Interview dates in several prestigious institutions clash leaving CAT qualifiers confused

Updated on: Friday, February 08, 2013

Hundreds of Common Admission Test (CAT-2012) qualifying students are in a tizzy this year due to clash of interview dates in several prestigious institutions. The six younger Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai and SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) are among the few institutes with their interviews scheduled on February 15.

After the CAT 2012 results announcement in January second week, the B-schools started announcing its interview call dates. While NMIMS released its dates on January 24 and SPJIMR on January 31, the younger IIMs announced the dates on February 2. The last minute announcement has left many in a shock.

Ashwani Sharma, one of the qualifying students said, "I have already booked my tickets to Mumbai for the NMIMS interview as the dates were announced in January. Now, I have my group discussion for the younger IIMs on the same day. I don't know what to do. The only option left for me is to request and convince IIM-R, the nodal institute for admission to the younger IIMs, for date change."

Another student said, "There should be some management in releasing interview dates. This gives harrowing time for students who have to appear for interviews in different cities."

According to sources, owing to the clash of interview dates, the IIM-R has said that it will consider date change provided interviews overlap with older IIMs or only on medical grounds. However, it is unlikely that all date change requests will be considered as aspirants will try to choose dates as per their convenience. The younger IIMs have approximately called 10,000 aspirants for interview.

However, coaching experts believe that it is up to students to choose the interview they want to appear in and make prior arrangements. Madhur Naneria, one of the experts said, "One can always put up a request for date change. If it is considered then students should try making necessary arrangement. It is an experience of managing things."

Interview dates in several prestigious institutions clash leaving CAT qualifiers confused

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