Thanks Abhijith...That really helped clarify my doubts as well!

Howdy...

Apologies for veering off the topic, but I spoke to Mr.Luv from the Admissions office and thought I'll share a couple of things he told me:

i) MICA doesn't need your transfer certificate/migration certificate. (Don't know what these are? Don't bother ). The reason I mention this here is because a few B-Schools (SIBM, for one) insist on these documents. Your grad certificate, marksheets and fitness certificate should do.

ii) Along with the DD, photographs and Declaration that you need to send by 20th of April, also include the Annexure 2a (the one that specifies whether you need the laptop or not). In case you want MICA to provide you with one, attach a DD for the required amount (full amount or instalment, whichever be the case) as well. You could send two separate DD's (one for the fees and one for the lappie) or combine the amount and send just one.

That's that......back to the GE/PI experiences...

Peace,
Abhijith

My panel: one mam with a big bindi(Mam1), another sari-clad mam with specks (Mam2), another old aged male prof(MP)..

Mam1: So Annaa.. malai... right ?
Me: Ya mam.. Annamalai is my name..
Mam1: So what does that mean ?
Me: Annamalai is actually another name for Lord Shiva mam.. And literally splitting it into two - 'Anna' means big brother and 'malai' means mountain..
Mam1: ok.. so how do people call you ?
Me: Most of my north indian friends call me 'Anna' and my close friends back home call me - 'Malai' and some of them call me 'Brother Mountain' !!!
Panel:
Mam1: So since I am a north Indian, I would call you - 'Anna'
Me: ok mam..
Mam1: Anna.. Can you differentiate Shaivism in the north and Shaivism in the south.. [in continuation with my 1st explanation for my name.. ]
Me: Yes Mam.. Worship of Lord Shiva as such there is not much of a difference although in the north - the himalayas / Kasi is considered really sacred.. Down south - we have other places like Thiruvannamalai, etc.. Apart from that one particular thing I have noticed is Shiva's 2nd son - Karthika or Muruga (in tamil) is not worshipped in the north as much as it is done down south.. In fact I have never found a Karthika idol in the north.. Whereas Muruga is the God of tamil and we even have lot of mythological stories relating to Muruga and the Tamil poetess - Avvayaar.. [ so that was in some detail ! ] Apart from that purely with the worship of Shiva - I don't find many strong differences..
Mam1: hmmm.. ok.. say if a MNC is coming to Tamil Naad(exact way she pronounced) and is planning to setup a base there.. What advice would you give them on 'caste' ?
Me: Well.. Caste is a very sensitive issue in the whole of India and more so in Tamil Nadu.. It's there everywhere - politics, education, reservation in jobs, et al.. It has to be dealt with very carefully.. People can easily get incited over small issues pertaining to caste.. Best thing to do would be to be as professional as possible and keep caste completely out of the system..
Mam1: What real life solution would you give to address this ?
Me: Perhaps in a organization's hierarchy different positions could be held by as many different caste people as possible giving a clear message that caste has nothing to do with the position in the organization..
Mam1: So you say diversity is a good solution for this ?
Me: Yes mam.. For eg: high profile govt jobs in govt offices, courts, banks, etc mostly go to FC (Forward community) people or was so till sometime ago.. This is definitely not a healthy trend.. No job position should be associated with a particular caste !
[ Whether Mam1 was satisfied with my answers or not, I was satisfied at this point of time as I feel quite strongly about these issues.. And now over to Mam2.. ]

[Mam2 particularly tried to step up the pace of the iview giving me lesser time to answer questions.. Initially when I was taking my own time to answer questions, I was cut short.. Later I got used to the pace and started speaking really fast as I myself generally hav a prob of speaking too fast and it was bcoz of the iview was I speaking slowly in the 1st place !!! he he.. ]

Mam2: So you have mentioned that you had worked for 20 months in Oracle.. Could you briefly explain about your work ex there ?
Me: Systems implementations.. Oracle solutions.. Worked at Bangalore office for 1st 12 months.. Work involved software dev life cycle with little bit of consultancy.. Later got a stint at Pfizer, one of Oracle's bigger clients.. Work involved more of consultancy as I was working closer to clients.. We were taking care of their complete Financials - print, email, Fax solution in whole of Europe..

Mam2: What kind of consultancy ?
Me: We serviced different countries in Europe, each of them were different by language, laws of the land, currency, doc formats, etc.. So we would get requirements on a routine basis and we were to turn around with solutions with minimal turn around times..

Mam2: So that means while at ur first stint in B'lore, u werent doing consultancy ?
Me: Honestly that role involved more of a typical Software Developer.. We used to get projects from Oracle country.. We would be allocated modules and list of tasks.. We needed to get them done.. In our few interactions now and then we used to suggest small solutions to our clients.. But at Pfizer things were different.. We used to offer solutions on a routine basis..

Mam2: You have mentioned that in your 2nd company - your responsibility is to win projects for the company and it seems thats yous strong point..
Me: Mam.. I work as a Pre Sales consultant and that is in fact the responsibility of all fellow Pre Sales consultants as well..

Mam2: Could you explain the process in brief..
Me: [ It is a long process in the 1st place.. How to brief it ?? ] Tried to be as crisp as possible but was cut short mid way.. :oops:

Mam2: ok ok.. thats enough.. So you seem to be a gud Sales person.. I give you 1 minute.. Sell yourself..
Me: Mam in what context ??

At this point of time -> Panel: :shock:
MP: [ After gathering himself.. ] As a candidate for MICA...
Me: Can I have some time to think ?

Mam2: - How long do you want ?
Me: 10 - 15 seconds Mam..

Mam2: [ Relieved now ] ohh ok take it..
[ I hardly thought for 3-4 seconds before starting to speak.. ]

Me: ok.. I am dividing this into 2 - What MICA has to offer to candidates and How do I fit MICA as a candidate ?

I started the 1st part saying - The degree which MICA offers is not quite the normal MBA program..

Mam2 [interrupting] : So is it abnormal ?
Me: Not normal in the sense - a normal MBA program and something complementary to it as well.. It offers something more than the normal programs.. Then I want on saying MICA's USP is..

Mam2 [ interrupting again] : What is USP ?
Me: Unique Selling Proposition

Then continued speaking about the communications mgmt part, courses like Indian Cinema, Business of Bollywood, Metaphors and narratves, strong Student activity bodies, etc..

Then about me - creative bent of mind.. Have passion about different mediums of creative expression, et al..

Again couldn't be brief about it and was again cut short here..

Mam2: So you are wearing this Oracle shirt [shirt with the name - 'Oracle' on the pocket].. What are you telling us - have you quit the job ? still in it ? branding it ??

[Although I have been wearing the same shirt for all i'views, this was the 1st time they questioned on it.. ]

Me: No Mam.. Nothing of that sort.. Just that it was my best shirt - did I wear it..

MP: In 2004, near Chennai, in east coast, a disaster happened.. Do you know what it was ?
Me: Yes Sir.. Tsunami..

MP: Are there systems to handle Tsunami ?
Me: Yes Sir.. There are Tsunami warning and Tsunami detection systems similar to the more prevalent Seismic detection systems for earth quakes..

MP: Suggest me a solution for handling Tsunamis..
Me: We can collect all relevant data of previous occurences, and using pattern recognition techniques can predict possibilities of future occurences and hence be prepared for the same..

MP: Suggest me a more technical solution..
Me: We can use data mining and data warehousing systems.. We can collect data, refine it and apply pattern recognition techniques / data mining rules upon them to predict future patterns..

MP: So you have mentioned about Prasoon Joshi, Evam Karthik, Shailaditya Bora, etc.. Do you know about them ?
Me: Yes Sir.. pretty much..

MP: So what is Prasoon joshi now ?
Me: He is the executive chairman of south east asian region in McCann Erickson since 2006..

MP: What was he doing before that ?
Me: He joined McCann Erickson in 2002 as regional creative director and before that he was working for O & M for 10 years..

MP: Do you know from where did he graduate ?
Me: Yes Sir.. IMT Ghaziabad..

MP: Ok so see.. For Prasoon - the college didnt give him anything.. It was his own interest that led him into Advertising right ?
Me: May be Sir.. But all the other 3 I have mentioned in my SOP are former MICAns !!!

MP: Ok so what did Shailaditya Bora do ?
Me: MICA has a cell called the EDC where they incubate good entrepreneurship ideas.. Last year - Shailaditya Bora's Full Marxx was the first idea to be incubated out of the EDC and it was the 8th hottest indian start up last year..

Mam1: You know that EDC is for students for a different course right ?
Me: Yes mam.. I know that it is for the Executive PGDCM students..

Mam1: Executive PGDCM or Entrepreneurship mgmt ?
[ Oh so I made a mistake here.. ]
Me: Ya mam.. Entrepreneurship mgmt.. But ya - my point is the envt is quite conducive for such ideas..

[ Mam1 - reasonably convinced.. ]
Mam1: Ok I give you another chance.. And without sounding like a website write up or a brochure - Sell yourself..
Me: This time I am not going to speak much and am going to make it really crisp..
[Perhaps the best part of the i'view for me.. Somehow gathered these words at the moment..]
MICA is unique among B schools..
I am unique among candidates..
and I think I fit MICA !!!

MP: Good..
Mam1 and Mam2: Nodding heads..

And that was the i'view.. Left the hall..
Had a far better feeling after the PI than the GE.. seemed a little relieved after a not-so-gr8-GE and a make-or-break PI.. Everthing got over by 11 45 for me..

