PGPX IV - 2009-10: Application Process and Beyond

[nitya34]

How can a Guy serving the PSU/Govt have intl exp?
I dont think thats an issue.

I always believed PGPX stressed More on GMAT 700+
and less on diversity and Other factors(I know Adcom has a tough task at hand as more talented folks are applying every year)
But,How can someone able to show Leadership skills without Essays,I/V call ?
I am dropping a bomb here but I am happy if guys come out to defend the diversity factor!!
If you expect all guys to score 700+ ,its unusual
so what is happening is 50-60% guys are from one segment(I have great respect for IT)
IT is having great talent pool but how can we justify diversity of MBA class when we see the same class with true diversity at INSEAD or LBS.
Some suggestions for Adcom
There should be different cutoff for different section(like in ISB, 730 for IT,690 for Finance)-I believe they have but why not disclose it like ISB has done this time.
there shd be 3-4 online Essays before I/V shortlist
Also the range (GMAT)should be published in FAQ.Not the median score

i believe we all want to see PGPX at top
all the best guys

Originally Posted by LIQUIDPOISON

the criteria for shortlisting is still not clear
i think they are giving undue weightage to IT folks and international experience and stressing less on diverse sectors.Guys with no abroad tours have been filtered out right at the first stage by the adcom software.
does international experience really matters that much.
i know a couple of guys with zero intl. exp. but are leaders in their field.
Im a bit frustrated by this criteria for selection but still have other options to work upon.

ATB to all those who're in.

[RR_ez]

Your profile looks strong from GMAT score and work ex diversity perspective. Noone knows the criteria applied at any stage of selection process, as for most b-schools.

Even the best profiles can get left out if there are 3-4 stronger profile from same sector. ATB for whatever you do next.

For power & metals, maybe management exp is must. Yes, assets under management is important factor. I had no managerial position, though role was tech + managing. I found Adcom to be very accomodative of the fact that different organization give different designation at same work exp.

Candidates are to demonstrate combination of following traits, just personal opinion. If there is low score on one or more of these factors, others should back it up.
1. potential leaders (being current leaders is plus),
2. demonstrate sufficiently strong acads to avoid putting off adcom, as this is rigorous program.
3. Above avg gmat (read 720+)
4. Strong hold of own industry. Say if someone is in R&D, demonstrated capability growth or patents can help. Can be checked in IV only but can get some idea from app as well, like patents.
5. If possible, demonstrated long term plan to move towards formal business education.
6. Non-monotonous career progression. Demonstrated diversity in tasks handled.
7. Above avg extra curricular & co-curr activities.
8. International exposure: adds lot of strength to the application.

goformba, would you like to add/edit/delete some points here?

Originally Posted by Captain_of_Soul

Well its ding for me too 760/4.5/6.5yrs in Power and metals.
I am not able to believe it. However I think being a manager and having some people and assets under you is important.
IIMA feels that proper managerial candidates are better match towards the structure and goals of PGPX.
All the best to people who have been shortlisted.
C

[RR_ez]

Please refer later post.

I guess i pressed Enter

Originally Posted by nitya34

How can a Guy serving the PSU/Govt have intl exp?
I dont think thats an issue.

I always believed PGPX stressed More on GMAT 700+
and less on diversity and Other factors(I know Adcom has a tough task at hand as more talented folks are applying every year)
But,How can someone able to show Leadership skills without Essays,I/V call ?
I am dropping a bomb here but I am happy if guys come out to defend the diversity factor!!
If you expect all guys to score 700+ ,its unusual
so what is happening is 50-60% guys are from one segment(I have great respect for IT)
IT is having great talent pool but how can we justify diversity of MBA class when we see the same class with true diversity at INSEAD or LBS.
Some suggestions for Adcom
There should be different cutoff for different section(like in ISB, 730 for IT,690 for Finance)-I believe they have but why not disclose it like ISB has done this time.
there shd be 3-4 online Essays before I/V shortlist
Also the range (GMAT)should be published in FAQ.Not the median score

i believe we all want to see PGPX at top
all the best guys

[smp123]

Hi,

Though I have not applied, I did see the online application form of IIM A. There are several informations they requested.

1) International Exposure
2) Assets under your management
3) Extra curricular activities
4) Awards and accomplishments
5) Team size you are handling
6) Self improvement efforts to develop your career

In view of above, it will be wrong to assume that IIM A only looks at higher GMAT score. I definitely agree that score is important but we should also accept that above points play a role apart from academics, work experience, scores etc.

Regarding assesment of leadership qualities, they will judge the same in essays, interview and the 5 minute presentation you are suppose to make at the beggining of interview. I guess, the ledaership quality aspect is kept aside by the adcom for short listed candidates and judged in interview process.

Rgds,

spm123

[nigamn]

In guys.

Nigam / 690 / 7 yrs WE 5 INTL / Manufacturing / 20 Sept. Ahm

Currently in Pune. Anybody w i/v date same as mine. I suggest let's meet up in Ahm on 19th for some mock practice.

Please advise.

ATB to all.

