With the admissions session being currently on for most of the top B Schools of the country here is a list of FAQs answered by Prof. Neeraj Kumar, Chairperson Admissions, FORE School of Management, Delhi, in a live chat session in MBA forum Pagalguy.com

1. MBA Admissions - Queries on GD PI
With the admissions session being currently on for most of the top B Schools of the country
here is a list of FAQs answered by Prof. Neeraj Kumar, Chairperson Admissions, FORE
School of Management, Delhi, in a live chat session in MBA
forum Pagalguy.com
Prof. Neeraj has vast exposure and experience of the
corporate world. He was instrumental in designing and
implementing many systemic interventions in SAIL and has
been a part of the international consultancy team. His area of
interest has been organisational behavioural patterns,
organisation development & understanding organisation
culture. He has been conducting Management Development
Programs for Airtel, Capgemini, Maruti, Punj Lloyd, NTPC and
a large number of public & private sector organisations.
The compiled experts of the live chat below.
1A. “Being an engineering student of final year, should I expect a lot of questions rela ted to
my engineering subjects?”
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: Not a lot but definitely a few. Good luck if one of the panellists happens to be an
engineer from your stream! See...panellists do like to probe a bit on the undergrad subject or about
your work ex. This provides a clue as to how much hard work the aspirant is capable of putting in,
how good is he/she in concept formation, application etc. But subject related questions would only
form part of the total interview.
1B. “Will that be sufficient if I prepare one or two subjects?”
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: Not really since you cannot really predict what the panellist may ask. But don't
get too worked up on this. Remember one thing....it is better to say 'I don't know' when you really don't
have a clue and move on rather than taking a wild guess. Have faith in what you have done at
graduation and brush up just a bit. There would be other topics on which questions are asked. Or you
may not face any question on your grad subject at all!!
2. “What if you get a topic for GD which you have no idea about and are not able to provide
facts or figures or examples but a general view which you can gather from what others are
saying and can speak well in general, will it have a negative effect on my selection?”
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: Not at all. All that is the best way to handle it. You have to think on your feet and
what you have written is the best one could do...under the circumstances...won't be viewed
negatively.
3. What is the best thing to do when a GD turns into a loud argument (more like a fish market)
rather than a discussion??
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: The best thing, if possible and if you feel up to it, is to assert yourself with the
sole purpose of establishing some kind of order...a consensus on rules of procedure. If this does not

2. appear possible, the next best thing is to wait for an opportunity. What I will advise you NOT to do is
to try and outshout others to get your point in. If you are able to restore order that is generally viewed
very positively. If none of this happens, wait for your turn at the end when you might/will be asked to
summarise. Forget your performance once the GD is over...it is over and leave it behind. The
impression will not be carried forward to your PI.
4. “Recently I appeared for the PI of a reputed B School and the panel bashed me up sa ying
'You have 2 years of IT experience. Your work ex is worthless. You people only serve clients
with cheap labour and don't do anything productive'. I was at a real loss replying to their
questions and lost my confidence. Can you please help me?
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: Don't get rattled by such questions. These are stress questions, most likely, to
test your composure under stress. Try (and I know this is difficult) not to take things personally. You
may face such situations again when you must tell yourself mentally that they are just testing my
response under stress.
5. What does a panel want to know when they ask the question tell me about yourself? Is it
achievements, skill set and interests??
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: This is a precursor to further probes...people are either too guarded (which may
prompt panel members to probe) or too eloquent about their personal qualities (without supporting
evidence...so invites further probe). Essentially, panel members, through such questions try to assess
how realistically do you see yourself...a bit of past, a bit of present...and a hint of where you want to
be...if you want to highlight personal qualities...be sure you have evidence from your past experience
to back it up..
6.ASir, for a person who left this job due to personal family issues some time back, and is
looking to make a comeback to the industry with improved credentials, is this looked upon
badly in the PI process?
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: You must have a well thought out reason. This is not a disqualification and
please remember....one question does not decide the outcome of the process...you have so many
other components going for you. Don’t dwell upon it too much.
6 B. It’s just that i am honest with my reply, but it doesn’t seem to impress the interviewers.
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: It may happen, I am not saying it doesn’t or can’t happen. Remember...we take
freshers too so how does it matter? Many a time (I have many examples) where this has impressed
the panel...it all depends on how you present it, with honesty. But as I said...within PI there are
different parameters that panel tries to evaluate, as far as possible, independent of each other.
7. A I have 5 years of work experience. Will that be a negative point during interview?
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: Not at all! That would be an advantage as you will get marks for experience!!
7. But sir, in many IIMs no score is given for more than 3 yrs work exp
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: Yes...here too we have a cap...but you are within that cap :)
8. Why FORE and not IMT- G or IMI?

