Understanding what happens in the Great Lakes interview room
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Great Lakes Chennai conducts profile-based conversational interviews focusing on your work experience, career goals, and why you want an MBA. The process includes an Analytical Writing Test (AWT) followed by a Personal Interview. Panelists are friendly but probe deeply into your background and motivation.
Prepare with AI mock interviews that simulate Great Lakes's unique profile-based conversational interview approach. Interview shortlist cutoff: 85%ile (General category).
Early rounds: January 2026; Regular rounds: February 2026
• Avg work experience: 24 months (PGDM varies; PGPM requires 36+ months)
• Class size: 300 students (PGDM)
• Female students: 35%
Founded in 2004 by Dr. Bala V. Balachandran, GLIM was established in collaboration with Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. This heritage shapes everything about the interview process.
Great Lakes was created by a Kellogg professor to bring world-class management education to India. Dr. Balachandran's vision was a practical, industry-focused MBA that blends global perspectives with Indian business realities. This explains the interview approach: they're not testing you on stress resistance like some IIMs. Instead, they want to understand your career trajectory, your clarity on post-MBA goals, and whether you can articulate how GLIM fits into your journey. The Kellogg connection means analytical rigor is valued highly.
Great Lakes panelists often reference alumni achievements to test awareness. Know these names and what they're known for.
Founder & CEO, Startup Village; Co-Founder, MobME; Former ED, Alliance of Digital India Foundation
Built India's first PPP technology incubator. His journey from Great Lakes to becoming a startup ecosystem builder is relevant for entrepreneurship discussions and understanding how GLIM alumni drive innovation.
Managing Partner, ZS Associates India
From PGPM '09 to leading consulting practice at ZS. Represents the strong consulting placement track at Great Lakes and the value of the one-year program for career acceleration.
COO & Board Member, Innovative International Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ-listed)
From PGPM '05 to helping close a $230 million IPO on NASDAQ. Demonstrates the global reach of Great Lakes alumni and the institute's strong finance placement record.
Global Strategy & Operations Director, Meta
Leads high-performing teams delivering products for a multi-billion-dollar portfolio at Meta. Represents the tech leadership track available to Great Lakes alumni.
Managing Director, Accenture
Over 15 years at Accenture managing global operations at scale. Represents the strong consulting and operations career track from Great Lakes.
Friendly but thorough evaluation focused on your career story and MBA motivation
Great Lakes interviews are not designed to stress you out. Instead, panelists have a genuine conversation to understand your background, career goals, and why you believe GLIM is right for you. The interview typically lasts 10-20 minutes with 2 panelists who have read your application beforehand. They may reference your essays, work experience, or academic background. The tone is professional but approachable.
Great Lakes believes that self-aware candidates with clear goals and strong motivation will succeed in the program. Dr. Balachandran's philosophy was that management education should be transformative, not just transactional. The interview assesses whether you've genuinely thought about your career, have realistic expectations, and will thrive in an intensive program that demands both academic rigor and practical application.
"A candidate with 4 years of IT experience was asked: "You've been in technology for years. Why not continue? Why MBA now?" The candidate who explains the specific skills gap they've identified, the roles they want to grow into, and how Great Lakes' analytics focus bridges that gap does well. Generic answers like "I want to move to management" don't work. Panelists then asked about specific client interactions, how the candidate handled a project that went sideways, and what they learned from their best and worst managers."
We trained Rehearsal on Great Lakes's interview style. Now it trains you.
Try a free Great Lakes mock interviewDon't just memorize questions. Understand the categories, why they ask them, and how to prepare.
"Walk me through your current role." Or: "Tell me about a challenging project and how you handled it." Or: "What have you learned from your managers?"
For PGPM (1-year program), candidates must have 3+ years of experience. Even for PGDM, work experience candidates are valued. Great Lakes wants to understand the quality of your experience, not just the duration. They're assessing your learning orientation, impact, and readiness for leadership roles.
"Tell me about your job profile. What do you do on a daily basis?"
Start broad, then they'll drill down into specifics
Practice this question"What are 3 key learnings from your work experience?"
Tests reflection and growth mindset
"Describe a situation where you had to convince a difficult stakeholder."
Tests communication and influence skills
"What distinguishes you from your colleagues who do the same job?"
Tests self-awareness and differentiation
"If you were your manager, what feedback would you give yourself?"
Classic self-awareness test
"What are your short and long-term career goals?" Or: "Why MBA? Why not continue in your current trajectory?" Or: "What will you do if you don't get into any B-school?"
Great Lakes invests in students who have clarity on their goals and see the MBA as a strategic step, not just a credential. They want to ensure you'll maximize the learning opportunities and contribute to the cohort.
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years after completing MBA?"
Be specific about role, industry, and why
Practice this question"You have a good job. Why do you want to leave for MBA?"
Explain the gap between current and desired trajectory
"How will you finance the course?"
Shows financial planning and seriousness
"Which other colleges have you applied to? What's your first preference?"
Be honest. Saying "Great Lakes is my first choice" when you've applied to IIMs is obviously false
"What if you don't get into any B-school this year?"
Tests maturity and whether MBA is a thoughtful choice, not an obsession
"Why Great Lakes specifically?" Or: "What do you know about our programs?" Or: "Why our one-year program vs. two-year programs elsewhere?"
They want candidates who've genuinely researched GLIM and see a specific fit, not those who are treating it as a backup option. Your answer reveals your seriousness and whether you'll maximize the GLIM experience.