Then roamed around the campus, had lunch with my MICA friends, went on a guided campus tour, interacted with fellow aspirants inside the lecture hall, canteens, etc.. 12.5 lakh thingie - was a constant source of discussion throughout.. And I was still very much in a dilemma as explained earlier though MICA was too small a dream to let go just for a fee hike.. A comparison of all B schools ran through as well..

Finally PAT came around 6 or so.. Somehow the 12.5 thingie had killed a little bit of my enthusiasm and expectation about the results - perhaps bcoz of the -ve talk by fellow aspirants - may b bcoz these ppl had other alternatives or may be they were not quite passionate about MICA.. Though this was playing in my mind, purely education wise and for so many damn reasons why MICA is my dream - there was no question I always wanted and longed to be here and here only..

PAT started off with the Spot offers.. mentioned highest no. of spot offers and spot rejects on the same day..

asked students to guess no. of spot offers.. finally mentioned that it was 20 ! That was a whopping jump from 10 and 12 - the prev days.. Though I very well knew my chances were bleak bcoz of my GE..

As expected not in the 20 - which had some 15 gals or so.. Couple of people whom I had interacted with got spot offers..

Then the merit list.. Somehow I was neither too anxious nor too worried !
Every word PAT seemed to pronounce seemed to start off with a 'A' sound from a side angle and finally it turned out not to be.. And then I stopped looking at PAT..

And then as I was staring somewhere else - 'Annamalai' - some 4th or 5th in the list.. Ideally should have felt on top of the world but though not to be - was happy ofcourse..

And then Sunday - Global immersion made optional was a brilliant news.. Stats said 60 spot offers and 83 in merit list for remaining 60 seats.. Tuesday - got the final admit !

Feels gr8 to be counted as a MICAn.. small dream comes true.. But life is huge and so much more to do.. Planning to enjoy every bit of the 2 year MICA journey as I step to do bigger things in life !!!

PG has had a gr8 role in my interpretation of MICA.. Ofcourse Chuck's posts to begin with - they r so damn powerful in their description of MICA - even slightly better than the brochure itself esp from a aspirant perspective, Utsav Mamoria's damn useful interludes, Deval Mam's patience in answering all admission related queries in depth, enthusiasm and energy of so many other fellow aspirants !!! I thank them all at this point...

And finally, something I have reserved all along since joining PG !!! Had decided that would be using this smiley only after getting into MICA !!!

And here we gooooo -

P.S: Pardon me for such long posts - I have a huge prob with verbosity !!! nothing to do with melodramatising the content !

I have read so many such posts in PG and here life comes atleast a semi-circle where I myself am posting my experience - a good one at that..

And pardon me if this is going to be one of the longest ones.....

My GE / PI was on March 20, Friday.. Due to some other B school calls, I kept postponing my accomodation booking at Ahmedabad and started looking out only 3 or 4 days before my GE / PI.. By this time - all MICA's recommended list of hotels were booked [by fellow MICAns and MICA aspirants ofcourse.. ] So finally with some googling and google map-ping, got hold of a decent place at Ashram road - Hotel Alpha, 5-6 kms from IIM Ahmedabad campus.. I prefered staying nearer to IIM-A than MICA as anyways there was a drop from IIM-A to MICA and this place was almost in the city hustling and bustling with activity..

I checked in on Thursday afternoon.. I had a whole lot of things planned to be done in the run up to GE / PI but had hardly done any of it due to heavy work in office during the 2 weeks in the run up to GE / PI.. Anyways wanted to make full use of the half day I had on Thursday.. Had a shower.. Had one Gujarathi thaali.. Watched some TV.. Talked to few friends over phone.. relaxed full time.. Then around 8 pm, went in to a browsing centre.. As I have been a Web / Mobile consultant for the past 9 months, I expected questions from online advertising.. Although I was well aware of the basics, wanted to dig deep into it.. And although I had my SOP points jotted down, I felt it needed more depth and some structure.. [ I always prefer writing SOP / forms the day before PIs as it helps me keep myself focussed on my line of thinking.. ] In my SOP, I had made a mention of Prasoon Joshi, Evam - Karthik, etc [ ambitious thinking - I know ! ].. Again although I knew quite a lot about these people, didnt want to miss any angle.. So went on spending an hour reading on Google AdWords, AdSense, online advertising terms, SEO, Prasoon, Karthik, etc.. Also read couple of posts on prev year MICA GE / PI experiences.. Got to know of spot offer / merit list / wait list / spot reject stats for the past 2 days from my MICA friend who was online.. So that was it.. Felt as if - I did something worthwhile.. And then it was time for dinner and time for one more Gujarathi thaali [ Well my father being a bank employee, as part of a transferable job, I did my 5th and 6th in Ahmedabad and ever since then have been hooked to the entire Gujarathi cuisine !!! ] After that went back to room, collated all my thoughts and wrote my SOP.. I def felt it came good.. Then after some random reading here and there from my laptop - went to sleep around 1.. Am quite used to sleeping late, but getting up early - ??

Then the D-day came.. I had kept some 3 alarms and asked a couple of friends to call me early morning as well as I am pathetic when it comes to getting up early.. But this time I got up by myself even before the first alarm / call and then had to snooze them all and answer those calls as well ! Perhaps - Cometh the hour, riseth the man by himself !

Despite getting up early, I was rambling here and there randomly and as ever wasted a lot of time early morning without realising it and got ready only by 7 20 or so.. Pick up at IIM-A was around 7 45 and by 8 am last.. Suddenly going all the way by auto to Shela village from Ashram road crossed my mind.. Nevertheless gathered myself quickly and got an auto by 7 25.. Gud Auto wala who took me by the shortest route got me to IIM-A by 7 45.. Got into the bus - small resemblance of feel to Farhan Akthar's in LuckByChance when he, before his audition enters a waiting room filled by all film aspirants rehearsing their lines.. [ I know too much this is !! ]

Then the bus hit the campus.. Was gud to see the MICA logo for real ! We were rushed to the registration room.. Registration done pretty quickly.. Everyone's would have been over by 9 15 or so.. 57 of 66 people called had turned up that day.. Then 3 groups were ushered off for their GEs.. My no. was 46 - so was still in the room.. Then PAT came into the room and delivered his speech.. Most people in the room as have been so many others before were floored to hear his speech for the 1st time.. I wouln't say I was floored but it was indeed quite a unique and impressive speech.. And the 12.5 lakh fee with Global immersion compulsory started playing on my mind a little as soon as PAT announced of it.. Well for me MICA has been a huge dream ever since I saw it 2 years back.. Although I went around the rigmarole of many other B school GD/PIs as well, it had always been MICA for me, if I was being honest to myself.. This year - I have given my SP jain interviews as well but even if I convert it, quite strongly it is going to be MICA for me.. So in such a context, value for education weighed heavily against the rise in fees.. I had to somehow digest it.. But the point that took me aback was - making Global Immersion compulsory and not optional.. Well MICA's policies have been mostly student-friendly beginning with having the app deadlines well after CAT results are announced unlike many other instis who even have them before CAT happens.. Although MICA has had a higher fee structure, their policies I believe were mostly student friendly and hence this decision came as a big surprise to me and I was quite indecisive about it for the rest of the day and until Sunday - when it was finally made optional again by PAT !!! :clap:

And then GE.. Group of 11.. i didnt turn up I guess.. There was a small basket on a table with a random collection of paper cuttings of words, phrases and sentences.. We were asked to make a story out of it and judgement would be based on originality and creativity.. With creative writing being my hobby, I thought perhaps I can do a gud job of it.. But it was totally not to be ! :wow:

Some facts about our group - everybody tried to be a hero and nobody bothered about co-ordination, everybody was trying to make a personal impression and were very conscious of the 2 panelists constantly watching them instead of they trying to work as a group, everybody was speaking rather shouting and no one was listening, everybody had their own themes, stories and lines and none bothered to collate them together.. The situation was damn chaotic to say the least(akin to or even worser than a normal fish market GD).. The group didnt know they were doing harm to themselves.. And as it turned out in the end - if I am right - just 2 people from our group went on to convert their calls as Spot offers / Merit list..

What I would do here - I along with only 1 other guy bothered about co-ordination.. I started off politely and then raised my voice - atleast 4 times in all - telling the group let us split into 2 groups of 4 / 5 people each, spread all the chits on the floor so that it would be easy for us to see them all and pick the needed ones as and when required and let 2 people be at the table to co-ordinate the words from the 2 groups into a single story at the table.. Hardly did people bother listening to this.. Numerous suggestions and pleadings on the importance of working together and notifying that we have wasted so and so mins of time later, finally I had to get into the act just like the remainder of the grp.. In a flurry of a moment - I picked up chits which had words like - donkey, monkey, cat, camel, etc.. So I suggested a animal kingdom kind of a animation theme - and most of them seemed to agree with it.. But nevertheless the chaos continued.. And all we could muster in the end was 3 lines of a pathetic story ! Please don't ask what those 3 lines were! And a guy who got hold of 'Happily ever after' phrase chit - just put that at the end of the story signifying the end ! That was a much needed end to a futile exercise that was in all.. The panel who were totally shocked by this story by now asked us - what did u guys do ?? No wonder none of us had a convincing answer ! Then each one of us were given a chance to continue the story and the 7th guy or so ended the story himself with 4 more people still left to speak ! Then from the 8th person onwards, Mam asked to explain his / her contribution to the GE.. After 10 people were done, Mam said thank u and asked us to leave while me, the 11th guy never got a solo chance to speak even after the GE .. I was slowly raising my hand, mumbling - Maam.. Maam.. I am left..
She said - Oh.. Ok.. just sum up the GE.. I said I would like to continue the story.. She reluctantly said - Ok.. I twisted the climax of the story completely ! he he.. the one air time I got when finally all were listening ! But overall - I was disappointed by the GE.. When I heard that other groups had almost formed 3/4ths of a story with even a title, I was totally disappointed.. I thought - Why this is happening at MICA ? Why not at some other B school GD ? and why my group ? For I thought, with a little co-ordination and little sense - we could have done a really gud job.. And even though I tried my best to co-ordinate and work as a group, I knew we had failed as a group which meant Spot offer chances were vanishing.. Which also meant PI is going to be make / break for getting into my dream college..

