It Doesn't Take Much to Crack The IIMC Entrance

Sugam Singhal is topper of 2012-13 batch of English Journalism. She belongs to the first batch of IIMC, Jammu Campus. She loves writing, reading and travelling. A film-maker by passion and a national-level swimmer by interest, currently, Sugam is interning with The Tribune, Chandigarh.

For over the past 2 months I have counseled and talked to a number of my juniors from college and school about the courses offered at IIMC, the faculty, the curriculum, and most importantly about the entrance examination and the interview. What surprised me most was that most of them believed in preparing for such examinations with the help of a textbook or joining a crash course. And every time someone asked me where I took my crash course to prepare for as highly competent exam as IIMC, I countered them with a simple answer, “I’m sorry. I can not possibly imagine myself getting trained on how to read newspapers or watch news on the TV. I know how to read and how to comprehend the news bulletins by myself. Thank you very much!” Although, I come across as a blunt rude to many of them but Hello! This is how you prepare for the much ‘dreaded’ exam of your life.

You definitely need no crash courses or coaching to help you through this written test. You need no textbooks to help you get to the next level of the selection process- the interview. And nope, you need not spend hours and hours shut in your bedroom mugging all the important historical dates and events and scandals, ready to vomit everything on the paper once in the examination hall. Nope. No.

All you need is a daily routine of reading newspapers, keeping yourself updated with the latest news, current national and international affairs, controversies etc. Editorials and Opinion pages in the newspapers are most helpful to build critical thinking and help an individual to understand news deeply and effectively. But, IIMC tends to hunt for individuals who not only know what is happening around them but are also very much aware of their stand on a particular issue. If you know what Lakpal Bill is, you should also know whether you are in favour or against, and should be able to give reasonable reasons for your opinion!

And worry not, if reading newspapers, especially the editorials is not your cup of tea, then there is another-a very interesting way rather- to keep yourself updated with the latest news- TV news bulletins! An hour of news channels combined with the 9pm debates and the discussions would prove to be the perfect recipe for a successful written test! A little bit of Barkha Dutt, some of Arnab Goswami (although I’m not an AG fan), a pinch of Tim Sebastian, more of Karan Thapar and alike and SHAZAM! You have muddled your way though the exam!

But, -yes, there is a but here too- the most important thing one could do before taking the test is not panic because apparently IIMC entrance is a tough one to crack in the country. It will only be as tough as you think it is. If you are confident, focused and know your surroundings, this exam will not only test you but you will also end up learning through it. You will be surprised at your own power of executing your thoughts on the paper and the power of examining something critically and questioning the obvious.

Give your creative side a boost by relaxing and staying focused. Take a sip of your iced-tea, grab a bucket of popcorn and give yourself a break. And please, get a good night’s SLEEP. Trust me; you need this sleep more than anything else I’ve scribbled in this article.

GOOD LUCK!