» Why MBA ?

"Want to be an MBA ?" This is probably one of the most hackneyed and trite
comments that the graduating youth of recent times come to face. Graduates today want
to be an MBA, but have little idea what a manager really does.

Most students are attracted to management education at top business schools because of
the high pay packages they get at the end of it. Sure, it is a brilliant career to pursue, but
if your ultimate aim is to stuff your pockets, you might just cut a sorry figure in your
future life or, for that matter, even in your Group Discussions or your Personal
interviews.

Do you have a goal? Many students who make it to the best B-Schools do have a
purpose or a firm goal. You will be astonished to know that every year, about six to
eight percent of the graduating managers from top B-Schools join startup enterprises
because of the tremendous learning opportunities that startups provide. Almost an equal
percentage of students join NGOs or social service organisations. If you know your goal,
the two year period at a B-School becomes a path to your objective and your learning is
more focused.

CAT: Some notions All of us have heard that CAT is a test of Quantitative ability and
Verbal ability. You can't really blame students for thinking so. This is because institutes
inject this thought into their minds. Moreover, students believe CAT is all about 75
questions, divided into three sections to be tackled in 150 minutes. Often, we come
across examples of class toppers performing badly in CAT, while an average student in
the same class would crack CAT.

This puts forth a few questions:

1. Are B-Schools actually looking for your Quantitative and Verbal skills in the
written CAT ?
2. Are B-Schools looking for your communication skills in GDs and interviews?

If your answer to these questions is yes, it is time you snap out of your hallucination and
face reality. Most test preparatory institutes prepare you for Quantitative and Verbal
skills, but forget to put an element of stress that forms the basis of written CAT

CAT -- A few home truths For most students, GDs and interviews mean preparation
of certain macro topics and self-awareness issues. But interviewers want to know the
core of your business acumen. GDs and interviews preparation is not a 10 to 12 session
programme, but a year-long process. They are more about sharpening your business
acumen. There are topics such as

• Do you know something about impact of China's deliberate slowdown, on Indian

economy?
• Why does the Indian prime minister give top billing to infrastructure?
 • What are your thoughts on the consolidation in the Indian telecom sector?

If you have an idea of the above, your preparation has direction. If not, you probably are
so engrossed in your Mathematics and English that you are ignoring the real aspects of
CAT preparation

MBA: Some facts -Just having an MBA degree will not help you. Dig into the reason
why you want to do an MBA. Discover your core skills.

• If you are good at creativity and have an aptitude for advertising, an advertising
school is a better option for you than a B-School.
• Don't get bogged down with the fat pay packages. Salary packages are just a
direct function of economic growth. If in a particular year, there is an upward
economic swing, salary packages will shoot up. In a year of recession, even the
best B-Schools in India find it tough to place their students. Look at the
placement scenario this year. The IT and ITES companies led the fray, followed
by finance companies. Old economy companies were almost out of the
reckoning. This tells us the economic growth pattern in the years to come.

Steps to become an MBA Remember, an MBA is a medium to reach your destination.

It is not the destination. The following points might help you build a strong foundation
to your management career:

• Set a goal for yourself.

• Introspect and find out your flair.
• Shortlist the B-Schools and the areas of specialization, based on your flair.
• Start reading about management so as to get an edge over others.
• Know how to prepare for CAT. CAT is not only about Mathematics and Verbal
skills.
• Introduce an element of stress and uncertainty at each and every step of your
preparation deliberately.

• Learn to relax at the end of the day.

» Admission Procedure MBA is a test of your attitude, aptitude and approach. The right
combination of these three is a must to get through. Prowess- the most comprehensive
program for MBA preparation.

What is the selection procedure?

Stage 1:

The Written Test - Most institutes conduct their Written Tests between November and
January. The written tests, inter alia, include the following:
 • Quantitative Skills:- This section of an MBA written examination tests skill
levels of aspirants upto Higher secondary school mathematics. The favourite
topics for the paper setter in quantitative section include.
• Arithmetic (Number Theory, Ratio and Proportion, TSD, Percentages,
Partnerships, Mixtures and Alligations etc.
• Geometry: - Lines and Angles, Triangles, Circles, Co-Ordinate Geometry etc.
• Algebra :- Quadratic equations, Functions
• Probability, Permutations and Combinations
• Set theory, Trigonometry, Stock and Shares etc.
• Verbal Ability: - This section includes Grammar, English usage, Reading
comprehension, Vocabulary and other aspects of English language
• General and Business Awareness: - It includes static and current general
knowledge and business awareness.
• Reasoning Abilities: - This includes puzzles, critical reasoning, visual reasoning
etc.

To clear a written test a candidate should be able to maintain a proper balance between
speed and accuracy. There is a general belief that candidates who are able to manage their
time will come out victorious in the 1st phase of MBA entrance. The call letter for stage 2
which involves Group Discussion and Interview is sent to students who qualify the test.