3. Prof. Neeraj Kumar: Shivam, it will not be fair for me to comment on this and neither would I be
objective in my opinion It is your call really, I advise you to do lot of research...take a decision...attend
all the GDPIs and then take a call...
9. My general knowledge isn't strong enough. How must I go about it?I am an arts grad and
hence my score though is very good according to my subject but not enough when compared
to other students. Will there b a diversity factor for marking?I am doing masters in literature so
will I have to face a disadvantage because of this?What type of questions must I prepare for IB
interview? Will it be different from those asked during PGDM interview?
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: There is still time. Read papers, watch news channels, brush up who's who
(PMs, Presidents, VP, Speaker etc), look up some basic history/geog of India from class X NCERT
texts. This may appear overwhelming but it is not. If this doesn't work...remember...general
awareness is only a small part out of one of the many components of evaluation. You will compensate
elsewhere.
Your marks/percentage would count, whatever the stream. There is no extra weight for diversity in
stream. But again, this won't make too much of a difference.
Absolutely no disadvantage with your lit background. It might be an advantage actually, at least in the
selection process. But be well prepared in your subject.
No special preparation for IB. Its a common panel with common questions.
10. Mainly on what topic GD and WAT will be done? And, is there any chance that WAT is to
summarise GD only?
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: It would be a topic of current interest. eg should India spend so much on space
programmes when there are developmental issues at home’?
WAT will take place first. The same topic is then taken up for GD.
11. How many people will be there in any GD group?Are there any marks for handwriting in
WAT? If yes then for a guy with really bad hand writing what will you suggest?In PI what
Exactly does the panel look for in a candidate. Also can you please provide the various areas
on which a candidate will be evaluated?Finally for a fresher with bad academic performance in
graduation, what are the chances? And any special suggestion keeping the above mentioned
condition in mind.
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: There are 10-14 candidates in one GD. No marks for handwriting though it may
create a sub-conscious impression in the mind of evaluator. In GD the panel looks for - listening,
asserting, orderliness, organisation of different thoughts, how much substance you bring to
discussion. Bad academic performance will get balanced out by other components eg CAT percentile,
years of exp, WAT/GD/PI performance. But of course it does put one to some disadvantage relatively
speaking but I wouldn't worry much if I were you :)
12. By nature I am a soft spoken person, so it really gets difficult for me to put my points
across when the GD turns really loud. Any suggestions how to overcome this problem
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: First of all, please remember that GD is just one of the components of the total
evaluation. There are other components too eg PI (where even though you are soft spoken it comes
as an advantage) and WAT (which again has nothing to do with how assertive or soft you are). Then

4. there are other factors that are also taken into account eg CAT score, academics, experience etc.
Coming to GD, where you think your soft spoken(ness) might be a handicap....remember that making
just one good point, with data or examples would weigh much more than trying to dominate.
Moreover, even if you do not get a chance to speak at all....you will be asked to summarize in the end.
13. What qualities does the interviewer seek in a candidate?
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: You should be alert, aware of events. But, generally, the panel would probe you
on your depth of knowledge. The reason for this is that your future performance can be predicted, to a
great degree, by your performances in the past. Do brush up what you have studied in Graduation.
Also, brush up on your social sciences and general science up to 10th level...history of India...a bit of
geography....basic eco related to current world. If you have work experience then do a thorough study
of the business, the business environment of your company and industry, your role, challenges etc.
14. Is there any broad range of topics you could suggest which may come handy during the
GD. And what would be the approx marks which may be given to a person who starts the GD,
or a person who projects points of others in new light, etc. Can a person make up for a poor
GD in his interview?
Prof. Neeraj Kumar: Let me answer the last question first. Normally, the performance in GD is not
transferred by panellists in the PI. In fact if you have been unusually quiet then the Panellists will ask
you the reasons for it in the PI and make you comfortable.
And to answer your first question....topics would be current and debatable (contentious) that could be
argued both ways. An example...India shouldn't spend so much on missile programmes when there
are so many developmental issues. As far as order of speaking is concerned...it does not really matter
if you interject or initiate meaningfully at any point of time....bringing substantive points with support of
data or examples, bringing some kind of order to the discussion....combining different points of
views...are a few things that are noticed and valued.