Aakriti Lalwani

My preparation started with understanding fundamentals and approaches to different types of cases by reading through relevant casebooks. I continuously solved cases with a wide set of people which helped me get more comprehensive feedback and exposure to different methodologies. I focused on learning about industries, especially those that are relevant to my profile from the very start. You can typically find industry-specific primers in most B-school casebooks. Practicing guesstimates and quant-heavy cases were tiresome but an important part of my preparation. Lastly revising cases and actively trying not to repeat the mistakes helped me perform well on D-day.

The process starts with preparing your CV and polishing it to its best version. Once you have a shortlist from your desired firm, the preparation for d- d-day starts in full swing. Along with the shortlist, you also get the contact details of your mentors and buddies who serve as guides for the rest of the process. Every communication and case with them is very informative and mostly evaluative. It is very important to take initiative and keep communicating with your OCRs and buddy and seek guidance from them. My buddy and OCR also helped me with my behavioral questions apart from the case practice and gave me great tips for my final day.

Towards the last leg of the process, the consult dinner also plays an important role in your selection. For dinner be very prepared for behavioral questions and opinions on current affairs. Try to communicate with as many OCRs, and senior managers as you can, it helps you understand the firm better and decide your pecking order.

My interview process started with my introduction followed by a couple of behavioral questions. I also got a case based on my CV which required me to bring insights from my work experience. This is followed by a conventional case in the second round. The cases on the final day are very conversational, hence it is important to communicate effectively and clearly while solving the case.

Firstly, I would start early and not wait for the shortlist because companies keep rolling extended shortlists till the end. Secondly, I wouldn't hesitate in doing cases with seniors or new people from the start because that helps one get wide exposure and critical feedback. It is tough to remain calm and confident through the process. In hindsight, I would like to tell you to stay enthusiastic and high-spirited through the process and not be bogged down with ambiguity. One shouldn't compare one's progress with anyone else and be consistent with the preparation.