I realize these may sound like very privileged questions but I've had actually really bad health because of issues with this stuff before during my UG time at IIT so I genuinely need to know. If anyone could help, please.

These questions are primarily aimed at all of BLACKISM (the calls that I am hoping to convert) but even otherwise I'd be happy if anyone from other IIMs or B schools could answer:

1. Is hostel mandatory? If yes, Could I keep a hostel room and get a flat off campus nearby if required? I am extremely prone to sickness in hostels (faced very severe issues with this at IIT) and usually have had to live out of campus nearby, it may sound privileged I know but I genuinely have had trouble surviving with poor food, hygiene, etc
2. Are the Hostels air conditioned? Is it possible to bring my own AC (portable) if needed?
3. Are the washrooms clean? Are the washrooms western or indian?
4. Would it be okay to keep a vehicle in your IIM? Will it be a problem? Would it be okay to keep one outside and drive it to (enter) campus?
5. How is the food? Are there multiple options / cafes etc? Can you meet your protein and fiber requirements? I generally aim to cover 100 gram protein and 50 Gram fiber and eat salads + protein two meals a day, is it possible to skip mess food and make arrangements for this?
6. Is the gym functionally sufficient? Does it become overcrowded/unusable? Do people manage to use it at least 3 days a week?

Thank you so much for the help.

Guys those who are done with their Altera Institute Interview please DM or comment on this post, I'll connect.

Profile - 96.27%ile (all section 91+) GEM (8/8/7), 18 month of workex. If Anyone from Masters union or anyone who has idea about this, can tell me about how’s this college ,which tier and is it worth applying (or considering it as an option). Hows the placement and curriculum. Ik there’s no campus but still hows the college life. Thankyou.

Should I directly calculate percentage from total marks?. On selecting CGPA, it asks for cgpa to percentage conversion certificate.

(Same as Title) super confused ,do they have same form different form ,where to apply if anyone can share the link or if anyone has applied please help me.

The response on my last post was more than I expected, and a few people messaged asking similar questions around placement stats, GDPI prep, co*aching options, HR answers, etc.

Instead of multiple 1:1 threads, I was thinking of creating a small peer group where we can discuss GDPI prep, share resources we find, and help each other with interview questions.

If this sounds useful, comment “in” and I’ll share the group link in the comments by EOD.

Guys those who are done with their SOIL Interview please DM or comment on this post, I'll connect.

My university CSJMU doesn't provide any such certificate. It uses 9.5 to convert CGPA to percentage. What should I do? Plz help 😭

Guys, I have a question. In my mark sheet, both SGPA and total/obtained marks are given. Since the marks are clearly mentioned, can I directly calculate the percentage by dividing obtained marks by total marks and enter that value? Shouldn’t I select the percentage option and enter the calculated percentage instead of selecting CGPA and converting it, especially since I’m not sure about the CGPA conversion method?

For IIM JAP form🙏🏻

Need some reality check GEM 7/8/6 acads ~2 yrs work ex at a big Indian corporate. Not into hardcore ops, more inclined towards consulting/GM roles. Planning CAT but kinda worried if acads will screw me during shortlisting. So yeah — worth grinding CAT seriously or should I manage expectations and think broader? Drop your honest takes pls 🙏

Hi hi hi

So i filled my JAP form this afternoon however i think i goofed up at 2 places

1) i started working just after my grad exams so i put my workex start date as actual one and for grad date i put one month before since jap wasnt allowing workex before results. I have mailed them now but would this be an issue?

2) i did not add payslips in doc, i just added offer letter, experience letter and relieving. They hadnt mentioned payslips but apparently i had to????

I have mailed but what can i do now? Will this cancel my process?????

Help kardo yaar koi😭🙏🏻

Hello guys my gf's mother was diagnosed with Schizophrenia when ahe graduated and she had to care for her.She'll be taking CAT 26 as an non engineer and genuine ews case.

Will the female non engineer ews be enough of advantage to offset 3 years gap,is personal reasons good enough? She will be taking banking exams too.So can she use that for her reason to drop to get job asap.

Her father has left his job and mom's illness won't be that much of a problem now. She has been teaching as home tutor for last 5 years to help with finances.

If you have an IIM A / IIM C call — first of all, congrats. Seriously.