"Why Great Lakes over other B-schools you've applied to?"
Have specific reasons beyond "it's a good college"
Practice this question"What do you know about our founder, Dr. Balachandran?"
Shows depth of research about GLIM's origins
"Why a 1-year program? Isn't 2 years better for learning?"
For PGPM applicants; have a thoughtful answer about ROI and career stage
"Which specialization are you interested in and why?"
Know GLIM's strengths in analytics, consulting, finance
"I see a dip in your grades in engineering. Why?" Or: "You're from a non-engineering background. How will you cope with analytics courses?"
Great Lakes requires minimum 60% across 10th, 12th, and graduation. They probe academic inconsistencies and assess whether you can handle the academic rigor. For non-engineers, they want to understand how you'll adapt to quantitative coursework.
"Your engineering scores are excellent. Why not continue in that field?"
Explain the career shift logically
Practice this question"There's a significant dip in your academics compared to 10th and 12th. Why?"
Be honest about challenges; show what you learned
"How will you cope with finance and accounting as you're from an arts background?"
Show quantitative aptitude or learning ability
"What was your final year project about?"
Even if it was years ago, know the basics
"What's your view on the current economic situation?" Or questions related to your industry like: "How is AI affecting your sector?"
MBA candidates should be aware of the business world. Great Lakes also tests your ability to connect current events to business implications, not just recall facts.
"What's the difference between dollar and rupee strength? Why is dollar strong?"
Tests economic awareness
Practice this question"What's your view on AI's impact on jobs?"
Connect to business implications, not just opinions
"What are some recent developments in your industry?"
Shows you stay updated in your domain
"If you were the PM, how would you improve the healthcare system?"
Tests structured thinking on complex issues
"What do you do outside of work?" Or: "Tell me about your hobbies." Or: "What books have you read recently?"
Great Lakes looks for well-rounded individuals. They probe hobbies to assess genuine interests and to see if you're an interesting person beyond work. Surface-level knowledge of claimed hobbies is a red flag.
"Who is your favorite author? Which is your favorite book?"
If you mentioned reading, prepare for depth
Practice this question"What movies have you watched recently? What did you like about them?"
Tests genuine interests, not curated answers
"How do you manage both academics and extracurricular activities?"
If you mentioned multiple interests
"What would you do with a month of free time?"
Reveals priorities and genuine interests
Context-specific topics that Great Lakes panelists often reference. Know these well.
The founder's legacy and the Kellogg connection are central to Great Lakes' identity. Knowing this shows genuine research and understanding of what makes GLIM different.
Great Lakes is known as one of India's best B-schools for analytics. If you're interested in this track, knowing the specifics strengthens your candidacy.
Understanding the difference shows you've researched Great Lakes thoroughly and know which program fits your profile.
Understanding campus culture helps you articulate why you'd thrive at Great Lakes.
What to expect at each stage.
Submit online application with academic records, test scores (CAT/XAT/GMAT), essays, and work experience details. The essays are carefully reviewed and may be discussed in your interview.
Clarity of career goals, writing ability, self-awareness, fit with Great Lakes, and overall profile strength.
Treat the essays seriously. Panelists often reference specific points from your essays in the interview. Generic answers are obvious and hurt your candidacy.
You write an essay on a given topic, typically current affairs, business issues, or abstract themes. This is similar to a WAT (Writing Ability Test) at other B-schools. The essay is evaluated and may be discussed in your PI.
Clarity of thought, structured argumentation, awareness of current issues, ability to take a stance while acknowledging other perspectives.
Take a clear stance in the first paragraph. Structure your essay: introduction with position, 2-3 body paragraphs with examples, conclusion that reinforces your stance. Keep it balanced but don't sit on the fence.
A panel of 2 members conducts a conversational interview. They've typically reviewed your application and AWT. Questions cover work experience, career goals, why MBA, why Great Lakes, academics, and current affairs. The tone is friendly but thorough.
Communication skills, clarity of career goals, self-awareness, motivation for MBA, fit with Great Lakes culture, intellectual curiosity.
Be genuine and conversational. Great Lakes panelists appreciate authenticity over rehearsed perfection. If you don't know something, admit it. Have specific examples ready for every claim you make about yourself.
Great Lakes was founded by a Kellogg professor and maintains strong ties to global business schools. Faculty includes visiting professors from Harvard, Wharton, Yale, and NYU, bringing diverse perspectives and cutting-edge research.
Interview Implication: Show genuine interest in global business perspectives. Demonstrating awareness of the Kellogg connection and the founder's vision shows you've researched deeply. Questions about cross-cultural business or global strategy are common.
Great Lakes is known for its analytics strength and practical, industry-focused curriculum. Case studies, live projects, and industry interaction are central to the learning experience.
Interview Implication: If you're interested in analytics or consulting, articulate this clearly. Show you understand how data-driven decision making is shaping business. Be prepared to discuss how you'd apply analytical thinking to your career goals.
The campus culture is intense. For the 1-year PGPM, the pace is relentless. Classes can run from 6 AM to midnight. The mandatory residential policy creates a tight-knit community. Karma Yoga initiatives connect students to social impact.
Interview Implication: Show you understand and welcome the intensity. If you're applying to PGPM, demonstrate that you're prepared for the accelerated pace. Mention Karma Yoga if social impact matters to you, but only if genuine.
Hard moments will happen. Here's how to handle them.
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Our AI simulates the profile-based conversational interview style — including interruptions, challenges, and the pressure of thinking on your feet.