And luckily for me they scheduled my PI - 10 mins right after my GE.. I think this was really nice for me for if I had to wait for 3/4 hours for my PI, I would have kept on thinking of the botched GE and gotten into a -ve mode even though I am quite an optimist who puts -ve things behind quite quickly..

We were made to wait in a IT lab were around 6 of us were waiting for our interviews.. I was 2nd to go in my panel.. 10-15 mins after random discussions within the room, I was called in..

Cont.d in next post....

hey guyz...can nybody plz elaborate upon d dual degree programme...??

Request all convertees/waitlisters to join orkut - and begin the discussions.. the forum has quite a number of seniors answering our queries

Ok, im finally going to post my experience. My background:
10th : 83%
12th : 58%
BE(Comp), Pune University : 63% Aggregate
CAT : 94.xx
XAT : 99.1

National Level Quizzer and Debater, organised several events including an international one.

Had been dreaming about MICA for the last two years...was ecstatic when I got a GE/PI call. My GE/PI was on the last day, on the 22nd of March. Reached Ahmedabad on the 21st, was so tensed that I smoked six cigarretes in a row. Reached the MICA campus directly at 7:30, an hour before anyone was supposed to be there. Had breakfast at the chota canteen, went around the campus(which is absolutely brilliant!), and then told my mom to go home (she was accompanying me). Met Kirti there, and kept irritating her with my questions (thanks for helping me out!). Anyways, our group had our GE before the address, so off we went.

The GE involved setting parameters for assessing ten cartoons, and on the basis of those parameters, rank them from 1 to 10. The GE went well upto a certain point....after which we had to rank the cartoons. So we thought that we'll as everyone for their rank on a particular cartoon and then take the average rank. The rankings done, one guy went up to explain it, when he suddenly announced that he disagrees with the entire ranking put up. The problem was that four of us thought that we were giving the rank, and the others thought we were marking them (1 is top rank but bottom mark...get it?), as a result of which the entire exercise turned out to be a failure.

Karthik suffered a mini nervous breakdown, and then we went back to the seminar hall, where PAT addressed us.

The interview now. My panelists were Vineet Chibber (V), One Middle Aged Lady (M), and one young lady (Y).

M: So you are from Pune. Do you like the city?
Me : yes, its a brilliant place. been born and brought up there...blablabla.

M: But Ahmedabads not like that...theres no esquare(thats a multiplex) here and theres no koregaon park.
Me: Yeah, but there is a fun republic. Saw it on the way.

M: The fun is only namesake, its only a republic. What will you do in this city?
Me: Maam, kuch paane ke liye kuch khona padta hai.

M:(Surprised). Kya Paaoge?
Me: MICA
M: Kya Khonewale ho?
Me: Esquare :clap:

M: (Starts Laughing). Whats with your hair(I sport a Mohawk). You think you are too cool or wat? Why have you done this?
Me: Maam if you dont do it in college when will you do it?. I did it cause I wanted to try out something new.

M: But when you come for an interview you have to set your hair properly. Dont you know even that much?
Me: But maam if I do an amol palekar and come its not going to be me in front of you. And I wanted to portray myself in this interview, theres no point in being someone else :P

M: No, you are doing this to be cool. I have two kids, dont argue with me.
Me: Ok, whatever you say.

V: Are you observant? If yes, explain in one sentence for the each of us, the sort of people we are.
Me: Ok sir, you probably teach some conventional management subject. Maam here teaches something in branding and has two kids :D. Y teaches something in media and doesnt have two kids :P

Y: He's complimenting me! Im giving him full marks :D
M : And hes made me an old lady...im rejecting him!
V: Ok now what do you think about Bombay? How bout brand Bombay?
Me : Blablabla

V: Are brand Bombay and Brand Mumbai different?
Me : Yes, Brand Bombay for me would be VT, Local Trains, Chaat at the Chowpatty etc. Brand Mumbai would be Mumbai Metro, Dharavi Reconstruction, Clean up Mumbai etc.

V: So as a Brand Manager of Mumbai, how will you attract people?
Me: Blablabla....in this answer I kept interchanging bombay with mumbai.

V: (Pissed Off) You just said bombay and mumbai are different. Cant you decide for once and use the right word?
Me : Oops...sorry sorry. It is mumbai that im talking about and blablabla.

Also, I used to start answering before anyone finished the question. So they had to shout at me thrice (Listen, will you?)

V: You arent a good listener, are you?
Me : Inherently not, but im trying to change :P

M: Abhi subject par aao. CN padha hai? AI? Robotics?
Asks some tech questions, and I answer them.

M: Girlfriend Hai?
Me :Thi, Abhi nahi hai.

M: Matlab yahan aake ho jayegi. Which means you wont study, you seem to be that sort of person. I can see it from your face.
Me : No no! studies is like first priority etc etc...hehehe

M : Write it down on paper and give it to me. If you dont attend even one day ill expel you!
Me : No Problem! (I take out a paper, and start writing).

M : Do it after and if you get the offer. Get out now!....youve made me an old woman!

I get up and leave. Now this was one weird interview.....dint know how it went. Went to the dining hall, couldnt eat a morsel. Saw the campus all over again. Then played pool for an hour...me and sahil were dying for smokes, so we went walking to the village in the hot sun, and got smokes. Came back in one fundoo rickshaw, clinging to the sides. Then we were just chilling, all of us were shitting bricks.

PAT comes in, and announces the spot offers.

The second name to be called out is mine.

I go ballistic. I still dont remember what I did for an hour after that. Went to all the temples possible in ahmedabad the next day.

MICA, here I come! Woohoo!

