MY GD PI Experience at GIM

Hi puys First of all my apologies to everyone for posting so late ............I know the excuse is lousy but genuine.....had some pending work due to leave from office on monday.. and didnt want to post till I wrote every little detail that might help you guys.

My details :
10th 84.2%
12th 86.33%
Graduation 62%
XAT 94.45 percentile
Venue : YMCA,Colaba,Mumbai 1:45 pm
Work ex : 2 yrs 7 mnths with Larsen and Toubro Infotech LTd as Business Analyst/Quality Analyst.


11:30 am : Started from home and caught the local from chembur to VT(CST !!though i still cannot refer to it by that name after so many years.)
1:00 pm : Reached the VT station and told the cabbie to take me to YMCA,Colaba. On hearing Colaba the cabbie happily took me in.
1:15 pm : I reached Colaba. As luck would have it the cabbie took a wrong U-turn and was caught by the traffic man (lovingly referred to by mumbaikars as Mamu). I said this is it ! Here goes my day. I paid the cabbie .........(who by that time was swearing like hell) and started asking directions for YMCA....The YMCA at colaba is located in a serene lane away from the main street and is surrounded by British heritage blds all around........I already was in Goa and at GIM
1:20 pm : I reached the venue and started looking all around ....there seemed to be many people around and I was confused ........all in ties and Blazers and at their best.We got to know that the timing for our batch was to be postponed a bit as the previous batch(8:45 am) was still having their PI's. It was lunch time and after the previous batch finished the professors had a brief lunch session.
1:50 pm : Professor Sukhtankar came out and announced that we shall be beginning with the GT sessions. He called out names and asked us to go to the Seminar Room.We were divided into 4 groups of 9 each.There were 4 panelists

P1 : Mr. Chandrasen Mirchandani
P2 : Mr. Sukhtankar
P3 : Ms Sarita D'souza
P4 : Mr. Sarvanan

I was part of group that had P1 and P2. The first group went in and came out in about 12-15 minutes. After we went in we were made to sit in a round table arrangement.
P1 explained to us the procedure for the GT and the rules for the same. The objective is to have a discussion based on the case given and come to a solution for the same.The case was same as that for Sonal and Amit . I remember seeing both of them(though didnt get a chance to meet Sonal personally over there). Had a chance to meet Amit and Apporva as well over there who i got along with pretty well.

The case:
Mahesh has a Kirana shop and he has given credit cards to his customers. He decides to charge 5% as surcharge in case the customers donot pay beyond a month's duration. After a month he realises that 90% of the customers have not paid the dues and now to refill his stock he has to borrow money from the market at 12 % interest. What solution would you provide him for the same.
We were asked to give our opening statements in 15 secs and I was the 6th in line. Was able to make one good point in my 15 secs. Then the discussion was open for all. We discussed some good points. Overall a "thanda" group with few good points being made. But a chilled out experience. We were then told to conclude in the reverse order from the end. After that we were told to either summarize the GT or to give a conclusion in writing in 3 mins.I was relieved to have put my 3 main points in time....... After that we were called one by one for the PI's. It was already 3.00 pm. I was hungry as I had eaten nothing since morning due to anxiety. So collected a few people and went out for having some sandwiches. Though I feel that GIM should have arranged for some tea atleast as was feeling really sleepy.... in the afternoon time. Not a problem as it was compensated by the friendly attitude of the professors to a great extent.By the time my turn came there was lot of tension as there were couple of freshers who were grilled on their academics and were sent out in 5-10 mins. I was just wondering whether by the time my turn came what may happen. We even joked about the fact that I may be just asked my name and sent out.
5:05 pm : The person before me (incidentally was a work-ex guy with 3yrs similar to him) came out and told me that they were asking lot of technical questions. I got scared. P1 asked me to come in. Said good evening Akshay. I kept my file on the table. Was praying in my mind that they have a look at the various certificates of achievement and accolades I had.

P2 : looking at my file and asking me at the same time. So you are from Karnataka.
M : Yes.
P2 : Which part?
M : Bhatkal?
P2 : Have you ever been there.
M : Yes.
P2 : Which train goes there?
M : Matsyagandha Express.
P1 : So what does DDIT stand for (Its the name of my college).
M : told.
P1 : Tell me about the work that you do currently.
M : Told about my work in detail. I felt I had the interest of both the professors and both were listening intently. I was happy and confident about the same.
P1 : So tell me why MBA?
M : Told in detail about my plans and why I intended to do my MBA.
P2: Listening at the same time going through the files.
P1 : So Akshay are you happy with your work at L & T?
M : Yes, I do love the work as I have challenges at times and at times the work becomes a bit monotonous.
P1 : So tell me about the challenges that you faced?
M : Told about a very critical project and the role played by me in the same.
P1 : So tell me akshay you are earning a good package and are having a good job are you willing to sacrifice the same and join GIM.
M : Yes.
P1 : So where do you see yourself after 2 yrs at GIM.
M : Said " Obviously" in the software industry. (I dint mean to use that word but accidently used it).
P1 : Somewhat offended. Whats obvious about that. If that was the case then more than 80 % of the people coming here would have opted for the same.
M : I clarified a bit sheepishly. I said I've spent more that 6 years in this field since my undergraduate days,it would be right for me to be in a field in which I am comfortable and have a good know-how.
P1 & P2 appeared Satisfied with the response(were laughing with me as they understood my point)
P1 : Whats ur XAT score?
M : Told.
P1 : So why GIM?
M : Replied.
P1 : Which other calls?
M : Replied.Then some other questions were asked and I could see the tiredness in the eyes of both the professors, but atleast they were enjoying it and I was happy and did not feel even a little bit stressed.I thanked them and left the room. Overall a very good experience. One advise to the guys as others have already mentioned. Just Chill and be yourself. The Professors are not out to stress you. They just need to know if you are really serious about you goals.