Having work experience does help in understanding some concepts easily

…says Mohit Yadav, a computer engineer from KOTA, Rajasthan. He did his engineering in computer science from Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida. In conversation with Reshma Majithia he talks of his resolve to join an MBA programme at DMS, IIT Delhi, his JMET entrance and his experience as a fresher.
What led you to do an MBA and why did you choose IIT-Delhi?
During the latter half of my engineering, I was involved in management related activities. As a University Business Associate with Opera Software I was responsible for community marketing and outreach at my college, promoting the Opera products and Web standards. As I was the FirstNaukri Representative in my college, I organised mock GD-PI sessions for my juniors. All these events egged me to go for an MBA degree. Out of the options that were available to me, IIT Delhi was the best in terms of brand name, Return on Investment (ROI), infrastructure, experience of the faculty (average teaching experience of permanent faculty over 18 yrs), etc.

What is the USP of the institute?
As said earlier, brand name of IIT Delhi with a very high ROI (total fee for 2 year full time programme = 1.8 lakh and average salary for 2010 batch = 11.86 lakh per annum). This is the USP of DMS.

Were there any hurdles in your JMET preparation and how did you overcome them?
The quantitative section in JMET covers more chapters on statistics, integration, differentiation, etc. So to brush up these concepts in a short duration was one of the difficulties that I faced. Also I was not used to a 3 hour-long exam (CAT being only 135 min). I took quite a few mock tests, which helped me get acquainted with the JMET pattern.

Did you appear for the selection process at any other Institute? How was your experience in each of those?
Yes I got GD PI calls from IMI, IMT, FORE, NIRMA and VGSOM (IIT KGP) other than DMS. I only appeared in the process of VGSOM as I had already decided to join either of the two IITs.
The process of VGSOM was conducted at the IIT Delhi campus for the north zone applicants. The process comprised a case study discussion, which was followed by a PI.
We were divided into groups of 8 for the case study. Our topic was related to ‘business ethics’. The discussion went on for 15 odd minutes after which everybody had to summarise the discussion on a sheet of paper. PI was purely HR based and it lasted for 10-15 minutes, the panel also asked me some case based questions. All in all I was satisfied with my performance.

Tell us about your selection process and your GD/PI experience. What were the most valuable lessons that you learnt from that experience?
Our seniors arranged the whole process very systematically. The process started sharp at the stipulated time. We were sent in a group of 12 for the GD, which was supervised by two of the faculties. My topic was quite simple, ‘Adaptability is the key to success’. We were given 15 minutes to discuss and conclude. The participation was even and I made a few entries and strong points.
I had the then Head of department (HOD) in my interview panel along with two other faculties. They asked me some questions based on my statement of purpose (SOP) and CV. The interview was very short (around 7-8 min) as compared to others.

What are your long-term aspirations and how do you see the MBA degree helping you achieve the same?
Ten years down the line, I would probably open a consulting firm in the finance domain. For that I need to have a sound understanding of the field. An MBA degree helps one to relate to various financial aspects of an organisation and the industry. An MBA degree is a fast track path, which helps in rising through the ranks at a faster pace, from where we can see the overall picture closely.

You do not have any work experience, does work experience play an important role for a student while doing his/her MBA programme. Your comments
Having work experience does help in understanding some concepts easily, as a person can relate it in a better way. But in general most of the students in B-schools with work-experience come from IT firms, so it doesn’t make much of a difference when compared with a fresher. Also some companies (especially in finance domain) prefer freshers to people with work experience. So it is an endless discussion, but the reality is work-experience or no work-experience, it all comes down to the capability of a person.

Any special, unforgettable experience that you have faced or enjoyed at the campus
After coming to DMS, I realized the vast difference between an engineering college and a good B-school. Back in JIIT, we were least bothered about the events in our college. But here at DMS, since the students themselves conduct all the events all of us are constantly on our toes. I realized how responsibilities could change a person. It is hard to pin point one such moment, but the day I got selected to DMS will always be a path changer for me. If not for DMS, I would have been working in an IT firm.

Any motivating message you would like to share with the MBA aspirants?
First of all from my experience as a member of media committee at DMS, I will advice aspirants NOT to take their decisions merely on B-school Rankings as they hide more then they reveal. Rankings can be used for initial short listing. Dig out as much information as you can about a particular B-school. Track the past records like Placements, Permanent Faculty, fees etc.
In the end I would like to quote from Shiv Khera’s Book,”Success is not just winning a fight but the complete war”. So stay focused till you achieve your goal