'Interest drove me from Literature to Business Management'- Amogh K, SDA Bocconi Asia Center

SDA Bocconi Asia Center is a pan-Asian hub in Mumbai that has been deploying Executive Education and Postgraduate Programs designed and implemented by SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy, since 2012. SDA Bocconi is one of the best business schools in Europe and is among the few that have received triple accreditation, including EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB. It was also ranked 4 by the European B-School Financial Times in 2022.

SDA Bocconi Asia Center strives to impart innovative business knowledge through its courses that lead to contribute to the overall development of individuals and organizations. Here is Amogh Karmarkar, a Literature graduate currently pursuing his International Master in Business (IMB) from SDA Bocconi Asia Center, sharing his journey of making it into this prestigious institution.

What was your take on your CAT score? Did you think of taking a retake or were you happy with your percentile?

I got 97.28 percentile in CAT and I was satisfied with my score. I scored 99 in English and 95 in LR. However, I lagged in Quantitative Aptitude where my percentile was in 70s. If I had scored better in Quantitative Aptitude, my overall percentile would have crossed 98. However, I still did not consider retaking the exam. This is because even before taking CAT I was clear about the career path I sought. I was confident that with this score and my profile and skills, I can carve out a strong career for myself.

What were your criteria for shortlisting the B-Schools?

My research was based on internet ratings and reviews, as well as extensive conversations with people from the management field. I stuck to three criteria while assessing the B-Schools which were the quality of the faculty, location, and their international reputation since I am aspiring to work outside India as well.

During my research, I came across SDA Bocconi’s Asia Centre. To gather more information about the institute I reached out to the alumni and current students and received positive feedback. Since I was keeping a tab on the B-Schools' rankings, I figured that SDA Bocconi stood amongst the top-ranking institutions. So taking everything into account, I made up my mind to be a part of the SDA Bocconi Asia Center.

Internships that challenge, inspire, and prepare you for the future—start your search for HR internships now!

How did you gear up for the personal interview rounds?

I prepared thoroughly for the interviews. I read about current events, and general awareness and revised all the important topics from graduation. Given that I pursued a major in Economics for my Bachelor’s, I was anticipating that I would be asked a considerable number of questions in Economics during my interview.

With regard to my communication skills, I was quite confident. This is because I proactively participated in public speaking and debate competitions during school and graduation. This helped me develop my communication and articulation skills and I was comfortable putting across my point in a clear and concise manner.

How was your interview experience with SDA Bocconi?

My interview experience was beyond my expectations. It felt more like a conversation than an MBA interview. I was asked about my academics, hobbies, what I do in my free time, where I see myself in five years, and how SDA Bocconi will help me get there. One of the trickiest moments during my interview was when I was asked what I could bring to the table and why I should be selected for the IMB program at SDA Bocconi. I explained that my passion for learning new things and my conviction to excel in whatever I do make me a deserving candidate.

After the interview, I did not know how it went, as all the questions were subjective. It is easier to assess your performance when the questions are objective as there is just one accurate answer. So, I was just left wondering about the outcome. But in the end, it all panned out well.

Being a graduate in English and Economics, how did you pivot towards a management program?

As part of my extracurricular activities, I have taken part in many business school competitions and have excelled in them. Hence, my interest in this domain was one of the compelling reasons that made me switch to business management at SDA Bocconi.

Any tips for the CAT takers aspiring for top business schools in India?

I would advise that one must strategize a foolproof plan for CAT. To get a high percentile in this exam, it is important that you don't lag in any of the sections. Hence, prepare all three sections well.

For the interview process, start by reading up on current affairs in politics, business, etc. Concentrate on developing your interpersonal skills and expanding your knowledge horizons.

If you are a fresher, don't be intimated by people with work experience. Be confident and let the skills on your CV highlight your worth. Focus on whatever you have achieved, in your academics, extracurricular activities, or any of your passions and interests. Having said this, you must have the answer to why you want to opt for a management course over work experience. Your answer to this question must be well thought out and should not reflect herd mentality.

Amogh is currently enrolled in IMB Class 2022-24 at SDA Bocconi Asia Center. Apart from management studies, he has a keen interest in sports and aspires to make a career in sports management.