MBA - Frequently Asked Questions

• Introduction
• Career Prospects
• Eligibility
• Exams & Cut-offs
• Test Preparation

Introduction

• Q

  What is the difference between MBA and PGDM program?

  A

  The main difference between MBA and PGDM is that MBA is a degree and is offered by universities, whereas, PGDM is a post-graduate diploma offered by AICTE approved institutes.

  Indian universities come under the University Grants Commission (UGC) and can, therefore, award degrees like the MBA degree, also known as MMS in Mumbai. Universities follow the UGC format for course content. On the other hand, reputed management institutes design their courses based on industry feedback and business relevance. They are not covered under the UGC.

  Importantly, when it comes to job opportunities, institute reputation matters more than the name of the degree or diploma.

  • PGDBM – Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management
  • PGDBA – Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
  • PGDM – Post Graduate Diploma in Management
  • MBA –  Masters in Business Administration
  • MMS –  Masters in Management Studies

  Let's watch this video talking about the Difference between MBA and PGDM  (Source: by Mentorisschool on Youtube)

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• Q

  How to select an institute for full-time MBA or PGDM program?

  A

  Consider the following parameters before selecting an institute for taking MBA admission:

  • Accreditation of the institute
  • Institute's infrastructure
  • Teaching faculty
  • Specialization offered
  • Past placements records
  • Tuition fees
  • City preference
  • Industry interface

  This video offers clarity on the standards of MBA in IIMs and other B-Schools (Source: by Mentorisschool on Youtube)
  

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• Q

  How much would it cost to pursue full-time MBA or PGDM program?

  A

  Every B-school has its own fee structure. Overall, it may cost you around Rs 20,000 to Rs 15 lakhs or more to pursue full-time MBA or PGDM program. Ex:  Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) (Fee: INR 20,960) and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA)  (Fee: INR 15,50,000).

   

  Click here to check the fee range of various Top MBA Colleges in India
  
  This article about return on investment (ROI) of your MBA degree (click link) compiles a comparative list of fee charged by some of the top B-schools and packages received by students. 
  

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• Q

  What is a better option after graduation:MBA or postgraduation in a respective subject?

  A

  After completing graduation you have two options:

  • opt for a job
  • opt for further studies

  If you wish to build your career as an expert in a discipline or field, then you should pursue a post-graduation in that subject, but, if you are more interested in climbing the corporate ladder on the management track then MBA is a good choice.

  It is advisable that before opting for any course you must first decide in which field you wish to build your career and then select the best course accordingly as per your interest and liking.

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• Q

  Is it better to pursue MBA immediately after completing graduation or to work for some years and then opt for MBA?

  A

  Both the options are open for you, however, it is recommended to work for some years after completing graduation and then opt for MBA. Work experience will give you a better understanding of the job scenario and which MBA specialization you should choose to further enhance your career prospects.

  Advantages of work experience before MBA:

  • Work experience would give you the competitive advantage over other candidates with no work experience during MBA admission.
  • During MBA campus recruitments, generally, most companies prefer to hire an experienced candidate over a fresher.
  • Having earned for some years can help you manage the expenses for your further studies better.

  Why Pursue an MBA? Video by OfficialGMAT (Source: Youtube)
  

  
  
  

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• Q

  What are the career prospects after MBA in IT?

  A

  An MBA in Information Technology Management is a good combination of two very dynamic aspects of any business: Management expertise & Information Technology. The prospects appear bright, as:

  • Almost every national and international company of repute is always looking for competent and qualified professionals to help them cope with the dynamic business environment.

  • MBA (IT Management) graduates can climb the corporate ladder faster, with career options in any of the following fields within IT management: Business/IT Alignment, IT Governance, IT Financial Management, IT Service Management, IT Configuration Management.

  After completing this course you can take up positions such as: CTOs (Chief Technology Officers), CIOs (Chief Information Officers), and Information technology directors or IT managers.

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• Q

  What are the career prospects after MBA in Finance?

  A

  After completing MBA in finance you may look out for:

  • Exciting careers in banks, financial consultancies and financial institutions.
  • Get involved in consumer and investment banking, institutional finance, merchant banking, corporate finance and international finance.
  • Provide consultancy services to corporate and government organizations.
  • Good experience in this field can also lead you to serve on government committees and contribute significantly to policy-making issues.

