Get Answers on Test Preparation, Admissions & Campus Life
Study Abroad Countries
Should one specialize in HR from IIM Ahmedabad?
Although IIM Ahmedabad is not the best HR campus, it is the best in its class. Furthermore, it is believed that the 'Specialization' thing should not be dependent on the institute, but rather on what a person sees their career as being in. Choose wisely, regardless of the institute, because you will have to live with it for many years.
IIM Ahmedabad does not offer an HR specialization. However, you can always add more HR electives to your PGP program in the second year to help your cause. If you are certain that you want to work in human resources, apply to XLRI or TISS. They offer the best HRM education in India.
How good is JBIMS as compared to IIMs, XLRI, and FMS in regard to faculty, placements, alumni, etc.?
You are advised to choose wisely when it comes to selecting the top MBA colleges. Most of the top colleges have excellent faculty who are experts in their fields and students highly appreciate their teachings. The alumni network is a crucial factor to consider, and it is best to speak to students and alumni of the colleges to get a better understanding.
The top-of-the-line MBA colleges include IIMs A, B, and C, which are considered untouchable at the moment. XLRI stands out for its HR batch, the opportunities it offers, and its excellent course structure.
If you are comparing FMS, JBIMS, and XLRI BM, you can consider your interest and preference. The author is biased towards JBIMS as her husband is from that college and she has close connections with the students and alumni. However, if you get admitted to XLRI BM, it is a great brand to be associated with, especially if you are interested in finance.
When it comes to choosing between JBIMS and FMS, you can opt for JBIMS if you are sure about pursuing finance, else you can choose either. Among the IIMs, the author rates IIM L above JBIMS and FMS and considers JBIMS and FMS above IIM I and K.
It is suggested not to rely on the ROI concept, as the benefits of a good education cannot be gauged in one year and do not follow arithmetic progression rules. Instead, you should look at the opportunities offered by the college and how it fits into your plan. Do not base your decision solely on rankings posted in newspapers and magazines or the highest packages offered during placement.
I’m a fresher. I have converted FMS Delhi. Got waitlisted at C with a bleak chance. Should I retry CAT for IIM Ahmedabad Calcutta or stick to FMS?
The overall rankings of FMS Delhi and IIM A/C are comparable (IIM A & C rank better than FMS in terms of placements and college life though).
FMS has its own set of advantages, such as the best ROI in India and placements in the core Finance domain, among many others. You must have performed exceptionally well on CAT 201 to receive a call from FMS. Asking yourself the following questions will help you retake the CAT.
-
What do you hope to gain from your post-graduation experience?
Start a career at a high salary, get a brand name, or develop your own personality by staying and studying with the industry's best minds.
-
Which field do you want to begin your career in?
Consulting/core finance/marketing, for example.
-
Are you willing to invest a year of your life to prepare for the CAT again, and are you confident of scoring 99+ percentile in 2019?
-
The maximum amount of money you can afford to pay in fees.
How was your IIM Ahmedabad interview experience for the batch 2021-23?
A friend of mine attended the interview for the 2021 batch of IIM Ahmedabad. Here is his experience in brief.
- Academic range so far- 98.72% in 10th, 97.83% in 12th and 85% in Graduation
- CAT score: 99.71
- Work experience: 37 months of working under the company- Qualcomm
The interview took place in a video conferencing room. There were two panelists. It lasted for 20 minutes and to my friend’s surprise, it was more of a conversation rather than an interview. He was mostly asked about his job, his published paper, hobbies, and why MBA.
Here are some of the questions from his interview.
- Tell me about your job at Qualcomm. What were the skills that you needed?
- Is your paper more research based on some sort of survey?
- You are good at what you do, so why do you want to pursue an MBA?
- What are your hobbies?
They also asked some current affairs questions. Overall, it was a good experience for my friend and he was able to convert.
Does it make sense going for a 2-year MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad/Calcutta at 29 years of age?
The answer to your question depends on the reason why you are willing to pursue an MBA and if the reason is strong enough to go for an MBA at the age of 29 years. See, age should never be a restricting factor especially when it comes to education. But your purpose should be well-defined and crystal clear. Pursuing MBA vaguely just to venture on new opportunities or career options might do you more harm than good. So the primary step in deciding if an MBA at 29 is good or not is to analyze your purpose. If you are changing streams for instance moving to Finance or MC, you need to know that your pay scale might see a new low.
I have another suggestion for you. Why don’t you compare the two programs;
- Regular 2-year MBA
- Executive MBA 1-year program
Compare the curriculum and prospects of these two programs. The reason why I suggested to you research the Executive program is that many experienced professionals (almost 95%) prefer the Executive program over the regular program. It suits their needs better.
The 2-year program is suitable only if you are looking for an internship and I Don't think that is the case for you. Moreover, if you consider the major aspects like classroom experience, rigor and placements, the Executive program is far more a viable option in your case. It will also allow you to reap the maximum benefits in less time. So do your part of the research and make an informed decision.