Stage 2:

The Group Discussion and Interview - This stage of the process is held between
February and March for most of the institutes. GDs and PIs are undertaken to check a
candidate’s personality traits. Personality traits being checked in a GD are Group
Behaviour, Awareness, Communication skills, Reasoning ability, Flexibility, Leadership,
Assertiveness, Initiative, Confidence, Creativity to name a few. An interview can be
broadly categorized into Personal Interview and Group Interview. In a Personal Interview
apart from the personality traits an interviewer or the panel is interested in knowing about
candidates’ academics, goals and self awareness level. In a Group Interview, apart from
the parameters mentioned above, a candidate is also checked on his analytical ability.

Stage 3:

The Final Call: After having cleared the above two stages you will receive that all-
important Final Call letter informing you that you have been selected.Most of the
institutes ask the candidates to pay the first installment of the course within 30 days of the
date of the call.

MBA Entrance Exams National Level Tests

Entrance Tentative
S.No. Institute Eligibility Website
Exam Month
Indian Institute
50% in
1 CAT of November www.catiim.in
Graduation
Management
 Institute of
Rural 50% in
2 IRMA November www.irma.ac.in
Management Graduation
Anand
Indian Institute
50% in
3 IIFT of Foreign November www.iift.edu
Graduation
Trade
September,
All India
Graduation in any December,
4 MAT Management www.aima-ind.org
Discipline February &
Association
May
Every IIT has
Indian Institute
5 JMET different December www.iitkgp.ernet.in
of technology
eligibility
Symbiosis 50% in
6 SNAP International graduation(regular December www.snaptest.org
University degree)
50% in
7 IBSAT ICFAI December www.ibsat.org
Graduation
50% in
8 NMAT NMIMS December www.nmims.edu
Graduation
XLRI, 50% in
9 XAT January www.xlri.ac.in
Jamshedpur Graduation
Faculty
Management Different for
10 FMS January www.fms.edu
Studies, New different Field
Delhi
Tata Institute
Graduation in any
11 TISS of Socail January www.tiss.edu
Discipline
Sciences
Association of
Indian 50% in
12 ATMA February www.atma-aims.org
Management Graduation
Studies
State Level Tests
Entrance Tentative
S.No. Institute Eligibility Website
Exam Month
Directorate of 45% in
MAH- Technical Graduation
1 February/March www.dte.org.in
CET Education, in any
Maharashtra State discipline
2 CUSAT Cochin University Graduation June www.cusat.nic.in
of Science and in any
 Technology Discipline
GNDU,
Amritsar / PTU, Graduation www.gndu.ac.in
PAM-
3 Jalandhar / in any June/July www.punjabiuniversity.ac.in
CAT
Punjbai Discipline www.ptu.ac.in
University, Patiala
MADHYA
PRADESH
50% in
4 MET-MP PROFESSIONAL July www.vyapam.nic.in/
Graduation
EXAMINATION
BOARD
Graduation
Anna University,
5 TANCET in any May www.annauniv.edu/
Chennai
Discipline
Different
Punjab Eligibility
6 OCET University, for June www.puchd.ac.in
Chandigarh Different
course
45% in
UP Technical Graduation
7 UP-SEE April www.uptu.nic.in
University in any
discipline
Graduation
Orissa
8 Orissa JEE in any May www.jeeorissa.com
JEE
Discipline
Gujarat
Secondary and 50% in
9 GCET July -
Higher Secondary Graduation
Education Board
KARNATAKA
PRIVATE POST- Graduation
10 KMAT GRADUATE in any July www.kmat-2008.com
COLLEGES' Discipline
ASSOCIATION
Rajasthan
50% in
11 RMAT Technical June www.rtu.ac.in/rmat/
Graduation
University
Uttar Pradesh Graduation
12 UPMCAT Technical in any May -
University Discipline
B - Schools Profiles
 No. B - school Name Profile
1 Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad PROFILE
2 Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore PROFILE
3 Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta PROFILE
4 Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow PROFILE
5 SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai PROFILE
6 Indian Institute of Management, Indore PROFILE
7 Faculty of Management Studies, New Delhi PROFILE
8 Indian Institute of Mangement, Kozhikode PROFILE
9 Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai PROFILE
10 Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi PROFILE
11 Management Development Institute, Gurgaon PROFILE
12 National institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai PROFILE
13 Institute of Rural Management, Anand PROFILE
14 Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar PROFILE
15 Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi PROFILE
16 Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune PROFILE
17 Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad PROFILE
18 Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad PROFILE
19 Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai PROFILE
20 Goa Institute of Management, Goa PROFILE