Wanted to post this only after the final selection.. so here it goes.. my 1st experience with MICA.. (Warning: You may have trouble bearing my verbosity) ;)
I had my ge/pi on 21st.. reached Ahmedabad on 20th.. spent the day roaming about in malls and visiting near by places.. didn't want to stress myself up with last minute preparations.. so just chilled out..
And then came 21st morning.. Reached the IIM gate at around 7:15.. and no, I didn't feel like going inside..
just sat in the bus and waited for my tryst with MICA.. the bus started at sharp 8 and by 8:30 we were inside this village-bound place called MICA..
The campus is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.. with all the greenery around this red-bricked building, the amazing classrooms, innovative audi, the mess, the chhota.. everything's lovely! If it sounds a little over the board, could be because I have not seen many b-school campuses... but from whatever little I'd known and seen, this place looked awesome to me!
And then there was 'Chat with PAT'.. so many ppl have already said so much bout it.. all that I can say is this.. before PAT began his speech, my mom (who accompanied me) was hardly interested in getting me admitted to MICA.. but when this 1 hr long chat ended, she was talking as if I should start studying there the very next moment.. and no, I am not exaggerating.. he's a wonderful orator.. had a truly captivating interaction with him.. and everyone who's heard him talking will definitely agree!
Next, we went for GE... We were a group of 9.. panel 3..
We were asked to remove our shoes and enter a room, where the following were already kept:
4 charts
Ink bottles (Red, Black, Green and Blue)
Ear buds (about 10)
We were asked to prepare a communication plan to improve the image of any one of the following:
Police
Politicians
Postal Services
We got 1 minute to read the topic and 20 minutes to work on it..
I personally wanted to go for postal services, but majority of the group was with police, and so we chose police.. started creating some posters.. I brought the idea of using 1 chart to list down the entire campaign.. which should bring tv ads, posters, public relations (using blogs etc.) and a slogan.. though initially, we all were confused.. but did a pretty good job by the end of it.. created this 'title chart' and used the other 3 for posters.. then the panel asked some questions.. 1 ques to each person.. I was asked why I didn't want to go in for police.. told them that the policemen need to change themselves and their attitude first.. only then image should be changed.. product has to be good, only then promotion can work! J
So overall, an above average experience with the GE..
Then came a long long wait.. my turn for interview came at around 6 p.m... I was in panel 3 and there were 3 ppl in the panel:
1. Male professor say M..
2. Lady Professor (Most probably Deval Ma'am).. so I'd call her D..
3. Another lady professor.. say L..
And of course, Me: Guneet :)
I was asked to wait outside the PI room and after 2-3 minutes, the male professor came to call me..
M: Would you like to come in and talk to us?
Me: Yes, good evening sir.
M: Good evening, please come.
Me: Good evening ma'am-2.. (responded by both the ladies)
D: Guneet, you have filled your form in such great detail.. (actually one couldn't find even a millimeter of empty space on my form, except for the work-ex column)
Me: :D
D: Why MICA? (sth like that)
Me: Talked about long term objective of setting up an IMC firm, how my interest in marketing comm grew during my grad (BBA).. how MICA's specialized course will help me.. Plus, I don't want to be "just another manager".. want to explore my special qualities.. don't want a straight jacketed MBA.. and sooo on..
D: You seem to be really prepared for this answer
Me: No, not prepared ma'am
D: Ya you've thought about it..
Me: Actually I've been so much wanting to come to MICA for a very long time now. So it's coming out naturally. ;)
D: ok.. where are u from?
Me: Ludhiana
D: Tell me sth about Ludhiana.. what's famous in Ludhiana?
Me: Spoke about entrepreneurs.. Cycle parts industry, hosiery industry, Hero, Avon, Oswal, Vardhman, Sunil Mittal..
D: What else?
Me: Ludhiana is infamous for its poor sex ratio.. female foeticide..
D: So how can you design a campaign to improve the condition?
Me: Advertising, esp outdoor media, organizing events, awareness, changing perception
D: :D
M: (Going through my form) Why did you learn candle making?
Me: Started giving some explanation.. but someone came in to take their orders for tea, coffee and juice and so they got busy there
M: Sorry, we're too exhausted by now.. Need to recharge ourselves.
Me: I understand that sir.
M: Would you like to have something?
Me: No thank you sir, I just had coffee..
M: :)
(And now.the battle begins)
L: Why are you wearing western formals? Do you think it is necessary to be in western formals only? :wow:
Me: No ma'am, it's a matter of personal choice and comfort. This being a formal event, I had to wear formals. I had the option of a formal saree or a formal salwar kameez.. but since I feel more comfortable in western formal wear, I chose it. I believe I can be at my best in this.
L: Don't you think we are losing on our Indian culture by doing so? :wow:
Me: No, I don't think Indian-ness is confined to dress. Moreover, Indian culture is not something static. We cannot put it like- THIS is what Indian culture is. It is constantly changing and evolving. What we were yesterday, we are not today and what we are today, we won't be tomorrow.
L: So you very easily accept whatever changes are going around you? :wow:
Me: No, not always. A lot of things keep going around me.. but I accept only the ones which are good for me and which I'm comfortable with.
L: Give me an example where you did sth against what was happening around you.:wow:
Me: I come from Punjab, where girls rarely go in for higher education. I am lucky that my family realizes the importance of educating me. But even for my extended family, it is a matter of great surprise that my family is supporting me for a post graduate course, and that too outside the city. The general trend is graduation and then marriage.
L: What's the harm in getting married? :wow:
Me: There's no harm but it's not the right time. I won't get this chance of education after marriage. So I want to build my career first, want to be capable of contributing meaningfully..
L: Why do you want to contribute? :wow:
Me: I believe it is the fundamental responsibility of every human being who takes birth, to contribute, to put sth back. So far I have been a taker.. the food I eat is grown by someone else.. the technologies I use.. mobile, internet, everything has been developed by someone else. So I feel it's my responsibility to contribute sth back to the society, the economy..
L: Don't you think a homemaker also contributes.. by taking care of the family, bringing up the children? :wow:
Me: Yes, of course she does. I also would like to be a homemaker first.. and take care of my family. But at the same time, I do have the capability of contributing in more ways. If I can be a homemaker and simultaneously head my IMC firm, if I can contribute in two ways, why should I settle for just one?
L: Ok (FINALLY looked satisfied)
D: Guneet, have you ever thought of modeling?
Me: No ma'am.. (I was taken aback for a second)
D: :D
Me: You think I'd be good at it?
D: Yes, I think you have a very pretty face.
Me: Thank you ma'am. If you think so, I'd think about it..
D: :D
(This lady kept on giving me re-assuring smiles throughout the interview.. she's really sweet)
Someone said thank you and I was preparing to leave. Just then..
M: which other calls do you have?
Me: Sir, I have calls from IMI, IMT, Fore and had from IIM-S as well, but did not appear for the gd/pi
M: Why not?
Me: I don't want to run after a brand name only. It's a newly started insti, and I don't think it can offer me the value addition I seek.
M: :) So what would you do if we don't select you?
Me: Sir, though I have applied to IMI, IMT etc., but now I'm just too inclined towards MICA.. so if you don't select me, I'd come back again next year.
M: So let's assume that we want to test you at this. And so we don't select you. Will you still come back next year?
Me: Yes sir, I definitely will.
M: Ok then Guneet, see you next year.
M, D, L and Me: (all laughing) :grin:
Me: Ok sir, but I'd still hope to see you this year itself.
M: Thank you, and wish you all the best!
Me: Thank you sir, thank you ma'ams.
Kinda had a great feeling after the interview I could really speak my heart out.. without any nervousness or anxiety.. was pretty hopeful of the merit list at least.. and so it was..
Mine was the third or fourth name to be announced by PAT in the recommended list.. but that fear of 120/143 was still there.. only till yesterday night.. when my result page said..
"Congratulations! Welcome to MICA!"
Happy and relieved now! Will probably remember this experience forever

Hi to all, here is my account of the GE/PI at Mica....

was to tensed all this while so cudnt get to write bout my exp....

Reached ahd on 19th night and stayed at Ginger hotel, pretty nice place and great room, but all that didnt prevent me from having a sleepless night...

7.00 am got ready, me and a friend of mine started off to IIMA, saw the bus and climbed in, met 2 of the seniors on the bus and went bout chatting with a felow aspirant.

bout 8.30 the registration started and ended in bout 15 min, and we were called group by group for the ge...
i was on the 2nd group, and we had to design a newspaper with a lot of clippings....everyone in the group of 9 started off selecting sections like sports, entertainment et al....by the time i realized wat was going on, i had no section left, so i shouted out that i'll handle the advertisements...got noticed for it , we started off neatly pasting the clippings, and suddenly we realized we had only 5 min left...we got off working in a frenzy....the fevi stick was broken off and dabbed all over the sheet....someone shouted for names, and we zeroed in on "cutting edge"
cool name i thought...

then came the critics role...and we had to be our own critics...i was asked 2 questions....just cuz i took adds, i spoke something bout adds looking at you and not u looking at the adds...scored a few brownie points thr....
we had a great team in our group...and we worked like we were friends even before we came here....no one had any qualms with anyone....it was picture perfect team work...

then came the PI, didnt have to wait much for it....

three interviewers...L: a man with a beard and specs
M: a man with specs who gave me a very scary look
R: a lady who after a lil while started looking scary to me

L: you are a deputy manager at ashok leyland....thats pretty impressive, y do u want to come here and do something even a BA can do
ME: i was never interested in engg...
R: even without interest u scored 87% in ur btech
ME:(the stupidest answer anyone wud give) i talked my way into getting marks, cuz my faculty liked me, cuz i did a major vehicle manufacturing project and went to RIT, USA
M: which college does that
ME: VIT am from VIT
R: vit is a reputed college, they wont do that
ME: mam the highest marks are 97, i am just average( why was i digging my own grave?????)
L: y did u do btech then, u have wasted resources and ur energy
ME: I always wanted to do english, but my school principle didnt give me an arts form, insisted i take up science, and then my parents too wanted me to do btech...i dropped still cudnt clear and then it was late to join english too and had to get in to vit
M: you wrote about branding, wat do u mean by that
ME: i will explain using an example, when pulsar was designed, the designer had a thought a making a macho bike, that apealed to MEN, and if the tagline had been anything other that " definitely male" it wud have done injustice, this is where i want to be in
M: wat books have u read on branding?
ME: none,(oops, wwhr is this thing going?????)
M: tell me 3 authors on branding, else i put u on reject list
ME: I dont know sir, (oh my god...am so dead)
M: have u prepared for this interview?
ME: no...i mean yes...i mean no
M: wat do mean, u should have done a lil of googling on wat u wrote
L: Wat is ashok leyland's advertising like?
ME: it doesnt have one...they believe in word of mouth publicity
R: You have a knack of bad mouthing everything
ME: (gosh....i am on the reject list for sure), am not bad mouthing...its the fact
R: There is a better way of presenting facts
M: Wat does a brand manager do
ME: spelled some crap
M: Thats a clerks job...emailing and all
ME: speechless now
L: wat new places have u explored, and which place do u like
ME: sir apart from Himachal and north east, i have been to all states in india...i liked the kutch area of gujarat, and ...
M suddenly throws my form on the table and picks up the next guys form...
ME: (i felt bad, but continued speaking) and i like bihar for their hospitality....talked bout how people in bihar helped us...and as a city i like mumbai for its energy...
R: you may leave...thank you


i came out and was stunned for a moment....what happened to the ever talkative guy that i always was....how cud i make blunders like that in the interview that was life for me....came out told people bout it... someone said why was i still laughing, i said i cud nothing else, i cant start crying for it...

someone then said it was a stress interview...i had no clue of what it meant, this was my first interview and only one till date, kept on praying all day...atleast not a reject...put me in waitlist and then reject me...but not today...

in the end I made it to the recomended list...somehow cudnt believe it...still was doubtful if i wud make it to top 120....got the results today, am in....almost did a dance....in the end my honest answers did payoff well....

i was so happy....cant wait for may to come

Heyyy everyone. This is Nikhil. Please welcome me into the MICAn fold as well. After 3 days of biting nails and sleep deprivation Ive finally got into MICA! Cant wait to see you all on campus on 11 May!

