty impressing CGPA"...Oh no...no no no...not this..please not this...don't make an exception of me n shoot technical questions to me...my mind ran at top gear...n I blurted the eternal truth..."Sir its deemed university, u get the marks easily...blah blah blah..." and then I was grilled a bit more..as to whats the usual mark one gets in my university...where do I stand in the ranks and all..managed it...(and yes they did accolade me for accepting that the marks are thanks to a private deemed university and not bragging about myself...being humble pays I guess...or does being scared pays??)

And then came the grilling on my college (why does my college needs everyone from chancellor to vice chancellor to dean from IIT) ...the panel was trying to find someone from IIT Roorkee in my college...they even took a name I didn't even recognize as dat of my VC...(ho hi nahi sakta tha..I know my VC...her daughter is in my branch...all teeth out...he is from IIT KGP waise...) so a lil bit this n that more about the college...n this is when the 3rd chair got occupied...that missing professor came (kyun bhai kyun..thodi aur bahar ki hawa kha lete...)

He just messed up my good going GD...I was just starting to relax when he unsettled me..."Computer Science and Engineering", he pondered, "So is it a dual degree...like both science and engineering" and I was staring at him...whats he upto...khair tried answering sumthin...and he increases the question..."Whats the difference in science, engineering and technology??" (do to sambhal nahi rahe the ab teen...bacche ki jaan lenge kya???) Khair...tried putting some views...failed miserably...and the last question as the nail on the coffin was..."Why is it Computer Science and Engineering whereas just Chemical Engineering"....okie that was the end of me...and the end of the interview...and my case was adjourned...

Wished them thank you...and walked out of the room...in 10-12 minute flat...and yeah I was once asked in between why MBA...pretty expected...n had some story blurted for it...thats all about it I guess...baki 'll tell u in April, if I was lucky to get through or not...Tab tak k liye..let me get tensed about the coming interviews...uff...y so many of them...sighs...Signing off....