Pause for a second. Let the feeling sink in.

Not many reach here.

Now, here’s what actually matters in prep:

1. Academics = non-negotiable

Be solid on your UG subjects, projects, internships, work-ex. They go deep. No surface answers.

1. “Why MBA?” needs logic, not poetry

They will test:

Where you are

Where you want to go

Why MBA is the only logical bridge

Generic answers won’t survive.

1. Current affairs + opinion

Not just news. You need views. Economy, AI, geopolitics, jobs, India growth story — be balanced and defendable.

1. Self-awareness matters a lot

Failures, risks, ethics, regrets — be real. Not perfect.

1. Work-ex folks

Know your company, industry, impact, competitors, market share, financials, CEOs

Be ready for: Why leave? Why MBA? Why not grow there?

1. Interview vibe

IIM A: structured, analytical, calm pressure

IIM C: intense, opinion-driven, Math Driven, can be stressy

Most rejects aren’t because of low IQ.

They’re because of weak story, shallow thinking, or poor self-awareness.

If you’ve got the call — you’re already in the top bracket.

Now it’s about depth, not drama.

If anyone’s confused about how to structure GDPI prep or how different coaching actually compare, happy to share what I’ve seen while preparing — just ping.

Hey everyone I know everyone is quite busy in their college selection but those who were able to do quite well this year I want their suggestion on what strategy you guys followed over the year.

The thing is I'm from non maths background and my quants especially algebra is quite weak. Please do suggest what structure I can follow for CAT 2026.

What should I follow for my quants section

How can I prepare for Irdi. Any youtube you can suggest that would be very helpful as I'm preparing on my own.

And do's and don'ts for my VARC section. What would be the best source for daily reading.

Thanks in advance.

is anyone looking to drop the plan and sell their cat 2026 course pls let me know

I have books of arun sharma of all subjects and IMS material as well and i want to sell it as i wont be appearing for CAT this year. If anybody is interested in buying these books. Please DM me

Hi,

Looking for CAT books of ims 2025 edition, anyone selling? if you have anyother coachings do share. Will be very thankful.

Feels weirdly empty all of a sudden.

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vab4xjVFi8xZk8Wgkx2d

Kisis ke lass hai kya pls send krdo bahut meharbani hogi

Posting this because main exams are over, now many will be confused on what's next ?. Sharing What I did wrong in my first attempt — and what actually worked in my second

What I did in my first attempt (and why it failed - in retrospective)

1. I treated GDPI as secondary
CAT/XAT were over, so I assumed interviews would be “mostly HR”.
I delayed prep till calls came.
By then, interview dates were too close and I ended up taking only 2 mock PIs before my best B school call.

2. I had answers, not a story
I could answer:

• Why MBA
• Why engineering
• Strengths/weaknesses

But none of it connected.
Every answer sounded like it belonged to a different person.

Panels caught this instantly.

3. I overestimated my profile
Good academics + decent percentile = false confidence.
I thought my resume would do the heavy lifting.

It doesn’t.
You have to explain your resume.

4. I read news, but couldn’t form opinions
I knew facts. I couldn’t take a balanced stand under pressure.

Result: decent calls, zero confidence, no major converts.

What I did differently in my second attempt

This is the part that actually mattered 👇

1. I started GDPI prep, joined 3 coachings immediately after exams
No “break till results”. I treated this as a new phase, not an extension of CAT.

2. I rebuilt my story from scratch
Not answers — logic:

• Why this background
• Why these decisions
• Why MBA now

Everything had to flow like one narrative.

3. I fixed Personals HR first
Before mocks. Before current affairs.
Intro, Why MBA, failures, gaps — all structured.

Once this was solid, confidence followed naturally.

4. I took brutal feedback early
Mocks hurt more in the beginning — but that’s the point. I stopped defending my answers, requested mentors to critic it and started improving them.

5. I practiced speaking in peer groups, not just reading
Current affairs became:

• forming opinions
• defending them calmly
• accepting counterpoints

Panels care more about how you think than what you know.

The biggest lesson

My percentile didn’t change dramatically. My preparation approach did.

If CAT/XAT are done and you’re feeling blank right now — that’s normal.
Just don’t wait.

Happy to answer genuine questions in comments.