Here is my GE/ PI experience

I reached the campus at about 8:15 am on the 21st of march. After taking in the jaw dropping beauty of the campus I headed into the admin building from where I was asked to move to SH2. There we had our registration and not too mention it was freakin' cold in there.

Skipping to the group task

We were 10 of us in our group. We were shown into a small room with a table in the center and two panelists. On the table were kept the following

1] Chart Paper x1
2] Glue stick x1
3] Crayon set x1
4] Coloured Ribbons (Several)
5] A copy of India Today and Femina

Then we were given a sheet of paper on which our task was given. We basically had to prepare a mask which would represent India in a Masquerade party. We were given 2 minutes for reading the task and then 20 minutes for preparing the mask. We started the task by discussing the ideas we had for about 8 minutes which I believed was a lot of time. So I tried to get things moving by dividing the various activities on hand. A few of us began to sift through the magazines while some began to cut the mask out of the chart paper. Our basic idea was that of diversity and harmony. The mask we prepared depicted the half male half female concept. The end result was a bit funny as we ended up with a mask without pictures and a conical cylindrical hat on which we stuck all the pics pretty haphazardly. At the end of the task we were individually asked what ideas we had regarding the mask. All in all it was fun task and all of us came out satisfied with our work.

Then we were taken to SH2 where we had PATs address. Finally a man who can give Obama a run for his money.

After an hour I was taken to another room for PI. there were a number of us waiting for our interviews and the tension was palpable. Finally my turn.

There were 3 panelists.
L: Female Professor ( whom I suspect to be Deval Ma'am)
M1, M2: Both male professors whose names I do not know but will find out very soon.

The moment I got in, I realised that it was going to be a normal relaxed interview. It is interesting to know that I had prepared for several expected questions but the answers that came out were spontaneous which probably helped me get through. They can detect through rehearsed answers fairly quickly.

L: So Nikhil you must have done your HW on MICA. Tell me what you know about us.
L: So you like to read. what sort of books do you read. ( i couldnt believe my luck. This was strongest area. Spoke about LOTR mostly)
M1: Compare LOTR and the Hobbit

Then the interview went in a totally unexpected direction.

M2: When did the Mumbai floods take place? Why?
I said something about drainage infrastructure which wasnt the answerthey were looking for. M1 then gave me a number of clues through which i could finally get to the real reason which was high tides. I believe he was checking my scientific attitude.

M1: so why do you dislike travelling by planes? (one of my dislikes on the form)

M1: where have you travelled by plane?

M2: what did you like most about London? ( this question was a consequence of the previous one)

Then they asked me if I had any questions and I told them No and took my leave. All in all i was pleased with the way the interview had gone.

Then came the most difficault part. The 6 hour long wait before the result declaration. My name was announced first on the merit list and finally on the 24th March I became a MICAn.

Hope this helps all future aspirants. Just be honest and passionate and trust me, nothing can stop you.

So now that I've finally gotten through, I think i'm ready to share my experience of the GD/PI.

Woke up really early{something that I'm generally not used to}, and landed up at IIM-A, where buses picked up all the aspirants to take to the campus. Played poker on my phone throughout the bus journey to avoid the hysteria/paranoia that seemed to be affecting half the bus.

Once we reached there, we quickly registered ourselves, grabbed a quick cuppa tea, and settled down to hear the Dean, Prof Atul Tandon, address the aspirants and their parents.

Prof Tandon, or Pat, as he's affectionately known,really is the consummate salesman. With his witticisms and perfect sense of timing, he managed to charm both the kids and their mothers with the same speech, which is really fairly difficult, as you're talking to two completely different target audiences. I'm really looking forward to his lectures.

Following the Dean's speech, different groups started going off for their Group Exercises. Which,surprisingly enough, involved a decent amount of physical exercise. My group was taken to a section of the picturesque MICA lawns, where an area was demarcated using bricks. We were instructed to turn the area into a park, decorating it using props{ twigs, a chunni, bricks and some discarded juice tetrapacks} that were strewn across the lawn. So after two minutes of chaos, we finally managed to sort things out, breaking up into three groups of three people, creating things like a juice bar, a welcome sign made from twigs and a chunni shade, to liven up the park. And I think we made a decent fist of it.

After the GE, the PI followed. Which, for me at least, started to deteriorate the longer it went on. It started off with jokes about my haircut and shave{ which I'd only gotten done for my interview},moved on to a interesting discussion about the movie Milk and homosexuality in India, and ended with a mumbled, barely comprehensible answer to the question " Discuss the differences in the ideology and the methodology of Bal vs Raj Thackeray." Needless to say, i was more than relieved to hear the lady panelist say " No more questions, you may leave."

Post the PI, I spent about six excruciating hours on campus,waiting for the day's results. I use the term 'excruciating' because it perfectly describes a summer day in Ahmedabad. If you're one of the lucky ones who makes it for the final round next year, carry a t-shirt and shorts to change into after your interview's done. Trust me, you'll need it.
At the end of the day, I found out that I'd made it on to the recommended list. After my interview, I was secretly relieved.
And one week later, I've just found out that I've made it to the final 120.

Ahmedabad, here I come.

Pls continue here

http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/cat-and-related-discussion/38565-official-mica-2009-2011-final.html#post1460453

thank you!

Random111 Says

my no's 301775..can anyone check and tell me?

ur thru

congrats

my no's 301775..can anyone check and tell me?

Results out!!!!!!!! Gimme your registration no and will let you know

the link for test purposes was there!!


I checked mine... !! I GOT THROUGH!!

Yipee!! Am a MICAn Finally!!!

Yayee!!

ATB to the rest

--Charu Chopra!!

Guys!!!!!!!!!!!!! The link for final admissions is up...... Not data yet

i just called and asked.. they say it will be out ON Wednesday evening..

ATB

hi...wen will d list b out...?

i had my GE/PI on 22nd
after PAT addressed us, we were ushered into groups and led to different GE venues.

in my group there were a total of 10 people.. our panelists were Ms. Anita Basalingappa and another female whose name i am unable to recollect . We were given two bundles of ropes, one black and one white which had been ruthlessly entangled. our job was to get the ropes free and to craft animals out of it.. we werent provided with anything except the ropes (no scissors, no other material).. it was a fun task.. our group ended up making 12 animals in total (animals that wudnt have been identifiable once we left the room )

after the GE i had to wait till late after lunch for my PI.. and the key is not to listen to anybody else's experiences .. your interview is going to be unique and about you.. having pre-conceived notions, or a set mindset cud spell disaster in the interview.. you just had to be yourself..

okay coming bak to the point, my PI panelists were mathew sir (MS), deval ma'am(DM) and anita ma'am(AM).. i dont remember my interview word to word, but wud try to give u the best possible description..

as i was entering the room, DM commented that i looked very different from my pic on the form .. and asked me wen it had been clicked..
she then asked me if i knew who all were on the panel.. i told her i knew and told them who was who.. (the seniors outside had been of great help :D).. then she asked me how had i distinguished between the females.. I told her that i had seen her (Deval ma'am) display pic on orkut... ;)

MS: so you are from Jaypee college
Me:yes
MS: is it a private college?
Me: explained that it is a deemed university acredited my the AICTE
MS:there was a guy from your college who had come for his interview yesterday, do u know him?
Me:yes
MS:is he a friend
Me:Yes i know him, We are in the same year in college, but different branches
MS:did u people come together to MICA?
Me:no, he came day before, i came yesterday.. but yes, he is still here and i've met him today.
MS:he was very shabbily dressed, sports an earring and plays cricket.. he is so unlike you.. do u think he is okay?
Me:i told them that it is his personal choice.. and he cud dress the way he is comfortable..
MS:does he really play cricket?
Me:yes
MS: so what did he tell you about his interview?
Me:He told me that u had introduced yourself as Prof Siddique and he didnt tell me much, he just told me to go and be myself (believe me, it was a good advice )

DM: To MS-- Why dont you ask her what you want to ask
To Me-- He wants to know if he is your boyfriend
Me: He is just a regular friend.. i dont even know him much.. just that we study in the same year
MS: Would you consider him if you know him well
Me: well i cud, but hes shorter than me in height :wow:
MS: Oh so you are conservative! Would you reject a guy who is nice because he is short?
Me: explained that its my present set of choices but were flexible if i met a nice guy

AM who had been quite all the while asked me why MICA
Me:told her
AM:you are an IT student your father is an IT professional, why do you want to break the legacy?
Me: answered

MS: Why dont you go in for a journalism course instead of MICA
Me: answered


then AM asked if i had any questions to ask them.. In my opinion i asked the dumbest of possible questions but it was the most relevant in my context at that point

Me: If i get selected, could i get a small area where i can garden in
as MS and AM looked baffled at the question, DM explained that its on my form that i like gardening.
DM: yes you cud.. we at MICA promote all things that bring out your expressions (i think that was what she said ).. you could do that in the hostel gardens provided it doesn't take up too much of your time and is at the cost of your studies

she then asked me if i had noticed that the hostels were named after trees and if i had seen the trees.. told her about it..

was then asked to leave .. i had my jaw paining with the laughter as i came out of the room.. Mathew sir later came out and chipped in saying that i shud thank my friend for the funny and interesting interview.. (sir, i did :clap:)

It was a totally abstract interview and nothing that you can ever prepare for.. I think, all we ever needed to do was to fill the form truly and be completely ourselves.. I assume i was asked about my friend, cause i had mentioned on the form that i disliked comparing people or being compared to..

i am really happy that i hadnt prepared and gone by my gut feeling that the process wasnt something that we had to study for, or practice earlier

Am in the merit-list as of now.. (so is my friend ) Waiting eagerly for the results..

