IIM Ahmedabad Interview

Vikas Kumar
IIT Kanpur
CPI 8.4
99.99 percentile
Six Calls
Status: Finally Converted(Infact going to IIMA :) )

Case study: Topic was related to some decision by the higher mgmt to revoke a deal with a supplier.. Since we were only six people(2 people did not come ) and one did not speak we had ample time..I made few good entries and would rate the performance as OK

Interview: Three panel members....P1, P2, P3P1 used to smile a lot..P2 was looking at my certificates and P3 did not seem to be interested!
P1: So Vikas many IITK students have come today? Have you studied together?
ME: Yes sir, every one has been called today only .. No, I have done self study for CAT(lied big time )
P1: Ok let say I have to find out the number of individuals getting calls from atleast one IIMs...How will you estimate the number?
ME: Sir, I will take the datas of coaching institutes ... explained a bit .... but I had a flaw in my logic which was pointed out by him...
ME: took some 15 some seconds and said that I will do some sampling..I will make segments of different percentiles and different profiles..Based on the sample I can extrapolate the value..
P1: Smiling, ok so what will be the sample size?
ME: Sir, since I presume that the estimation need not be very accurate, a sample size of 5% of the population seems good to me
P1: seemed satisfied..ok what is the time complexity of quick sort?
ME: talked of worst case and average case..
P1: 3-4 counter questions on algorithm time complexity...
ME: answered well and confidently(I guess!)
P2: Vikas, we have heard so much of developed economy..what defines an economy as developed one?
ME: Talked of Human Development Index
P2: What is percapita income?
ME: GDP/Population later said its NNP/Population
P2: What is the difference between GDP and NNP?
ME: Answered correctly
P2: Name the top 3 country with the highest percapita income?
ME: Sir, I do not know but atleast one scandinavian country is there
P2: What are scandinavian countries
ME: Norway, Finland and sweden
P2: Are you sure?ME: Yes sir (later came to know that Denmark is also there)
P2: Name the state with the lowest literacy rate?
ME: Bihar
P2: What is the literacy rate of bihar?
ME: 47 %
P2: Female and Male literacy rate of Bihar?
ME: around 35-40 % for females and 55% for males
P2: Name another basis to distinguish between literacy rates?
ME: Since bihar is quite caste and class conscious, this can be a good basis(wanted further discussion but they had other ideas)
P2: Highest literacy rate?
ME: Kerala
P2: Second Highest Literacy rate?
ME: Mizoram
P2: what is the literacy rate?
ME: Around 90 %(88% is the correct answer)
P2: He did not seem to be satisfied
P3: (wakes up from his sleep) name two active areas of research in computer science?
ME: Talked of grid computing and next generation of computers based on AI.
P3 and P1: What is intelligence or AI?
ME: Sir, since I have not done any course on AI. So, I may not be accurate but according any thing that mimicks human intelligence should be intelligent system(what a stupid answer!)... and then talked of neural networks which I had heard from my friend at IITK.
P3: Suppose you are sent to a village what will be the power source for your computer?
ME: Sir, solar power though I am not very sure?
P3: Why you are not sure?
ME: May not be economically feasible
P3: ok go on!
ME: sir ups
P3: How will that be recharged
ME: Sir, solar power
P3: any other power source
ME:I cant think of any other source
P3: Should there be promotion of IT in villages?
ME: yes sir
P3: Why?
ME: Weather reports and cropping patterns..
P3: one can get the same information from newspapers?
ME: Sir but it will not be real time weather report?
P3: (amused) do you mean to say that if there is going to rain in the next hour, you will change the cropping pattern..
ME: Realized my mistake... and tried to cover it up by talking of getting good market information about the inputs for farming and the final produce..
P3: but if the people are not literate how will they use them?
ME: Sir, we can have a system installed for a group of villages and an operator for each system. A villager can approach the operator to get any information.
P3: Ok, give me the speed of the fastest memory?
ME: Did not get what he was saying took some time and assuming something I came out with some answer after some analysis.. Was expecting them to pound me after this but it seemed either they did not know or they were not interested in the answer.
P3: asked to integrate (e)^(e)^x?
ME: Was not expecting and did some stupid rough work..
P3 quickly taking the sheet back said do you like maths?
ME: Yes sirP2: why is your cpi decreasing in 3rd year?
ME: talked of my projects
P2: can you justify such a steep fall(7.8 in 3rd year and 9.0 in 1st and 2nd year) based on your projects.
ME: talked some more crap.
P1: Vikas You got 38 rank in IIT and 0.1 % merit certificate in english? Which do you think is a greater achievement?
ME: IIT has opened lots of opportunities for me and some more crap!
P1: talk about your personal satisfactions...
ME: gassed some more
P1: Smiling thank you!
P2: ok one last question name the states through which river kaveri passes
ME: TN and Karnataka?
P2: AP?ME: Not sure, but probably a narrow stretch
P1smiling) what about kerala an maharashtra
ME: No sir
P1: ok thnx
Seeing that they have not offered me chocolates, I started taking one P2 said I am sorry please take two...
ME: Thanks sir
That was IT... I committed far too many blunders and was expecting some questions on current affairs, my projects and BTP.

Vikas