  Those who work as financial analysts start off with a minimum package of Rs 4 lakh an year. Credit analysts start at Rs 5-6 lakh per annum and earn as much as Rs 20-30 lakh per annum once they reach senior level positions. Management consultants too start at Rs 5-8 lakh and within a few years earn as much as Rs 10-15 lakh per annum.

  Explore more on this  

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• Q

  What are the career prospects after MBA in Human Resources (HR)?

  A

  MBA professionals in HR often get jobs in a variety of corporate positions related to human resource management.

  • As human resource is the most important part of any organisation, HR professionals also act as counsellors, offering assistance to employees to deal with personal issues.
  • HR responsibilities include: Hiring new employees, Dealing with labour disputes, Training employees, Compensation policies, Benefit programs, Union and labour relations, etc.
  • The HR job involves: Structuring procedures for recruitment, Training, Placements, Promotions and movements within the industry.
  • Another role of HR is designing and implementing performance management systems to help with employee career planning, counselling and appraisal. 

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• Q

  What are the career prospects after MBA in Infrastructure Management?

  A

  MBA in Infrastructure Management offers good career prospects and excellent growth opportunities in any of the following fields:

  • Construction companies, IT companies, Urban Infrastructure Development, Infrastructure Providers, Financial institutions.
  • After completing this course you can take up positions such as: Construction Project Manager, Estate manager, Finance and Accounting Manager, Facility Manager, Property Manager, and Infrastructure Manager. 

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• Q

  What are the career prospects after MBA in Agri-business?

  A

  The agri-business sector has witnessed tremendous growth in recent times, especially in the field of food retailing and micro finance sectors. This trend has launched tremendous career opportunities for students with a management degree in agri-business.

  • Positions available after completing MBA in Agri-business are: Plantation managers, Estate managers with tea/coffee/rubber estates, Commodity traders, Commodity buyers, Procurement managers, Warehouse managers, Quality managers with food retail firms, Agricultural insurance managers. 
  • Candidates with MBA in agribusiness are also absorbed in the public sector and by NGOs. 

  Explore more on this topic

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• Q

  What are the career prospects after MBA in Healthcare Management?

  A

  If you really want to stick to the medical field and get into medical administration then MBA in healthcare management is a good option.

  • With a degree in healthcare management, you can find roles in everything from biomedical start-ups and e-health ventures to consulting and pharmaceutical R&D.
  • It is not only hospitals which require management professionals but there is whole lot of other sectors where they are required: Lifestyle clinics, Emergency medicine units, Pharmaceutical firms, Hospital information systems, E-health ventures, NGOs and health insurance, Specialised hospital administration. 
  • As healthcare is a growing field wherein a lot of development is yet to happen, upcoming fields in healthcare like telemedicine, healthcare informatics, and medical tourism will open more avenues for management graduates.

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• Q

  What is the eligibility criteria to pursue full-time MBA or PGDM program?

  A

  In order to pursue full time MBA or PGDM program you need:

  • Graduation in any field with at least 50% aggregate marks to be eligible to apply.
  • Then, you need to clear the selection process of the B-school, starting with an entrance test accepted by the B-School. For e.g. CAT, MAT, SNAP, CMAT...

  See MBA colleges accepting CAT scores in India
  
  See MBA colleges accepting MAT scores in India
  
  See MBA colleges accepting SNAP scores in India
  
  See MBA colleges accepting CMAT scores in India
  
  Check out more exam scores accepted by MBA colleges in India.

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• Q

  What is the selection procedure for admission in full-time MBA or PGDM program?

  A

  The selection process in B-schools is generally based on:

  - Past academic record

  - Scores in management entrance tests

  - Performance in Group Discussion

  - Performance in Personal Interview

  - Work experience

  Each B-school shortlists candidates for the second/ final stage of selection, which may be independent of each other. The process may include:

  - Written Ability Test (WAT)

  - Group Discussions (GD)

  - Personal Interviews (PI)

  Performance in various management entrance tests is an important component in the admission process. B-schools may use previous academic performance of the candidates, relevant work experience and other similar inputs in short listing and ranking of candidates at various stages of the admission process.

  The processes, academic cut-offs and the weights allocated to the evaluation parameters may vary across B-schools. Please note that you have to apply separately in each B-school you wish to take admission, once you apply then you have to go through the selection process mentioned above.
  
  Click this article link to understand the shortlisting criteria of all 13 IIMs

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• Q

  What entrance tests need to be taken for admission in MBA or PGDM program?