Congrats to all Spot-ed people and best wishes to all those Merit list-ed.. Hoping to see u all there :)



--Charu Chopra

@ datkilldme ,

It was so rejuvenating experience. You had me rolling on my bed. Hope ,panel wud have enjoyed it much more @ that point of time.

Congrats to a MICAN ,

Adios !!

"Houston, we have a problem....."

When I click on the orkut link in Utsav Mamoria's post, it directs me to MY communities! I mean the ones I'm already part of...
Could someone please tell me the name of the community so that I can search and then join.....

Baah! Apologies for the error. You can search "MICA 2009 - 11"

I hope this is the correct link
orkut -

Yenjaay

"Houston, we have a problem....."

When I click on the orkut link in Utsav Mamoria's post, it directs me to MY communities! I mean the ones I'm already part of...
Could someone please tell me the name of the community so that I can search and then join.....

Excellent :)


You and Abhijeet sound like guys who really deserve to be in MICA. Live it up :)

Chuck

Awww...... I'm blushing now!
Thanks bro !

-Abhijith

Excellent :)
Reminds me of my own passion for the place two years back.

Just remember: MICA offers you a lot, dude, but there are many people who don't take full advantage of what the place has to offer. I myself have many regrets looking back. Take hold of MICA from day one, and have fun. Study hard, but have a truckload of fun.

You and Abhijeet sound like guys who really deserve to be in MICA. Live it up :)

Chuck

I had my GE/PI on the 21st, the second last day of the process. My dad was never too excited about MICA, so he was even asking me to contemplate dropping the plan of going all the way to Ahmedabad. But I persisted, and got train bookings done for myself.
Anyway... so I reached Ahmedabad on 20th, and was staying with a friend at WIMWI. I had not completed my SOP, so was slightly worried. I filled the form there, and finished around 2 am in the night. Slept for around 4 hrs.. got up, got ready, and reached the Old Campus gate where the bus was waiting. I wasn't wearing a suit or a tie.. I thought it would be too daunting a task to manage a suit for the whole day.

Once we reached MICA, we were taken to a classroom to register and wait. Now, I was really apprehensive about the whole "Spot Rejection" concept. It was on my mind throughout the day, and I just could not imagine my feelings if I would have got one.

Yeah. So we were taken for the GE process in the second batch. There were 2 batches of 3 groups each. We were 10 in my group... and once we entered the room, we saw chart-papers, bottles of ink and ear-buds on the table. Whoa! This was gonna be one hell of an exercise. Then we were asked to wear numbers so that we could be identified easily by the panel. In the end we got the task :

"Prepare a communications plan to improve the image of any one of the following -

1) Police
2) Postal Services
3) Politicians"

And we had 20 mins. After debating on which one to improve the image for, we decided on the police.
The girls did most of the drawing and writing. I was trying to provide ideas and inputs, but there wasn't anything substantial. However, I did come up with the new "slogan" for the police department - ONE WITH YOU.
Once the 20 mins were over, we were asked to explain what we were trying to show through the drawings.
I was kinda smart in this one - I explained that the slogan had two meanings -
1) The police is "one with you".. i.e. a part of you - the common man.
2) There will always be at least "one" policeman with you - whenever you're in need.

Then started the long wait for my interview. After lunch, I had to wait for 2 more hours. I roamed around the campus during this time, and the belief that MICA was the place for me got reinforced multiple times. Gosh... I was so much in love with the greenery, the "red"ery and the chilled out atmosphere. All of this added a lot of anxiety before the interview. Finally, my turn came -
(I was hoping Prof. Deval would be in my panel.. but she wasn't.. :
she was in panel 1. I was in panel 2)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

There were three panelists. (L) - Ma'am | (M) - Sir (R) - Sir

Me : May I come in? Good Afternoon.

(M) : Come in.. come in.. have a seat.
Me : Thank you.

(L) : So... Ayaz... you're a literature student. What makes you come to MICA? Doesn't make too much sense.
Me : It doesn't?? I thought it did.

(L) : Well, if you thought it did, I'm sorry to tell you that you're sorely mistaken.
Me : I chose Literature for my grad because of "so n so" reasons. (I gave a li'l bit of my life story).. Now I want to come to MICA.

(L) : Are you sure? You don't want to go to Jamia- MCRC, or someplace else? Are you sure you want to do Communications Management?
Me : Yes ma'am. Totally sure.

(M) : Okay.. Ayaz.. what do your friends call you? Ayaz or Matin?
Me : Sir.. in the hostel most of them called me Matin.. but otherwise I'm known as Ayaz.

(M) : Your grades have been on a constant decline throughout your life?? What will happen when you come to MICA?
Me : Explained.. and explained some more. (was brutally honest and frank here)

(M) : Oh.. so you topped your college in Literature!! Oh.. naaice. Lets test you on that.
Me : Okay.

(L) : How many plays did Shakespeare write?
Me : Oops... i don't know the exact number.

(L) : When was Shakespeare born?
Me : Ummm.... Fifteen... ummm...... sixty... four?

(L) : "(There were some quotes)".. who said this?
Me : No idea.

(L) : Who won the Booker of Bookers?
Me : Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children.

(L) : Have you read it? Can we talk about it?
Me : Nope.. haven't read it.

(L) : "God of small things"??
Me : Nope. I have read "Life of Pi", though.

(M): Oh... cool... we'll talk about that. What is the style the author uses in the book?
Me : Are you talking about the style where the author narrates another person's story in first person?

(M): Umm.. that's a very general way of putting it. Anyway... now.. could you talk a little about your dislikes?? Do you remember them..? Or would you like to refer to your form?
Me : No sir... i remember them... the first one was.. "forwarded SMSs/emails.."

(M) : That one's understandable.. the other two..
Me : Okay... 2nd was "usage of the word 'loose' instead of 'lose'..."

(L) : (kinda laughing..) why.. what's wrong with that? you get what they're trying to say, don't you?
Me : Yes ma'am, that's true.. but it sounds funny... imagine someone writing this "Hey guys.. I didn't get through.. but lets not loose hope.."

(All of them are laughing.. although not too much)

(M) : Okay.. the 3rd one...
Me : Sir.. on INDIA TV... firstly, they show weird programs... and during those programs.. they'll show something.. write a simple sentence in huge letters.. and then read it aloud slowly.. For example.. they'll show an elephant.. and they they'll write "YEH EK HAATHI HAI"... then they'll read it out "YEH....... EK........... HAAAATHI.......... HAI.................!!" The elephant will vanish.. and they'll say "YEH............... HAAAATHI......... AB............ GAYAB........ HO..... GAYA.............!!!"

(Gosh.. they laughed so much on this.. even I was laughing.. and they kept laughing for a minute or so.. )

(M) says : this is our entertainment for the day.
(L) says : any questions from us?
Me : No ma'am... thank you very much.

I get up and leave. I was laughing even after coming out. It was a good experience.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Then the wait began for the results. I was getting too anxious now. Paid visits to the restroom plenty of times. Finally PAT came to announce the results.. at around 7pm.
First was the list of "spot rejects". My heart was in my mouth throughout. Although my interview had ended on a good note, I didn't know what to make of it.. I hadn't been great in acads or anything.

Everytime PAT had some trouble in pronouncing a name, I feared it was me... but the 18 names were announced... and I was not among them.

The "spot offers" were next.
First name...

Ayaz Matin....

WHOA..!!!
I WAS NUMB!! DIDN'T BELIEVE IT!!! THIS WAS IT!!!! THIS WAS THE MOMENT I HAD BEEN WAITING FOR.... FOR ONE AND A HALF YEARS!! THIS WAS REDEMPTION!!! ONE DREAM.... THAT FINALLY CAME TRUE!!


If you go through my story, I was very very desperate the last time around.. and I was so sure I would clear MICAT.. so so sure...... but then I didn't. I was devastated after that... didn't know if I'd ever be able to be a part of MICA. One whole year seemed so long. One more year of struggle... of hopes.... of prayers...!

I would like to use this post to thank a few people who have been instrumental in my MICA journey.
Utsav_s1986 - For supporting me throughout and being there for me... always... even when the going was really tough for him.
Deval Ma'am - For all the help... and that post that she wrote a year ago.. I didn't appreciate it then as much as I appreciate it now.
Richa12 - For advising me to be totally frank and honest... which I was.. and which I think is the most important thing.
Utsav Mamoria - For providing help at critical junctures.. and giving me valuable ideas and encouragement.
Chuck - for being the resource of gyaan on the subject.
Yettobepaid - For being an inspiration... in the art of perseverance.

To use words from a genius... whose year of birth I actually got correct....;)

"All's well... that ends well..!!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now all of you people who are wondering why there's "FMS" written below my name when I was so so passionate about MICA... well.. my Dad and certain family conditions forced me to give up the one thing I had really loved in my life...
the love still exists inside...
maybe there will come a day when my wish will come true!!

Wishing the very best to all of you!
Rock 'em all! \m/

Okay guys. This is going to be a long one. This won't be my just my GE/PI experience. This will include the whole MICA experience... from the moment I started dreaming about this place...

A previous post on the " Ask MICA feat. Prof. Deval Kartik" thread would give you a basic idea about my story. I'm quoting it here.

