Having known some students of both IIM Indore and Ahmedabad, I can say that both are excellent and well-reputed colleges. Your answer can be segregated into four different categories ranging from peers, academics, faculty and finally, the one everyone is highly interested in – placements:

Your peers:

• The people in your cohort will all be very intelligent and hardworking folks on both campuses.
• The basic numbers are obviously high but that is the requirement of the college every year.
• The talent pool is equally high in IIM Indore as compared to IIM Ahmedabad.
• Many students from the college have won multiple B school competitions while competing directly with IIM A, B, C, and FMS among others.
• This is the main way to judge how good your cohort and peers are across various B-schools.

Academics:

• IIM Indore acquires its inspiration from IIM Ahmedabad.
• A lot of the courses offered at IIM Ahmedabad are also offered at IIM Indore.
• IIM Indore campus also has a finance lab that was inspired by IIM Calcutta.
• The opportunities for learning and exploring various fields have also increased quite a lot.

Faculty:

• As far as IIM Ahmedabad is concerned, the faculty is splendid and well versed since the school is much older.
• It would not exactly be fair to compare the faculty at IIM Indore with IIM A.
• But IIM Indore faculty have also worked with IIM A faculty. Especially the senior faculty.
• In a few years, the same faculty will be in touch with you and you will get to experience learning under their wing.

Placements:

• As far as IIM Ahmedabad is concerned, the college publishes a complete audit by CRISIL where they claim their average placements to be INR 18 to 20 lakhs per annum.
• The placement report generated by IIM Indore is not audited and is generated by the college internally.
• They claim the placements to be INR 14 lakhs per annum but this might not be entirely true.

This comparison is slightly unfair as IIM A has better ROI and is comparable to world B-schools whereas IIM Indore is a good business school in central India.

You have to ensure a good rank by preparing yourself for the CAT (Common Admission Test) to secure admission to prestigious institutions like IIM Ahmedabad requires careful planning and dedicated effort. You have to follow a few steps to prepare yourself for the exam while you’re in the second year of engineering:

• Understanding the CAT test: Familiarise yourself with the CAT test format, which consists of parts on Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). Recognize the deadlines and grading criteria.
• Time management and exercise: Make smart academic scheduling decisions to provide time for CAT preparation. Set aside a few hours every day or a certain period of time to study for the CAT. Work on time management techniques, take sample examinations and solve CAT question papers from prior years. This will assist you in becoming acquainted with the test structure and help you become more adept at solving problems.
• Join a Coaching Institute: Consider enrolling in a coaching institute for CAT preparation. They can provide structured study plans, access to study materials, and mock tests. However, self-study is also a viable option for motivated students.
• Read Regularly: Develop a habit of reading newspapers, magazines, and books to improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary. This will be beneficial for the VARC section.
• Balance: You must balance both CAT and Engineering at the same time. Graduation should always be your first priority. Complete the engineering tasks, and then move on to CAT practice.

Keep in mind that CAT test achievement needs commitment and a calculated strategy. It's crucial to successfully mix your technical coursework with CAT study. Start early, remain dedicated, and modify your plan as you go along. You may improve your chances of earning a high rank and being admitted to IIM Ahmedabad or other top management colleges by putting out persistent work and thoughtful preparation.