You are sitting in the IIM Bangalore interview room. The panel has been cordial so far. Then someone leans forward and asks the question you have been dreading:
"So, you also got a call from IIM Ahmedabad. Why would you choose IIM B over A?"
Your stomach drops. This feels like a trap. If you say IIM B is your first choice, will they believe you? If you admit IIM A is technically "ranked higher," are you essentially telling them you are settling? What is the right answer?
This question surfaces constantly on r/CATpreparation. In a recent AMA with an IIM Bangalore student, it was the most asked question across 60+ comments. The anxiety is palpable: candidates genuinely do not know how to navigate this without sounding either dishonest or like they are making the best of a second choice.
Here is the truth: this question is not a trap. It is an opportunity. But only if you understand what the panel is actually testing.
What the Panel Is Really Asking
When interviewers ask "Why IIM B over IIM A?" they are not running a loyalty test. They are assessing three things:
1. Self-awareness: Have you actually thought about your own goals and needs, or are you chasing rankings blindly?
2. Fit understanding: Do you understand what differentiates B-schools beyond rankings and placements?
3. Authenticity under pressure: Can you be genuine when the honest answer might feel uncomfortable?
Research from Harvard Business School on authenticity in interviews supports this. A 2019 study by Celia Moore and colleagues found that candidates who presented their authentic selves were rated higher by interviewers than those who engaged in "impression management." The reason? Authenticity signals confidence and self-knowledge. Defensiveness signals insecurity.
The panel knows you probably applied to multiple IIMs. They know IIM A has marginally higher rankings. They are not looking for you to pretend otherwise. They want to see if you can articulate a genuine reason why IIM B fits your specific trajectory better.
The Psychology of Authentic Self-Presentation
Here is what most candidates get wrong: they think the goal is to convince the panel that IIM B is objectively "better" than IIM A. That is the wrong frame entirely.
The goal is to demonstrate that for you, given your specific goals and preferences, IIM B makes sense. This is not about hierarchies. It is about fit.
Herminia Ibarra, organizational behavior professor at London Business School, has written extensively about "possible selves" in career transitions. Her research shows that people who articulate a clear, specific vision of their future self make more convincing cases than those who speak in generalities.
Applied to this question: "IIM B is a great school" is generic. "IIM B's entrepreneurship ecosystem aligns with my goal of launching an ed-tech startup within 5 years of graduation" is specific and anchored in your identity.
The panel cannot argue with your personal goals. They can only assess whether you have actually thought them through.
The Three-Part Framework for Answering
Based on analyzing successful IIM interview answers and the psychology of persuasion, here is a framework that works:
Part 1: Specific Program or Pedagogy Fit
Lead with something concrete about IIM B that genuinely differentiates it. Not vague praise. Specific features.
IIM Bangalore has distinct strengths:
- Case method emphasis: IIM B pioneered the case study method in India. If you learn best through debate and real-world application rather than theory, this is genuinely different from IIM A's more balanced approach.
- Entrepreneurship ecosystem: NSRCEL, IIM B's incubation center, is one of the oldest and most active in India. If entrepreneurship is genuinely in your plans, this ecosystem has tangible value.
- Technology and analytics focus: IIM B has invested heavily in data science and analytics programs. If you are coming from tech and want to stay adjacent to it, this matters.
- Bangalore location: Access to India's startup capital. Networking opportunities during the program. Internship accessibility. If your goals involve tech or startups, geography is not trivial.
The key: only mention features that genuinely connect to your goals. If you say "entrepreneurship ecosystem" but your stated goal is consulting, the panel will notice the disconnect.
Part 2: Career Alignment with Alumni Network and Placement Patterns
Every IIM has slightly different placement strengths. IIM B historically places more graduates into:
- Tech companies (Amazon, Google, Microsoft)
- Startups (both joining and founding)
- Product management roles
- Bangalore-based companies
If your career goal aligns with these patterns, that is a legitimate reason to prefer IIM B. You are not saying IIM A is worse. You are saying IIM B's specific outcomes match your specific plans.
Example framing: "My goal post-MBA is product management in a tech company. Looking at placement data, IIM B consistently places 15-20% of the batch in product roles, often at companies like Google and Amazon. The alumni network in Bangalore tech is also stronger for the opportunities I am targeting."
Part 3: Personal Resonance
This is where authenticity matters most. What about IIM B resonates with you personally beyond rankings and placements?
This could be:
- Campus culture: IIM B has a reputation for being collaborative rather than cutthroat. If you genuinely value that, say so.
- Peer profile: The cohort tends to have more tech and startup backgrounds. If you want to learn from peers with specific experiences, that is valid.
- Personal connection: Maybe you visited campus and something clicked. Maybe you talked to alumni who described an experience that matched what you want. Personal stories are powerful because they cannot be fabricated easily.
The combination of all three parts creates a coherent narrative: "This specific program feature connects to my specific goal, which is supported by this placement pattern, and I personally resonate with this aspect of the culture."
