My MBA experience at IIT R

IIT Roorkee is one of the oldest institutions in the country. Its management studies' department began a couple of decades back and since then, has established itself as a major choice for aspirants who were rejected by the older/more reputed B-Schools. Admission to the course comprises of taking the CAT and appearing for the interview round.

The semester system of examination is followed. The pedagogies used for instruction include the casebook method, group and individual assignments, corporate role play, quizzes etc. Academics was rigorous in my opinion but the low faculty student ratio went a long way in helping me make sense of the concepts. The exams were a tad difficult but it was quite easy to pass if one was thorough with concepts.

The internship experience was quite memorable for me. I ended up getting a chance to work for a brief duration in a renowned multinational firm, which boosted my confidence and also showed me a way, as far as my preparation and planning for the final recruitment was concerned. The average stipend for our batch was Rs 53,000, while the highest stipend was Rs. 1,00,000. Main recruiters included Oyo, Zomato, Emami and Snapdeal.

The highest offer provided to our batch was pegged at Rs 18.68 LPA, while the average package was Rs 10.12 LPA. Most notable domain providing recruitment was sales and marketing, with finance, general management, operations, analytics and consultancy being well represented as well.All eligible students ended up getting placed. I ended up working in an FMCG in a sales role, which has come as a blessing, especially when I look back at the situation created by the deadly pandemic, in hindsight. Key recruiters were ZS, KPMG, Wipro and ICICI Bank.

The total tuition fee of the course is Rs 8 lakhs, which is quite cheap when compared to the more reputed and sought-after IIMs. It is to be noted that the hostel and mess fee is accounted for separately. Various scholarships are provided on the basis of need and merit, which go a long way in supporting the cause of education. These include the ones by the Central and state governments, which can be availed from concerned sites like the NSP (National Scholarship Portal).

Our annual cultural festival is called the "Thomso", while "Cognizance" is the technical festival. It sees enthusiastic footfall of participants from institutions around the region, with touted performers and business stalwarts gracing the events too. There is an atmosphere of celebration, enthrallment and healthy competitiveness, which makes those days an indelible part of our postgrad memories. The student-run organizations and clubs play a critical role in enabling us to pursue our niche interests, despite the academic rigor. There is a lot to learn and enjoy, with the camaraderie of the seniors and affection from juniors.The central library is well-stacked with books, journals, research publications and magazines. Thus, it becomes a center for teachers, students and researchers alike. The atmosphere of the classroom enabled us to learn attentively, with proper speakers, projectors etc.

The hostels are large and spacious, with both single and multi-seater options (latter in the second year). The individual facilities provided include wardrobe/almirah, study table and chairs, bed, mattress and racks. Common amenities like laundry, washrooms and mess are apt and hygienic as well. The mess food is nutritious and tasty, with the latter being a variable based on one's preferences. It is charged for separately, on an actual basis.

We were shortlisted on the basis of our work experience and past academic performance as well as the scores obtained in the CAT exam for the interview round, which was organized at the campus itself. The interviewers are the departmental professors, who are quite grilling and generally ensure a strenuous experience, which tests speaking, listening and critical thinking abilities. WAT accounts for the writing skills as well. In the end, I was able to savor a hard-earned reward in the form of an admission at one of the most reputed institutions in the country.