"All the world's a stage.." - William Shakespeare

Act 1 Scene 1 - August/September'07

Datkilldme : Dude, have you heard about this college called MICA? Sounds great. I was going through this thread on Pagalguy, looks like the place where I'll be happiest.

Friend : yeah.. the cutoff is something around 90%tile. Then they call you for MICAT/GE/PI all on the same day.

Datkilldme : Lets see what happens.

Act 1 Scene 2 - January'08

Datkilldme : Gosh.. I got 93 %tile in CAT.. even though I always scored 97-98 in the mocks... why did this happen to me? I expected better!!!

Friend : Hey.. don't worry man.. you have got MICA.

Datkilldme : Yeah.. they have separated the MICAT and GE/PI from this year. But I'll clear MICAT of course. I have always been good in verbal. And I'm pursuing English Literature in grad. I'll get the GE/PI call for sure.

Friend : Good luck, mate!

Act 1 Scene 3 - 28th Feb'08 - MICAT results out.

Datkilldme (Aside) : Oh no.. I'm not selected... but the link is gone now.. maybe they are still uploading the results.. I ought to get the call.. there can't be 500 ppl better than me in MICAT... lets wait..

(Datkilldme spends the entire night thinking about it...)
In the morning :

Datkilldme : I should check my e-mail.. there must something from MICA.. they must've made some mistake.............. Oh No.. no mail.. gosh.. why is this happening to me..... (posts on Pagalguy) .

I don't know how to begin with this...! Neither know how to go on.....!

I have not been this disheartened for a long long time...!
My CAT score was saddening enough... but being rejected in the MICAT has left me down and almost out...

After the MICAT, i was pretty confident that i had done well enough to atleast get a call... really have no idea what went wrong... maybe the psychometric test...

I'm sorry about posting this here... but i don't know who else will understand!

Even when i was signing into my e-mail today, i somehow wished that there'll be an e-mail from MICA... hoped that there was some problem in uploading the results and now they had rectified it! Just wishful thinking...

For the past 8 months, I always dreamt of the day that i will tell my friends about my admission into MICA. i guess i'll have to wait another 12 months....



Some dreams are too good to be true!



All the best to the call-getters....

Deval Ma'am : replies .

Oye...don't write like this...it breaks my heart...NO am not being funny or pulling your legs. But I clearly feel how you feel.

I know it's a long wait, but time flies and hope in the same time you will be able to prepare much more and may be add to your own knowledge base.

Look forward to having you in MICA...

Deval

(datkilldme stays heartbroken for sometime.. then gets busy with his final yr exams)
ACT 2 Scene 1 - March 3, 2009
(A year has gone by and it is MICAT result time again. Datkilldme is more aware of things now.. more mature.. and more balanced)

Datkilldme : Oh! MICAT results out...! Lets see...! I can't expect anything. You never know with MICAT. What was my MICA form no.? Lemme check... Oh k.. Please God.. no "SORRY" on the page.. Please God... no "SORRY"

(He presses the "enter" key)

" Congratulations! You have been shortlisted for the final phase of admission to PGPCM 2009-2011. "

All praise to thee, Lord. Thank you for making this dream one step closer to reality.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you Deval ma'am. For everything.

Jai Ho!

This was posted by me after the MICAT'09 results were out. Please continue for the rest of the story...

Where are the rest of the experiences? :|
Don't tell me the art is dying!

Congrats to all the admits Welcome to a mad, mad life out here!

Chuck

hello Puys...

I know i m a litle late in posting my Experience...but I guess d whole experience is worth it aftr al...So here it goes...

Reached Ahmedabad on d 19th after my Tapmi PI at Manipal...n den reachd d next day i.e. on d 20th for my GE-PI at d MICA CAMPUS....One glance...and dats it...guess it has dt Creative energy arnd it dt js mks u fall in luv wid d place....

neway...v strted off wid d registration process n sum nice tea n biscuits ..

Den came d speech by PAT....great orator...left all parents and children spellbound...Dis hpnd while d other 3 panels hd their GE...sum had 2 design d layout of a newspaper complete wid title et al...n sum had Creative Story writing wid d words given....js like v did...ours ws a prty neat job...dts wt atlst i felt...our story hd a prty profound meaning except dat only d group got it...n did not really get 2 d evaluators

K...den had a nice Campus session...shown arnd d hostels,knowledge centres n evrythng....D seniors did a gud job at dat...dey wr Patient..cud mk out ...(cuz f sum really dumb Qns dt many ppl wr asking!!!)...
kudos 4 dat!!!:clap:

N after having a decent lunch at d mess...hd 2 wait 4 2hrs b4 my turn came...

Realised dat i had deval mam...Chatterjee sir....n 1 more sir in my PI panel.(dint knw his name)..

D PI ws such....KEY:D- Deval mam, C- chatterjee Sir, OS-Other Sir,Me-ADITI;)

D,C,OS- Gud afternoon Aditi
Me- gud aftrnun
C- So, Aditi u said u like reading indian Fiction...Why??
Me-Indian set-up,identification...blah-blah
C-so lets talk abt The White tiger..u've heard about it??
Me-No sir, dint get an oppurtunity to(ws reading last 10yrs CAT papers!!
C-Then, what about sea of Poppies??
Me-(ooops..double trouble!!)...Sir Its by Amitav Ghosh..bt i havent read it either
C-Then what have u read In Indian Fiction
Me-If god was a Banker by ravi subramaniam
O-so whats d story like?
Me-.......on n on....:wow:lets give gyan!!
D-So dont u thnk its like d Arch-typical Bollywood story...gud boy v/s bad boy??
me-yes....bt de....gyan tym agn!!!:D
O-why did u leave ur job?
me-dint enjoy operational work...blah blah
O-U said u dnt njoy politics...why??
Me-i do...bt nt dirty politics
C-so whats ur thinking on dirty politics..what does it mean>?
me-on n on....lets give sum more gyan
D-So what do u think of d political scene in India today??
Me- ...Lets repeat d chorus...say..."on n on"...
D-Which do u want to specialize in XYZ??
Me-....gyan....
O-where do u c urself workin if u tk dt specialisation??
Me-...said al dt i cud thnk of...
D-Do u have ne Qns for us??
Me-............sum arbit crap.....wich dint sound like 1...aftr i had said it(surprisingly n thankfully)
D,C,O-Ok,,,thanks..u may go now ...Al D Best...

very chilled out....enjoyable experience...it wsnt d typical PIs u hv in most B-schools....dint wnt bookish knowledge:clap:...dint seek 2 chk ur mental balance (by putting u thru Stress PI)...It ws about U as a Person...and ur line of thinking...luvvvvvvdd it!!!!!!!!

Hope....its not too long....evn if it is...dnt care....liked wht i went thru...njoyd wht i saw....luvd d thot of sharing it wid al...

btw...when d 20 spot offers were announced in d evening..I ws 1 of d lucky lot!!..Gave d Cheque of 50000/-....n.......


Yeahh...............Finally a MICAN;)!!!!!!!!!

@Abhijit and Amit

The name is Raj... I mean Raj-neesh and not Ramaswamy!!! :clap:

Uh-oh!
I hope the faux pas won't adversely affect our GPA's.....

@Abhijit and Amit

The name is Raj... I mean Raj-neesh and not Ramaswamy!!!

Uh-oh!
I hope the faux pas won't adversely affect our GPA's.....

shayp Says

Gayatri had told me you had a funny interview... now i believe her... so u know who I am now.. :)

hey poo... i am joining for sure.. you??

Oh yes! We've got two months to kill anyway.....
Let's keep the thread clean, eh? How 'bout we exchange phone numbers and e-mail ID's? I'm relatively new to PG. Is it okay if I put my contact details here...I've seen a few frowns when that has happened...

Hi

Please do not exchange email Id's and phone numbers on PG

Its against the forum rules and the posts shall be edited if you do. You can PM each other your ID's

In true MICA tradition, I have created an orkut community for the incoming batch. Please feel free to join

Here is the link: http://www.orkut.com/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=60348362

Congrats to everyone on their Admits

Yenjaay

@Abhijit and Amit

The name is Raj... I mean Raj-neesh and not Ramaswamy!!! Can't believe Mathew and I really pulled it across till PG :clap:

Hi Deval,
I dint interview with the panel u were in... but did see u during PAT's address.. u were the one in the red saree rite.. ? Neways, hope to have many interactions with you during my time at MICA... see u soon..

Deval ( laughing her lungs out ) : Amit go now..
Me: am i done.. i thought we would talk in length.
Deval ( laughing ) Amit.. get out !!

Thats it guys...
Outta 53 - 20 rejects - 5 waitlists 18 ( approx) merit list and 10 spots..

And i am one of them!!!!!

Gayatri had told me you had a funny interview... now i believe her... so u know who I am now..

Hi puys,
Had my GE/PI on the 18th ...


Here are my 2 cents on the happenings of the day...

Reached IIM Ahdmedabad gate at 7.45 in the Morning. MICA had arranged a bus for us.

Reached there. GE started at 9.30 AM approx.


GE:

We were divided into three groups for the GE.

I was in a room with 8 other people and 2 faculty members.
Was fully expecting some question with 10 options .. thanks to all the research through pagalguy .. and went bonkers on reading the question:

Please make a landscape of all things that u saw in MICA till the time you have reached here in this room.... you can use the materials in the room..