Example Answers That Work
Example 1: The Tech-to-Product Transition
> "My goal is to transition from software engineering into product management at a major tech company. IIM B makes more sense for me for three reasons.
>
> First, the case method pedagogy. I learn best through discussion and debate rather than lectures, and IIM B's emphasis on case-based learning will help me develop the frameworks I need for product thinking.
>
> Second, placement alignment. IIM B consistently places 18-20% of the batch into product management roles at companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. The alumni network in Bangalore tech is also something I want to tap into during the program, not just after.
>
> Third, I spoke with two IIM B alumni who are now PMs at Flipkart. Both mentioned that the collaborative culture during the program actually helped them learn to work cross-functionally, which is the core PM skill. That resonated with me.
>
> IIM A is an excellent school, and I would be fortunate to attend either. But given my specific goals, IIM B's ecosystem is a better match."
Why it works: Specific goals, specific evidence, specific personal connection. The candidate is not defensive about IIM A. They are clear about why IIM B fits their trajectory.
Example 2: The Entrepreneurship Track
> "My 5-year plan involves launching a logistics tech startup. I have been working in supply chain for the past 3 years, and I have identified a specific problem in last-mile delivery that I want to solve.
>
> IIM B's NSRCEL incubator is one of the oldest and most active B-school incubators in India. They have incubated over 400 startups, and specifically have portfolio companies in logistics and supply chain. I want access to that ecosystem not just after graduation, but during the program.
>
> The Bangalore location also matters. Most logistics tech VCs and angel investors are based here. Being in the city during the MBA lets me start building those relationships 18 months earlier than if I were in Ahmedabad.
>
> I am not choosing between better and worse. I am choosing between different. For someone who wants to start a company in logistics tech within 5 years, IIM B's specific infrastructure is a closer fit."
Why it works: The candidate has a specific, concrete plan. Their reasoning flows logically from that plan. They explicitly acknowledge they are not making a quality judgment, which disarms the implicit "settling" concern.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Generic Praise
"IIM B is a world-class institution with excellent faculty and placements" tells the panel nothing. They know this already. Generic praise signals that you have not actually thought about differentiation.
Mistake 2: Obvious Lies
"IIM B has always been my dream school since childhood" is not credible. The panel knows you applied to multiple schools. Attempting to rewrite history makes you seem either naive or manipulative.
Mistake 3: Defensive Tone
"It is not like IIM A is better anyway" or "Rankings are meaningless" sounds defensive. The panel did not say IIM A was better. You brought defensiveness into the room. That signals insecurity.
Mistake 4: Pure Rankings Arguments
"In some rankings, IIM B is actually higher than IIM A" is a weak argument. The panel knows rankings fluctuate. Focusing on rankings signals that you are thinking about brand, not fit.
Mistake 5: Criticizing IIM A
Never say anything negative about IIM A to justify choosing IIM B. "IIM A's culture is too competitive" or "IIM A's placements are not as good in tech" sounds petty and uninformed. Focus on what IIM B offers, not what IIM A lacks.
The Deeper Point: They Want You to Want Them
Here is the psychology that most candidates miss: interviews are bidirectional. The panel is not just evaluating you. They are also hoping to recruit you.
IIM B wants students who genuinely want to be there. Not students who are settling. Not students who will show up resentful that they did not get into IIM A.
When you articulate a genuine, specific reason for preferring IIM B, you are giving them what they want: a candidate who has thought carefully and concluded that IIM B is the right fit. That candidate will engage more, contribute more, and represent the school better.
Your authenticity serves both parties.
Preparing This Answer
Do not wing this question. Prepare it carefully:
Step 1: Research IIM B specifically. Not just the website. Talk to alumni. Read placement reports. Understand the specific features and culture.
Step 2: Connect to your goals. What do you actually want from your MBA? Not what sounds good. What do you actually want? Then identify which IIM B features connect to those goals.
Step 3: Find your personal resonance. What about IIM B clicked for you beyond the logical arguments? This is often the most memorable part of your answer.
Step 4: Practice delivery. This answer should sound natural, not rehearsed. Practice it enough that you can deliver it conversationally while making eye contact.
Step 5: Stress test it. Have someone challenge you. "But what if IIM A offers you admission?" "Are you saying IIM A does not have good tech placements?" Practice handling pushback without getting defensive.
The Answer Is in Your Story
The "Why IIM B over A?" question feels like a trap because candidates approach it as a logic puzzle. What is the right answer? What do they want to hear?
But the real answer is in your story. If you have genuinely thought about your goals, genuinely researched the schools, and genuinely concluded that IIM B fits better, the answer will come naturally.
The panel can tell the difference between a manufactured answer and a genuine one. They have heard both hundreds of times.
Your job is not to convince them that IIM B is better than IIM A. Your job is to convince them that you have thought carefully about your own journey and concluded that IIM B is the right next step.
That is an answer they cannot argue with.
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