Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

The minimum percentile required in CAT to get into Great Lakes Chennai for PGPM is 80 percentile. Great Lakes PGPM CAT Cut off 2023 will be based on aggregate percentile score although candidates should also have scored well across the sections of the entrance exams.

The PGDM program at Great Lakes was launched in 2012 July and my friend was a part of the earliest batches. Here is a detailed analysis of the program based on some important factors

• Selection Process: Great Lakes Chennai PGDM admission is done on the basis of CAT/XAT/GMAT/CMAT/MAT scores and your profile. The score is a basis for your shortlisting and the rest depends on your profile and performance. Usually, the admission process includes a written essay and a PI round. The students are evaluated on an overall basis considering parameters like gender diversity, field diversity, and work experience.
• Program Structure: Great Lakes Chennai PGDM program has a well-established PGDM program. The program begins with an orientation program that lasts for a week. You will be introduced to your batchmates, the faculty, and the specializations offered. 
• Faculty: Great Lakes faculty comprises world-renowned professors who are highly experienced yet humble. Several courses are taught by guest faculties from top B Schools like IIMs while the permanent faculty ensure that each specialization gets to host a conference every year. Several events are conducted yearly to give students a great platform for learning as well as presenting their research.
•  Pedagogy: Every course taught at Great Lakes has a unique pedagogy that suits the course structure and the industrial needs of the program. Case studies and live projects enhance the overall learning experience preparing you to face the real corporate world.
•  Placement: Great Lakes attracts a wide range of recruiters ranging from the leading beverage maker to leading e-tailers, IT giants, niche IT solutions providers, and FMCG brands. Placements should be your last concern here. \
• Alumni: Great Lakes is known for its extensive alumni network that helps you with your future prospects and is also a source of great inspiration. 

In all, the Great Lakes PGDM program is great and the institute itself offers a vivid campus life so go for it without any second thoughts.

Great Lakes Chennai is a dream college of many MBA aspirants but the truth is it is kind of overestimated. One of my friends who is a recent pass-out, unveiled some dark truths about the institute

• The admission process at Great Lakes is highly biased and untransparent. The majority of seats are filled by Management quota thus affecting those who had high percentile and performed excellently in the interview. 
• My friend also told me how Great Lakes charged registration fees for the WAT/PI round and filled those seats with Management quota.
• The rankings of the institute are forged and paid. Don't let these rankings make you believe that it is at par with top B Schools. 

These were some harsh realities about the Great Lakes that I felt anyone planning to join it should be aware of. 

Since its establishment, Great Lakes be it Chennai or Gurgaon has been delivering premium quality management education at par with recent industry trends.

As per the official rankings, Great Lales Chennai ranked 31st among management institutes by NIRF 2023 and 11th among private colleges by IIRF Ranking 2023. On the other hand, Great Lakes Gurgaon was ranked 62 out of 125 colleges by NIRF in India in 2023 and it was 52 out of 125 colleges in India in 2022.

However, these rankings are highly transparent and misleading. Either the ranking parameters are not credible or the institutes refuse to participate resulting in exaggerated figures. So it's best to talk to alumni to get a better picture and don’t just rely on rankings.