Student Journey: IIM Interviews to DFS Delhi | Scored 96+% in CAT | MBA/PGDM Journey

In this in-depth conversation, Tamanna Bhalla, an MBA (Finance) candidate 2025–27 at DFS—Department of Financial Studies, University of Delhi, walks us through her complete journey with Shiksha Nerd: from CAT strategy and IIM interview (WAT/PI) experiences to choosing DFS, building a finance-ready profile, cracking internships, and staying realistic about ROI. If you’re targeting MBA Finance (IB / Corporate Finance / Risk / Equity / BA / Treasury), this is your one-stop, student-first guide.

What you’ll learn inside (student POV)

CAT Preparation → GDPI Mindset: books vs mocks, how she balanced quant/VARC/DILR, what actually changed her score, and how she framed her SOP & “Why MBA Finance” narrative for IIM interviews.

IIM Interview Insights: structure of WAT/PI, typical finance/HR questions, handling gaps/low points, and the art of evidence-based answers.

Why DFS (DU) for Finance: pedagogy, peer group, Delhi location advantages, faculty connect, and the value-for-money angle many overlook.

Curriculum & Skills: core finance courses (FM, Corp Fin, Valuations, Markets), analytics orientation, projects, case comps, and how to choose electives that signal your target role.

Internships & Networking: resume clean-up, cold reach-outs, LinkedIn etiquette, pre-placement projects, and interview prep for finance roles.

Placements & ROI (Reality Check): why median CTC & role quality matter more than brochures, decoding “finance” titles, and setting 2–3 year payback expectations.

Work–study balance & productivity: weekly schedules, note-taking systems, and staying mentally fit during prep + term pressure.

Honest Advice to 2026/27 Aspirants: mistakes she made, what she’d do earlier, and the shortlist framework she wishes she had before paying forms.

Key takeaways (actionable)

Narrative - Numbers: A crisp “Why MBA-Finance” + evidence of interest (courses, certifications, projects) beats generic answers.

Interview = Depth: Expect follow-ups; keep 4–5 finance concepts ready with examples you truly understand.

Portfolio of Proof: A small Valuation/Equity research sample, Excel basics, and 1–2 mini projects can lift you above the crowd.

Median Mindset: Always judge fees → median CTC → role trajectory; ignore inflated “highest package” noise.

Network Early: 3–4 months before internship season, start targeted outreach with value-add, not “sir/ma’am please help”.

Mini roadmap if you’re starting now

Weeks 0–2: Clarify target roles (IB / CorpFin / Risk / Markets / BA). Draft your Why MBA-Finance paragraph.

Weeks 3–6: CAT focus + 1 finance course (Accounting/Valuations) + build a 2-page equity note on any listed company.

Weeks 7–10: Mock interviews (tech + HR), refine resume bullets to outcomes not tasks, fix LinkedIn headline & summary.

Week 11+: Shortlist colleges with finance depth; verify latest fees, admission rules, and placement reports on official pages before paying any fee.

⚠️ Policies, fees, and placement numbers change yearly. Always cross-check the latest official brochures/notifications before taking decisions.

Tell us your profile (comment below):
Exam & %ile (range) | Work-ex (yrs/domain) | Target role (IB/CorpFin/Risk/BA/Markets) | Budget (₹) | City preference
Shiksha Nerd will reply with honest, ROI-first suggestions.

For 1:1 guidance
🌐 shikshanerd.com | 📧 shikshanerd@gmail.com
| 📱 +91 9821114928

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