IBS Experience- Astha Singh

A dream does not become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination, and hard work. When the whole world was going through a pandemic, we students were fighting an altogether different battle of our careers, which was filled with uncertainties and we all were hoping for a COVID-free 2021.

Holding onto that hope, I was filling the admission forms for MBA colleges. Owing to the pandemic, most of the colleges were opting for the home-based selection test instead of the selection process in the campus.

IBSAT was the common entrance test for all the 9 colleges of IBS (ICFAI Business School) which was scheduled on two dates in December 2020. Since it was an online proctored exam, we had three different time slots available to give the exam. Three sample question papers were also available on the website to practice this new normal of giving entrance exams.

IBSAT is a two-hour test and is aimed at testing the applicant’s ability in Quantitative Techniques, Data Interpretation, Data Adequacy, Vocabulary, Analytical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. In 15 Days, the IBSAT result was declared and candidates were shortlisted for the next rounds of the selection process.

Once the result was declared, all the shortlisted candidates were enrolled for Online Selection briefings and were told about the selection process, fee payments, IBS campuses, education loans and other information related to admission followed by a Q&A session at the end of the briefing. Students were asked to attend the selection briefings online with their parents.

A duration of 30 days was available to prepare for the selection process and during this period of preparation, online doubt clearing lectures were conducted by different campuses. Students were given tips on how to prepare for the micro presentation and interview rounds.

The first round of the selection process was an online 10-minute micro presentation round, in which the students were asked to present a topic of their choice and explain it verbally without using any audio-visual aid such as PowerPoint presentations, etc. The second and final round of the section process was the interview round. It was an online interview comprising of a two-member panel. The interviewers asked a mix of questions from personal hobbies, aspirations in life, basic business knowledge and academic interests. Within the next 15 days, the result of the selection process was declared. The whole admission process was online, seamless, and user-friendly.

As the world continued to be in the grip of the second wave of COVID-19, classes started in the virtual mode. Before commencing the first semester classes, orientation classes spread across two weeks were conducted. The objective of these classes was to familiarize the students from different backgrounds with the basic knowledge of business, Excel for business, soft skills, learning from the case study method and accounting. IBS is known for its case-based learning methodology. Therefore, in the orientation classes students were introduced to case studies. Another enabling tool for both the learners and teachers is the learning management system. Quicforce is the online learning management system used by all the IBS campuses in facilitating the online learning of students. We had several sessions to familiarize with the system and also activities which were on Quicforce. This was very useful as submission of assignments, quizzes, polls, discussions, downloading resources and taking exams were through Quicforce.

offline classes, all IBS campuses started classes in hybrid mode. This meant some students could attend offline classes in the campus and the remaining students attended the classes online.

Now, we are looking at a possible third wave of COVID-19 and the virtual mode has become the new normal. The seamless and student-friendly admission process of IBS will come in handy for all MBA aspirants. And hopefully, return to the campus and enjoy the best of facilities, peer-to-peer networks, experience immersive learning through classes and curricular and extracurricular activities.

Astha Singh
Section: E
Enrolment ID: 21BSP0627
Batch of 2021-2023

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