Which has a better campus: the IIM Ahmedabad or the IIT Bombay?
It is a no-brainer that IIM Ahmedabad is considered one of the finest institutes in terms of infrastructure in the whole of India. In fact, its campus excellency is what made it the shoot location of the Bollywood movie 2 States. It stands better even when compared to one of the best technological institutes IIT Bombay. The main areas where it gives an edge to IIT Bombay are its hostel facilities and supporting infrastructure. For instance
- Every 8 students have 3 bathroom facilities
- Students get single occupancy rooms
- Every room has a small balcony, a big study table, and built-in bookshelves
- Every hostel has 40 rooms with 3-4 washing machines and few refrigerators.
- Free 24/7 Wi-Fi facilities within campus
The overall ambiance of the hostels installs a sense of comfort and productivity among the students.
IIT Bombay campus also has several aspects where it gives an edge to IIM Ahmedabad. For instance
- Its campus is considered much more beautiful and green
- It has top-notch amenities and recreational facilities
- It is even considered bigger in size than IIM Ahmedabad
- It has 2 natural lakes and a number of cliffs within the campus.
All this makes the IIT Bombay campus one of the best in the country. We can conclude that both campuses are excellent in their own parameters. While IIT Ahmedabad offers the best hostel facilities, IIT Bombay has the best campus ambiance.
What advice would you give to an 11th-standard boy for getting admitted to IIM Ahmedabad?
You must keep an open mind. Be adaptable. You do not always get what you wish for. You must sometimes compromise. So, take a seat. Stop worrying and get on with your life.
Your preferences, likes, and passions do not always remain constant. They can change, and if they do, be open to it. Do what you believe is best for you right now, but don't be stubborn.
What is the study life of IITians at IIM Ahmedabad?
Your study life at IIM Ahmedabad or Infact any educational institute is influenced by two factors:
-
Your past academic records
-
Your current motivation and discipline
So as an IITian you have an upper hand in academic degree. Now the driving force is your motivation. There are cases where IIT pass outs fail to top and also where an IIT passout tops the class. So yes as an IITian you do have an advantage but it is limited. It’s your own self that defines the quality of your study life at IIM Ahmedabad.
Is the academic rigor at XLRI comparable to IIM-A?
I have a few friends at both XLRI and IIM A and based on the interaction I had with them, I will say that rigor is similar to a greater extent. It is more of a choice - you can choose to let loose or work hard. You can choose to study 3, 4, or 5 hours additionally to have a strong foundation over a topic or simply not.
Academic Rigor - Ranking (XLRI>IIM A):
If we judge these institutes based on the data collected by the Govt. of India, then XLRI coursework is more rigorous as compared to IIM A.
In ranking, Graduation Outcome (GO) is the determining factor of teaching and learning ability of the students, graduation average, success of securing good placements, going for higher education. It is measured based on various parameters such as placement average, Median CTC, percentage of students going for higher education, etc.
There’s a sub-parameter called GPH, i.e. combined matric for placements and higher studies under GO. It shows the academic rigor of an institute. According to the recent statistics, the scores are as follows.
- IIM A scores 38.46 out of 40
- XLRI scores 39.81 out of 40
However, rigor is dependent on an individual's decisions and perspectives hence it tends to vary significantly from student to student.
Which are the MBA courses offered by IIM Ahmedabad?
IIM Ahmedabad is an autonomous institute that is meant to provide a post-graduate diploma in management. There are multiple short-term and long-term courses offered by IIM Ahmedabad, some of which are as follows.
Postgraduate Program in Management (PGP):
This is the flagship course of IIM Ahmedabad and is a full-time two-year residential program. This is considered to be one of the toughest courses to get admission in. The admission happens through the CAT score for Indian applicants and GMAT for NRI and other countries’ applicants.
Fellow Program in Management (FPM):
FPM is a doctoral degree program in management. This course looks for students with excellent academic records, intellectual curiosity and sincerity, and some worthy scholarly contributions to the institute. Similar to PGP, the admissions in this course are done via CAT and GMAT as well.
Postgraduate program in Food & Agribusiness Management (PGP-FABM):
This course aims to transform young professionals and interested candidates into managers for allied sectors such as rural issues, food, and agriculture to name a few.
Postgraduate Program in Management for executives (PGPX):
This is a one-year course for professionals and executives.
Faculty Development Program (FDP):
It is a residential four-month program designed to develop faculty of management and training. There is no entrance exam but the relevant work experience is considered.
Armed Forces Program (AFM):
AFM is a six-month-long course specially designed to teach the officers of the armed force the contemporary Global Management Practices through management practice through case-studies, business presentation, classroom teaching.
ePost Graduate Program (ePGP):
It is a two-year postgraduate diploma program for working professionals and entrepreneurs, offered in collaboration with Hughes Global Education.
Hope this gives you an idea about the courses offered at IIM Ahmedabad.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER
