Six ambitious students from Ahmedabad have made the cut for the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad’s (IIMA) two-year MBA program for the 2026-2028 cohort. Their paths to admission are as diverse as their backgrounds: a chartered accountant, a computer science engineer, a commerce graduate living with muscular dystrophy, a CLAT topper turned psychology student, a seasoned theatre performer, and a final-year pharmacy student.
What truly set these candidates apart wasn’t just their impressive scores. The interviewers at IIMA didn’t stick to traditional questions; they probed into topics like tomatoes, the Sabarmati Riverfront, COVID vaccines, and even honorifics for leaders. This approach aimed to assess candidates’ clarity of thought and agility in thinking on their feet.
Profiles of Success
Vardhan Shah, 23, stands out among them. He achieved an astounding 98.92 percentile in his first CAT attempt after clearing his CA exams on the first try. A former employee at KPMG and an HL College alumnus, Vardhan noted that IIMA’s interview process felt more personal than previous technical interviews he had experienced. “Being honest about who I am helped me a lot,” he shared.
Rudra Kosambi, another candidate from Anand with a background in computer science engineering, scored an impressive 99.17 percentile while balancing work at Sabarmati Gas. His interview delved into complex discussions about honorifics used for leaders versus household help.
Stavan Pota, who lives with muscular dystrophy and scored 99.28 percentile in CAT, found himself answering questions related to income tax rates during his interview amid Union Budget day news.
A Range of Interests
Prashansa Shah, scoring nearly perfect at 99.98 percentile, discussed insights gained from her ten months of work experience along with her extensive theatre training during her interview.
The academically adventurous Stavan Mehta, who pivoted from law studies to psychology and English literature instead topped CLAT before preparing for CAT only eight days prior without coaching support.
Finally,Kashish Shah, studying pharmacy and scoring an impressive 99.88 percentile in CAT, tackled questions about economic impacts within the pharma industry alongside COVID vaccine development timelines.