B - Schools Profiles

No. B - school Name Profile

1 International Management Institute, New Delhi PROFILE
2 FORE School of Management, New Delhi PROFILE
3 T.A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal PROFILE
4 ICFAI School of Finance & Management, Hyderabad PROFILE
5 Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee PROFILE
6 Symbiosis Center for Management & HRD, Pune PROFILE
7 Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai PROFILE
8 University Business School, Chandigarh (UBS) PROFILE
9 NIRMA Institute of Management PROFILE
10 Institute of Management Studies, Indore (IMS) PROFILE
11 Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB) PROFILE
12 Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management (SITM) PROFILE
13 Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTech) PROFILE
 14 Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, New Delhi PROFILE
15 Bharthidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchirapalli PROFILE
16 Prin L N Welingkar Institute of Management & Research PROFILE
17 Indian Institute of Forest Management PROFILE
18 Master of Finance & Control, Delhi University PROFILE
19 K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research PROFILE
20 Vinod Gupta School of Managem (IIT Kharagpur) PROFILE

B - Schools Profiles

No. B - school Name Profile

1 National Institute of Fashion Technology PROFILE
2 Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management PROFILE
3 Institute of Management Development and Research PROFILE

» Ideal Candidate for a B-School

MBA is among the most pursued post graduation options in India. Partly responsible for
this is the fact that the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs A, B, C, L, I, K)along
with other institutes like S.P.Jain, MDI, JBIMS, XLRI etc. have set extremely high
standards for management education in India. As a result of this, Multi National
Corporations (MNCs) operating in India has never had the need to look for talent
elsewhere. They have been the regular visitors to the campuses of the top B-schools, and
have offered managerial designations coupled with sky rocketing pay packages to the
graduates of these B-Schools. The average salary offered at the top 10 B-schools last
year for Indian postings was Rs. 6-7.5 lacs per annum.

Characteristics of ideal B-School candidates:

1. People with a Plan

Business school isn’t for the clueless; it isn’t meant to be a two-year placeholder in your
middle or late 20s. Business schools look for people with a career plan that includes a
legitimate need for an MBA—so even though it’s okay to go to B-school without being
sure what you want to do with your life, you should think about possible career goals,
and whether attainment of them would be made easier with an MBA, before applying.

2. Leaders and would-Be Leaders

The MBA is not essential for a leadership role in business—plenty of top executives got
where they are by moving up through the ranks—but business school can be a great
weigh station on the road to a leadership-oriented career.

By the time you graduate, you’d have spent thousands of hours in class or on group
projects reading about, thinking about, and talking about a wide variety of businesses.
As a result, you’ll be better equipped than ever to make high-level business decisions.

And you’ll probably spend some time studying “softer,” people-focused coursework and
projects, which will give you tools that will help you manage people in the pursuit of
business goals.

3. Career Changers

In business school, you’ll get a chance to think through a wide range of business
problems in a wide range of industries. You’ll gain the skills needed to perform a variety
of specific job functions. Having an MBA can make you attractive to a range of
employers no matter what industry you worked in before B-school.

» How to select a B School

There are 1000-plus B-schools in India and half a dozen rankings to boot;
notwithstanding the numerous claims and counter-claims in the print and/or electronic
media. All of these seem to be true at first sight but it really is a Hobson's choice to
decide which one to select and which one to prune out from the wannabe list. Following
is an exhaustive list of governing parameters in order of importance, for a student to
decide the B-school best suited to his/her interests and competence. The governing
parameters have been grouped as PRIMARY and SECONDARY:
Primary Parameters Secondary Parameters

1. Industry Interface 1. Degree Vs Diploma

2. Pedagogy and Strength of course 2. Boarding Vs Day School
3. Faculty Programme
4. Alumni Strength 3. Global affiliations and
5. Specialized B-schools accreditations
6. Placements 4. Fee Structure
7. Infrastructure 5. Location

8. Research Excellence Vs Academic 6. Timing of entrance examination

Excellence

PRIMARY PARAMETERS

Industry Interface:
The interface that the B-school has, in terms of quality of the companies visiting the
campus, the quality of projects, guest lectures, visiting faculty et el gives an idea of the
kind of rapport the institute has built up for itself in the industry. This strong linkage is
developed and maintained by both the Training and Placement Departments, along with
the active participation of the students. The data, about the companies visiting the
campuses for summer or other contact programmes, is available in the curriculum
details.
Pedagogy and Strength of course:
Some courses have become synonymous with the very best in the world. For instance
IIM-A started with the active participation of Harvard & IIT-Bombay has incorporated
the course of Sloan School of Management. Not just the course but the unique pedagogy
through which the course is administered also plays a very important part in the
development of the future manager. For example, IIM-A administers most of the part
through case-studies whereas experiential learning is the norm at FMS, Delhi.

