How difficult is it to convert to IIM Shillong? How easy/difficult is the GDPI round?

The experience of GD and PI for IIM Shillong differs from one person to another. 

The GD is case-based wherein you’ll get a real-life situation. You’ll have to analyze the problem and offer your opinions and effective solutions. This is easy for an engineering graduate, but it can be difficult based on your field of expertise. 

The interview panel consists of two professors. The mood of the PI is calm. They'll ask you questions on your profession/ field of study. For example, You are an engineer who has worked in a manufacturing plant. You'll get questions on turbines, rotors, fluid dynamics, heat exchangers, etc.

They ask current affairs questions as well. You may be asked about the MBA domain you wish to pursue at IIM Shillong. Some of the questions may be out of the syllabus. For example, my brother did his engineering from NIT Bhopal. So he was asked a question on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy as well. 

The GD and PI last for around half an hour in total. The PI isn’t difficult, but it is fast-paced and straightforward. You won't be expected to know every question. But your answers must be well thought out. If you give the interview and GD with confidence, there’s a high chance of you converting to IIM Shillong.

IIM Shillong's selection process is different because it is one of the few top colleges which conducts a case-based GD as part of the admission process. There are a number of factors involved in determining the level of difficulty of the question. It is a highly subjective matter.

Case-Based GD

• In terms of execution, I think this section would be the most complicated. 
• If looked from a real-life point of view, it is generally a managerial dilemma. A group of 6-8 individuals is asked to discuss the case and come up with the solution in most instances. 
• It will take a bit of practice and detailed knowledge of how to perform in case-based GD's to solve these cases. 
• You will be required to form a discourse proactively and also make sure that its framework is maintained.

Personal Interview

• It is an important part of your selection process.
• With a panel of 2-3 interviewers, the interview will last about 20-30 minutes on average. 
• The questions range from your general introduction, strengths/weaknesses, long-term/short-term objectives. There will be technical questions based on your area of undergraduate or work experience. You can also expect general knowledge questions.
• Finally, you will be asked briefly about the field you would like to specialize in and its fundamentals. 
• Last but not least, make sure you have a sustainable response to this, the most feared question of all: Why you want to join IIM Shillong?

I hope that now you will get a pretty glance of what actually happens in the GD and PI round.