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Supergrads Topper Talk: Dhawal Chandelkar’s IIM Indore IPMAT 2025 Journey
October 25, 2025
Overview: From IIT dreams to IIM reality-Dhawal's journey proves that it's okay to change paths. Read how he cracked the IPMAT Indore 2025.
Not all IPM journeys are the same.
Some students start with NEET or IIT preparation but ultimately choose a management career.
Dhawal's story is one such inspiring path. He started with IIT prep but later detoured to IPM.
Today, he stands as one of the successful candidates who cracked IPMAT and secured admission into IIM Indore.
Here's his journey in his own words, along with insights from his father, Dinesh Kumar Chandelkar.
Interview with Dhawal Chandelkar - IPMAT 2025 Toppers Talk
Q: When you first heard the result, what were you doing? What were the feelings?
Father: We had some friends over at our place for tea. Dhaval was in Delhi at that time. We got a call from him saying, "Papa, I've been selected for IIM Indore." One of my friends who was there jumped with excitement and said, "Let's go get sweets!"
Q: You had earlier prepared for IIT. Tell us how you discovered IPM?
Dhawal: I didn't know about IPM until midway through Class 12. I was preparing for JEE, but it wasn't my passion. I felt lost. Everyone in my family-my mom, my sister-are engineers. I was doing JEE just because of that. Then I heard about IPM through you and realised that it was perfect for me. I had good communication and leadership skills, so I searched about the admission process and joined SuperGrads.
Q: You were part of the Bhopal offline batch of SuperGrads. How was the coaching experience?
Dhawal:Honestly, very healthy and refreshing. Unlike IIT-JEE prep, which can be toxic, Supergrads had a friendly environment. Teachers were like friends-you could approach them anytime with queries.
Q: Who was more supportive at home-mom or dad?
Father: I was less involved; his mother was stricter and more involved. She used to wake him up early, ask him to talk to me before I left for office.
Dhawal: I used to study late at night till 3-4 AM, but mom insisted on waking up early. That caused some friction but was helpful.
Q: How did your mom support you during this journey?
Dhawal: Initially, both parents didn't know about IPM. I had to convince them. Once they understood, they were fully supportive. My mom took me to Supergrads IPMAT coaching the very day I told them. She always ensured I had the best study material and environment.
Q: Dropping a year can be tough. How was the atmosphere at home?
Father: Very calm. We believed Dhawal was brilliant and would succeed in any field. His sister also supported him. We gave him complete freedom.
Read: IPMAT Indore 2025 AIR 24 Tanish Shares His Strategy
Q: Switching careers and taking a drop is not easy. How did you deal with that?
Dhawal: It was difficult, yes. But I had blind confidence that I'd get in. You can call it arrogance, but I believed from Day 1 that I'll make it to Indore.
Q: Did negative thoughts ever enter your mind?
Dhawal: No, I stayed positive because IPM was my passion. That helped me stay focused.
Q: What was the toughest subject or section for you?
Dhawal: Arithmetic was tough because I hadn't studied it in a while. And grammar in English was difficult. Sana Ma'am helped me a lot-she suggested the book by Ren & Martin, and it really helped.
Q: How was the classroom experience? Did peer groups and mentors help?
Dhawal: Being a dropper is hard. Only other droppers understand what you're going through. So yes, peers helped a lot. Mentors too-Anshu Sir was very chill, Satish Sir was supportive, Nikhil Sir was brilliant in LRDI. Anil Sir led the team. They all played key roles.
Q: Was there any moment when you thought of giving up?
Dhawal: Yes, when I saw my school friends enjoying college life, I felt left out. But I knew if I had taken a partial drop, I wouldn't have been able to give my 100%. That's why I went all-in.
Q: Dinesh Sir, earlier you said your wife was strict while you were calm. Did that mix help?
Father: Yes, it was a 50-50 balance. Too much pressure isn't good. I ensured peace at home while my wife kept him on track.
Q: Did your mother's strictness help?
Dhawal: Yes, it helped. She'd ask me to stop scrolling and study. I studied best at night when it was peaceful, but she kept me disciplined.
Q: How important was mock testing in your preparation?
Dhawal: Very important. SuperGrads' IPMAT mock series is structured like a staircase-starts easy and gets tougher like Indore. Topic tests were especially useful to understand whether I actually mastered a topic or just thought I did.
Q: Dinesh Sir, as a successful parent, what's your advice to other parents?
Father: Keep a peaceful environment at home. Provide everything the child needs. Avoid too much mobile/TV. Encourage reading physical books-there's wisdom in them. Let your child follow their passion.
Q: Should others take this risk? And what's the dropper's strategy?
Dhawal: Only take a drop if you're 100% sure you can crack Indore. Not just Ranchi or others. I never had doubts. My friends and teachers kept telling me, "You'll make it."
Q: What should a dropper's strategy look like?
Dhawal: Give everything you have. No distractions. Don't miss even one class. Complete all class sheets, RSM, and GMB. Supergrads' material is more than sufficient.
Q: How was doubt-solving at SuperGrads?
Dhawal: Very good. Teachers share their personal numbers and Telegram IDs. There are dedicated doubt sessions. You can even ask doubts in class and they'll solve it right away.
Read: IPMAT Indore 2025 AIR 50 Jonathan’s Inspiring Journey
Q: Finally, one piece of advice for aspirants?
Dhawal: Always believe in yourself. Not 50-50. Full belief. That's what got me in. And solve as many mocks as you can. IPM needs all-rounders, so participate in everything-it'll help in interviews too.
Congratulations to Dhawal and his family once again!
His journey reminds us that courage, clarity, and belief can take you places-even if the path is unconventional.
Key Takeaways
- It's completely normal for students to shift their career focus from engineering or medical to management after Class 12.
- IPMAT presents a valuable opportunity for students seeking to join IIM's immediately after completing their education.
- Even with limited time, focused preparation and the right resources can lead to top ranks.
- Balancing board exams and entrance preparation is crucial for success in IPMAT.
- IPMAT is a strong alternative to JEE or NEET for students passionate about business and leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from JEE or NEET preparation to IPMAT?
Is it possible to crack IPMAT in 3–4 months?
How do I balance board exams with IPMAT preparation?
Do I need coaching to crack IPMAT?
Is IPMAT a good alternative to engineering or medical careers?
Aishwarya Mehra
Content Writer
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