Executive MBA GD and PI

Selection of students for executive MBA is indeed a rigorous task. Students generally have to go through an entrance exam, and/or a group discussion (GD), and/or an essay, and/or a personal interview (PI). Based on a combination or a selection from the above four components, students are selected for the programme.

After the entrance exam scores are out, students are selected for the second round of the GD and the PI.

Institutes conducting GD and/or PI are:

• Symbiosis Institute of Management (PI)

· ISB (PI)

• IIM Bangalore (PI)

· IIM Indore (PI)

· FMS (PI)

· XLRI (PI)

· IIFT (Essay, GD & PI)

· IIM Lucknow (GD & PI)

· JBIMS (GD & PI)

Tips for GDs:

• Express your opinion sharply and concisely
• Do not keep rambling. Give others a chance to speak.
• Summarize well
• State relevant facts and figures wherever necessary.
• Try to use good idioms, quotes and proverbs
• Site examples to illustrate your point
• Listening is as important as speaking
• Maintain eye contact and body language.

Tips for PIs:

• Try to talk about your work experience, your achievements at work, and how this MBA will help you.
• Provide examples to elaborate on the information on the resume and application.
• Be open and honest about everything that you say to the interviewer.
• Maintain appropriate body language
• Keep a watch on your hand movements, body posture, eye contact etc.
• Be confident
• Given a chance, talk about your passion and hobbies.

It is a common belief that students who initiate the GD always tend to get more points than others. If the candidate knows well enough about the topic and can take the group into the flow of discussion with stating the facts and figures accurately and not rambling, then the strategic move of starting a GD pays off. Do not start the GD if you do not have good information about the topic.