Nigam

[nitya34]

I have seen the growing IT work force since IIT days(1991-93)
totally agreed that IT itself is diverse.
More so becoz I have a family with other brothers into IT(12 yrs) & Mol Biology(15 yrs)
My point is Adcom has tough task at hand
after serving the Govt for 12 yrs, I know Govt is equally diversified
I am delighted that PGPX has a category like "Govt Engg"
many thinktank do equate Govt with just "Administration"

no fight here but i would certainly suggest online Essays before I/V
so that 4th essays can be used by Buddhas like me

[RR_ez]

Nitya

Thanks for supporting IT industry.

Just a quick point here. It is slightly unfair to club all IT candidates under one umbrella as:
1. IT itself has so many sub-verticals:
a. BPOs and KPOs,
b. IT infrastructure for diverse industries (each has its own niche apps
and skills),
c. Core R&D (again s/w dev, testing, sustenance, live deployment in range of industries like Banking, Telecom, Finance, CRM, SCM, and so on)
2. In IT industry, by virtue of young talent pool & wide range of career options, folks appearing to be possessing same feature set can have completely diverse skills. For instance, a typical 10-yr exp IT candidate could be:
a. Your core R&D fare with patents and deep software/industry
knowledge
b. A Senior Manager managaing teams of over 100 people
c. Business Development/Sales/Marketing/CRM
d. Consultant for specific indutries & possess insights into one or more
industries.
e. Program manager handling key accounts across geographies
f. Combination of above as role switching is possible in most companies
3. With all due respect to all gems on the forum, IT still saps out major chunk of best talent from colleges. (that was the case in DU when I graduated and I guess, it still is). It is only in last few years that focus is on all sectors of economy.
4. 40% (and not 50-60%) intake in prgram is most likely to be in proportion with % of apps from IT (or maybe lower).

Also, India still has significant growth prospects in IT. (refer 23% placements in IT at PGPX, 40% inputs from IT).

LBS and INSEAD are leaps ahead in international recognition and diverse applicants (check out the program ages). Watchout for PGPX in 8-10 yrs from now.

Your suggestions are valid and adcom can work on some or all of these.

Originally Posted by nitya34

so what is happening is 50-60% guys are from one segment(I have great respect for IT)
IT is having great talent pool but how can we justify diversity of MBA class when we see the same class with true diversity at INSEAD or LBS.
Some suggestions for Adcom
There should be different cutoff for different section(like in ISB, 730 for IT,690 for Finance)-I believe they have but why not disclose it like ISB has done this time.
there shd be 3-4 online Essays before I/V shortlist
Also the range (GMAT)should be published in FAQ.Not the median score

i believe we all want to see PGPX at top
all the best guys

[Captain_of_Soul]

Well the main reason for my ding (personal thoughts) is that my profile is not marketable to a top Energy/Metals company.
I mean how will I convince the companies that 1 year MBA is enough reason to recruit me into a leadership position. The first question that will come up is how many people did you lead.. what kind of money did you handle?
Otherwise my IIT BTech. Work with compaies that are all fortune 500. International travel (I have visited 8 countries; other than Latin America and Antarctic I have been to all other continents).
Good EC (social service). Top it with a 760 GMAT score. I cant see any other reason why IIMA will ignore my profile.
Leadership potential is important but kind of difficult to judge from the IIMA application. For IIMA leadership can be demonstrated only thru the interview and essays.
I am ready with IIMA essays. So incase some one wants to buy it from me I will release it (we can discuss the pricing )
Anyway I feel great to have participated. Infact IIMA essays made my more aware of myself (IIMC and ISB are good too but IIMA is the best). And ding analysis is a good yardstick to measure what I have done till date and what I need to do to achieve my dreams.
All the best guys.

Originally Posted by RR_ez

Your profile looks strong from GMAT score and work ex diversity perspective. Noone knows the criteria applied at any stage of selection process, as for most b-schools.

Even the best profiles can get left out if there are 3-4 stronger profile from same sector. ATB for whatever you do next.

For power & metals, maybe management exp is must. Yes, assets under management is important factor. I had no managerial position, though role was tech + managing. I found Adcom to be very accomodative of the fact that different organization give different designation at same work exp.

Candidates are to demonstrate combination of following traits, just personal opinion. If there is low score on one or more of these factors, others should back it up.
1. potential leaders (being current leaders is plus),
2. demonstrate sufficiently strong acads to avoid putting off adcom, as this is rigorous program.
3. Above avg gmat (read 720+)
4. Strong hold of own industry. Say if someone is in R&D, demonstrated capability growth or patents can help. Can be checked in IV only but can get some idea from app as well, like patents.
5. If possible, demonstrated long term plan to move towards formal business education.
6. Non-monotonous career progression. Demonstrated diversity in tasks handled.
7. Above avg extra curricular & co-curr activities.
8. International exposure: adds lot of strength to the application.

goformba, would you like to add/edit/delete some points here?

[nigamn]

guyz,

here goes the nerve-wrecker again. iima has not specified any word limit for the essays. any input from anybody here? anybody in touch with alumni that might have their 2 cents for us?

wud b huge help

[p_jez]

Originally Posted by Captain_of_Soul

Well the main reason for my ding (personal thoughts) is that ...

I don't think it'll be a good idea (at least for me) to try and evaluate where I might have fallen short - especially considering that the application did not include the essays.

On another note, the ding reminded me of a song, the lyrics are apt:

Now that you've been broken down
Got your head out of the clouds,
Back out on the ground
You don't talk so loud,
You don't walk so proud anymore

Cheers