For a second the mind was blank.. what was happening.. wasn't expecting this at all.. still all of us assembled around a table where three bags with some material were kept along with a thermocol board.

As soon as the time started, all hell broke loose, with everyone scrambling to take off the contents to see what we had.. there was some dough, leaves, grass, newspapers and sketchpen..

Neways, we did have a pretty decent group.. and managed to make something of it.... despite the chaos ...

At the end of teh GD.. the faculty picked each one of us to either criticize or appreciate what we had done or to say what could we have done better...

Finally the GE ended with us taking a snap of our landscape.. and also a group pic with the faculty.. :)

When I came out of the GE.. was a bit shocked that it all got over so quickly... neways.. later on got to know that out of the three GE groups, two had to make the MICA landscape and one group had to make a bridge..

Then we were offered some refreshments folloed by PAT's address.. which was awesome... a mind blowing conversationalist...

The PI started at arond 11 am...

PI:
The PI again was divided across three panels having approx three faculty each.

I was the first person to be interviewed in my batch.

The PI started with me entering a chilly room.... brrr.. was shivering to the toes... could sit still... saw three people sitting there ... two men and a woman..

Since I was shivering with the cold and could nt sit still ... was encouraged by the woman to relax..

neways, tried smiling to the two men.. neither reciprocated.. :(
I Knew I was in for a stress interview...


Neways summarising the questions below:

1. Tell me something about you thats not on the form.
2. Speak about your work.. challenges there....
3. Why the shift from technical to MICA.. waste of your knwoledge...
4. What do you know abot MICA rather than the obvious things discussed verywhere.. where did you hear about MICA from
5. leadership experiences.. if you have such a good profile at work.. no need for u to come here.. what more will u learn here?
6. Interested in politics? some more questions on the same'
7. Satyam scandal..
8. What is communications? some more grilling on this
9. Other colleges you have applied to?
10. If not this year then what??

Everytime I tried to answer there were lot of cross questions and I had to strive hard to complete my responses..

Finally got done..

Was not very happy with my performance. Although I had the confidence, was'nt able to say everything that I wanted to ..


Decided not to wait for the results and came back to the hotel...

Got a call from my friend at 7 30.. to tell me that i had gotten a spot offer yay... finally finally.. have done it..

My brief profile:
CAT 97.04
GMAt : 690
BE IT from Mumbai University: Good acads.
Workex : 3 years at the time of joining in top Indian IT company. Good leadership experiences included. Decent extracurriculars.

Have paid the initial 50k draft amount today morning.

Hope this info is useful to you all and all the very best to you all.

Caramba and Amit:
You guys wanna meet up, since we're gonna be classmates and all?

Oh yes! We've got two months to kill anyway.....
Let's keep the thread clean, eh? How 'bout we exchange phone numbers and e-mail ID's? I'm relatively new to PG. Is it okay if I put my contact details here...I've seen a few frowns when that has happened...

Sirjee.... I am the one who loaned you a sutta...

so before we start off studying together... one sutta and one machis ka tilli on you!!

Sure thing, mate!

Oh, and sorry that I didn't recognize you after the offers...I was in a daze!

Caramba and Amit:
You guys wanna meet up, since we're gonna be classmates and all?

(You might want to go to the loo first, this'll take some time)


ATB,
Abhijith Shetty

P.S.: Smokers, do not forget to take your fags along. You don't get them anywhere for like a 10 mile radius.

Sirjee.... I am the one who loaned you a sutta...

so before we start off studying together... one sutta and one machis ka tilli on you!!

(You might want to go to the loo first, this'll take some time)

So then, took a flight from Bangalore to Ahmedabad on the 17th. Already had a room booked at a place called Hotel Signature near Ellis Bridge.

Anyway, got to the IIM campus at 7:00 the next day. After a roll call by one of the seniors, we were whisked away to MICA in a swank Volvo bus with reclining seats and leather interiors...(yeah, right!). Once there, we were taken to a room for the preliminary formalities (registration and stuff). Before I knew it, about 10 of us were herded for the Group Exercise. Our task was to create a landscape of the MICA campus with dough, thermocol, leaves and other thingamajiggs lying in the room. Thankfully, there were a couple of really observant guys in our group who had a fair idea of how the campus looked like. After 20 minutes, we finally constructed something that looked like a model of MICA (after a storm had hit it !). All I remember was that I made all the 'No Smoking' boards and planted a few fake 'trees' in the model. But I did make sure I addressed people by their names and chipped in with a few suggestions.

Now that the GE was done with, it was time for PAT's legendary welcome-to-MICA lecture. I must say, after listening to him speak about MICA, even the toughest sceptic will want to get in. Boy, does he know how to speak...!

And now, it was time for the interview. As luck would have it, I was the first guy to be called in, probably because the list was in alphabetical order and my name is Abhijith. I had to face the same panel as Amit did i.e. Matthew, Deval and Ramaswamy.

M: Hello Mr.Shetty!
Me: Hello, good morning.
M: So then, why are you here ?
Me: (Thinking...Mmmm, to do an MBA, I guess?) I believe that to be successful in life you need to have a passion for whatever you're doing...blah blah blah, yada yada.....
M: You're speaking like a trained parrot!
Me: (Lo lagg gayi waat)...No, this IS the way I speak!
D : What appealed to you about MICA?
Me: Premier college for communications management...blah blah....focus on student activities.....blah blah....liberal, your-life-in-your-hands attitude...etc.
D : What student activities are you aware of? Name a few clubs in MICA.
Me: MCSA, Unlike No Others, Snap, MLS, MiCraffiti...etc.
D: Which association would you want to be part of?
Me : I play the guitar, I'd like to bring the band (which doesn't exist now, apparently) back to life.
D : Any others?
Me: MCSA (MICA Council for Student Affairs), I guess...
D: Okay, say you're the prez of MCSA. Two groups of ppl come to you. One group says - we need more time for extra-currics and the other says we need more academic activities. What do you do?
Me: Spoke like a true diplomat (Shashi Tharoor would be proud)
M: So you speak Spanish, I understand?
Me: Basic. Throw me in a Spanish speaking country and I'll survive.
M: In which countries do they speak the language?
Me: Spain (duh!), Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador,Columbia..etc, etc....reeled them off.
M: Difference b/w the Spanish in Spain and other latin american countries?
Me: Gave a few examples where the same word means different things in different countries.
R (who was silent all this while): 5 year goals/ 10 year goals..?
Me: In 5 years, get into an ad agency as an Account Planner. In 10 to 15 years, be what you guys are.....get into teaching.
R: Why Account Planning?
Me: blah blah....creativity....strategy....blah
M/D/R: Any questions you want to ask us?
Me: I've heard a lot about Prof.Deval Kartik. Are you the one ?
D : Yup! That's me. How do you know me?
Me: PagalGuy, but no, I'm not one of those guys who irritate you, I'm just a passive observer (tried to score a few brownie points )
D: No, I don't get irritated at all.
Me: On the contrary..., I've read a few of your replies on PG that suggest you were slightly annoyed at times...
D: Aah...there were times ! heh heh
M/D/R: That'll be all....You may leave now.

Phew! That took a little longer than I'd expected.

Was done by about 11:15. Roamed the campus for the next 7 hours, met a few seniors, had the world class nimbu paani at Chhota, socialized with a brilliant bunch of fellow aspirants .

At about 7:30, the results were announced. Got a spot offer.:wow: Throat went dry. Heart stopped beating. Mind went blank....Didn't say a word. Shut the f*** up and gave my D.D.....

ATB,
Abhijith Shetty

P.S.: Smokers, do not forget to take your fags along. You don't get them anywhere for like a 10 mile radius.

Here goes the first one ---

Stayed near the Bopal road and reached MICA at around 8:30

As soon as we entered, we were escorted to the registration desk.. and immediately divided into panels and rushed for GE..

Unlike last time all groups were given tasks on building a bridge, making a mica landscape and stuff.. No discussions as such.

After this...a looooooong wait uptill 5:30 for me before the PI. In this time we were shown the MICA campus, fed some tasty veg food. Also had an interaction with PAT.

Now my interview experience :

My panel consisted of Deval, MAthew and Ramaswamy.

As soon as i entered

M : You seem to have a hunch back
me: :wow:.. no no its just that i am tired and i am wearing my dads suit... kinda heavy
D: you said you dislike the Police .. do you have any criminal record;)
me: Its just the way they behave with the common people and their ignorance towards issues like the Mangalore Pub Attack
M: Talk bout it
me: i am from mangalore and i love the city but the....
M: i feel what happened was justified.. how can women drink in pubs.
me: 1) going into a pub not equal to drinking
2) even if a girl drinks.. still not justified
M:Are you from RSS
me:yes
M Then i am scared now.. my name is mohammed
me:wow!!! my best friend's name also is mohammed
M/D/R : :clap:
R: do you know this lady's name
me : deval kartik
M:Have you seen deval before
me: No
M: Then how are you sure??
me: cause i believe that deval happens to be a female and you look like males to me
M/D/R : :clap:

After this it was history.... i was punching in jokes for every question they asked about my CSR Initiative, my work ex and stuff..

Deval ( laughing her lungs out ) : Amit go now..
Me: am i done.. i thought we would talk in length.
Deval ( laughing ) Amit.. get out !!

Thats it guys...
Outta 53 - 20 rejects - 5 waitlists 18 ( approx) merit list and 10 spots..

And i am one of them!!!!!