Faculty:
The vision and excellence of the faculty not just in terms of academic qualification but
also in researches carried out, papers published, projects undertaken, and the first hand
experience of the practicability of solutions juxtaposed with the experience of having
done the real thing through the students makes for real learning. These details can be
readily sourced from the website and/or the brochure of the institute. While considering
faculty, one has to look for the number of permanent faculty, the experience of faculty ,
their experience, and their business knowledge.

Alumni Strength:
The positions occupied in the echelons of management in the corporate world by the
alumni give an ample evidence of the locus standi of the school. This goodwill or
confidence gets translated into better placements. One can get a general idea, based on
the year of establishment of the school. Generally, the older the school, the larger and
probably the more distinguished is its alumni strength. The information about alumni is
readily available on the websites, brochures, or generally in the alumni databases
managed by al coms (alumni committees).

Specialized B-schools:
A student's interest in a particular field or subject is a vital ingredient in the choice of a
B-school. Some schools have become synonymous with one of the specializations they
offer. For example, XLRI and TISS are well known for Human Resources, MICA for
Advertising, IIFT for Foreign Trade, IRMA for Rural Management, IIFM for Forest
Management, NITIE for Industrial Management, etc. One needs to choose the course
according to one's own inclinations.

Placements:
B-school placements are looked at with awe and expectation by the aspiring students
year after year. It includes the number of companies that visited the campus, average
salary packages offered by them, quality of the companies, the average number of jobs
offered by the companies, and the number of overseas placements. Yet despite this being
a significant factor, it is itself dependent on the interplay of a host of other parameters at
work and should not be viewed in isolation. Secondly, one should do a careful analysis
of at least past two to three years of placements to get a realistic picture.

Infrastructure:
The presence of adequate and state-of-the-art infrastructure is an important determinant
to judge whether the school offers qualitative environment conducive to learning. The
infrastructure includes not just the lecture theatres, auditoriums, or other such entities,
but also the availability of adequate resources for effective and quick learning to take
place.
Research Excellence Vs Academic Excellence:
Teaching and research are important to all business schools and a B-school should be
able to make a judicious balance between the two. The pointers can be: -
. What percentage of faculty is involved in research ?
· How much time does the faculty devote to research ?
. Is research output academic and theoretical, or applicable and relevant to business ?

SECONDARY PARAMETERS

Degree Vs Diploma:
Even though the most prestigious B-schools like IIMs give you a diploma, yet a student
has a tendency to opt for B-schools which offer a degree rather than a diploma. The
institutes that are affiliated to a university or have a deemed university status offer you a
degree. It is generally believed that a degree holder has far higher chances to apply for a
doctoral programme in the Best B-schools abroad.

Boarding Vs Day-school Programme:

A good B-school day would consist of at least 4-5 hours of class room training followed
by at least 6-7 hours of working in groups outside of the class. As a result, a major part
of value addition happens during learning outside classroom. This not only assists in the
development of personality of the individual but also forges teamwork as the way to
succeed, using experience and knowledge of one’s peers. So, the B-schools with
compulsory boarding programme get a higher rating than the ones with a day
programme.

GStudent and faculty exchange programmes are the norm but schools like IIMs and
FMS are looking at getting foreign students through GMAT to give an international feel
to the programme. Besides, some B-schools are tying-up with other foreign universities
to try and offer a joint or dual MBA. Lastly, some B-schools like IIM-L are trying to get
European and American accreditations to highlight the quality of their course and give it
an international outlook. All this helps define the idea of quality of a B-school for the
student.

Fee Structure:
While selecting a B-school, fee can take a back seat, because these days all the banks are
providing educational loans at an affordable rate. If you are getting an admission in a
good B-school like IIMs, MDI, S. P. Jain, etc., the banks would happily provide the
loans to cover the expenditure for the two-year period. Additionally, the terms are pretty
comfortable. The important fact unstated is once you graduate from a premier B-school,
the placements can take care of the loan amount easily.
Timing of Entrance Examination:
Exams like CET Maharashtra (for institutes like JBIMS, Sydenham, etc.) and admission
procedure by institutes like Tata Institute of Social Sciences are conducted in June, by
which time most of the schools have come out with their final lists and have even asked
to pay part fee in some cases. Even though the programmes, say by TISS, are excellent,
a student may not be motivated enough to go through the process again. So the time is
important.

Location:
This may turn out to be an important factor in case of a new school. An HR manger
would think twice before devoting two-days to visit a B-school in a not-so-well-
connected place. On the other hand, new B-schools may get a look in if they are located
in metros or industry-centric areas. This factor becomes redundant with time as the
school builds up its reputation. Hence, even a seemingly simple decision to select a B-
school requires a lot of research to come to the final conclusion. This would give you
valuable insights not only on the distinctive fabric of a B-school but also would help you
find the best place