Interview With Dr. Rakesh Shrivastava, Admissions Chairperson, Goa Institute Of Management (GIM)

Online, December 21, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Goa Institute of Management (GIM) declares open its PGDM admissions for 2014-2016. The window to the applications closes on 31st December, 2013. In this interview, Dr. Shrivastava elaborates on what applicants can expect this year in the admissions process and what are the few major areas GIM is primarily focusing while selecting its PGDM candidates.

1. Are there any changes in the selection process for PGDM batch of 2014-2016?

This year, for the first time, we will be accepting CAT (2013) and/or CMAT (2013/14) scores in our selection process. Earlier candidates could only apply through XAT scores. For international/NRI candidates we are accepting GMAT scores.
We have also added interview centres in Chennai and Guwahati this year.

The management has also taken a conscious decision to change the weightage of some of the selection parameters. The Application form this year has lesser weightage on competitive exam and more on diversity. We are trying to concentrate more on the academic profiles of the applicants and from where they are coming from. This has been done to further increase diversity in batch profile.

Also, so that meritorious students do not face any financial hurdles, we are offering large number of scholarships. We have allocated a sum of Rs. 1.5 crores across our different scholarship schemes. To read more about scholarships at GIM, check: http://www.gim.ac.in/gim_admission_process.php#1

2. So why the need to go beyond CAT scores in selecting the PGDM batch? Please comment.

We have a very diverse student body. The fact that we prioritize the ability of the individual over the exam scores is clearly visible in the set of students graduating from GIM each year. We have students from 26 states of the country. So of course the classroom experience is undoubtedly very enriching. We ensure that a healthy number of non-engineers and women students are a part of the GIM classroom. It contributes in a multi-dimensional learning experience and helps students gain mutually from each other.

3. What are the few practices prevalent during the selection process through which you get to gauge students' abilities?

At the time of the interview, we have an interviewee-faculty interaction where the students get to know what GIM stands for. It is through this one-one interview process that we get to gauge the student's potential, what are his/her aspirations and future plans like. We have questions on different aspects which have been specifically designed to help us understand not only the intellectual capacity of the students, but what they are, what they stand for, the values they carry, their ability to work as a group member, their ability to lead, etc. The process is very structured and of course elaborate by nature but it allows us to bring out the best from the applicant and then decide.

4. You have announced admissions for 2014-16 batch. What kind of response do you expect?

Our application numbers have been steadily growing since years now. We expect an equally strong response as it has been.

5. Any message to the aspirants?

GIM is a place where you get to study and work with a large number of motivated and highly diversed group of people. One is not only confined within the classroom; at GIM, learning is everywhere. You learn in the group, in the campus, in the corridors, from the interactions, daily events, industry interfaces, peers, contests; from everyone and everything. The learning is further packaged within a very high-tech, modern infrastructure topped with a very beautiful and scenic environment.

To read more about GIM's admissions:
http://www.gim.ac.in/gim_ap_pgdbm.php

To apply online: http://gim.sify.net/index.php