  A

  For admission in MBA or PGDM program, you need to take management entrance test accepted by the B-Schools you are targeting. Given here are some of the popular entrance tests. Click their names to know MBA/PGDM colleges in India accepting the test score for admission:

  CAT - Common Admission Test

  MAT – Management Aptitude Test

  XAT – Xavier Aptitude Test

  SNAP – Symbiosis National Aptitude Test

  NMAT – NMIMS Management Aptitude Test 

  CMAT – Common Management Admission Test

  IBSAT – ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test

  IRMA – Institute of Rural Management Anand entrance test

  IIFT – Indian Institute of Foreign Trade entrance test

  GMAT – Graduate Management Aptitude Test

   

  There are various other entrance tests. Click here for details about important management entrance tests. 

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• Q

  What minimum score is required in CAT to get into IIMs?

  A

  It depends on the candidate’s profile. However, the minimum percentile range for getting a GDPI call from IIMs is 85-90 percentile. Click here for details on the shortlisting criteria of different IIMs

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• Q

  Which B-schools accept CAT scores of 85 to 100 percentile?

  A

  A large number of B-schools accept CAT scores of 85+ percentile including Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad (MICA), Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), TAPMI Manipal, IIT Roorkee, etc.
  
  Get an idea of the expected CAT 2013 cutoffs of various MBA colleges (click here).
  
  If you have any particular queries about the score requirement or want to know which are the best MBA colleges where you can apply with your CAT score, check this discussion link on the topic for more information.

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• Q

  Which B-schools accept MAT scores?

  A

  Various B-schools across the country accept MAT scores, including the likes of:

  Amity Business School and BIMTECH in the North, ISB&M and Asian Institute of Business Management in the East, Balaji Institute of Technology & Management and SIES College of Management Studies in the West, and TAPMI and VIT Business School in the South.

  Here’s a list of Top B-schools accepting MAT scores for admission to their management programs.

  If you have any related queries about your test score, check this discussion link on the topic for more information. Share your MAT score and know which are the best MBA colleges where you can apply.  

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• Q

  Which B-schools accept XAT, NMAT, SNAP scores?

  A

  A number of B-schools accept XAT, NMAT and SNAP scores. For example,
  
  

  • XAT scores are accepted by XLRI Jamshedpur, Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar, Goa Institute of Management (GIM), etc. See list of colleges here
  • NMAT can get you into one of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) campuses. Click here to see list of colleges

  • SNAP is the key to Symbiosis Institutes in Pune. Click here to see list of colleges

  If you have any queries about the score requirement or want to know which are the best MBA colleges where you can apply with your test score, check this discussion link on the topic for more information.

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• Q

  How to prepare for management entrance tests?

  A

  For test preparation, it’s always recommended to join some good coaching institute in your city which offers quality coaching for various management entrance tests. These institutes offers regular and weekend classes, and they conduct mock test on a regular basis.

  Career Launcher, TIME, IMS, etc are some leading coaching institutes which offer quality coaching for various management entrance tests. Click this link and select a management coaching institute in your city.
  
  If you are looking for CAT prep tips, here are some of our popular articles that you'll find useful:
  - Must-know formulae for CAT
  - 6 things to avoid while preparing for CAT
  - Cracking Quant Section in CAT
  - Challenges of Data Interpretation (DI)
  - CAT Prep: How to improve at Verbal Ability (VA)
  - CAT Strategy: Tried & Tested Tips for IIM-A students
  
  
  

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• Q

  Is it wise to take a crash course and test series at the last moment or study on my own?

  A

  Crash course doesn’t make sense in the last month. It is better to opt for test series and mocks. Solve previous year’s papers of various entrances including CAT, XAT, SNAP, IIFT, etc. In the last ten days, only focus on analysis.

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• Q

  How to manage time between job and exam preparation?

  A

  About 70 – 80 per cent people studying in IIMs have work experience. Managing job and CAT prep together is not a difficult task. Scheduling a two-hour slot daily is good enough for preparation. With one month left for CAT, try to solve as many questions as possible. Reserve weekends exclusively for mock CATs and analysing tests.

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• Q

  How to go about improving the Verbal Ability (VA) section?

  A

  Increase your speed of reading. For this, practice focusing on keywords that convey the meaning of a sentence. Avoid assuming any information that is not given in the question. About five minutes are enough on reading. If you fail to understand the comprehension passage then you should move on to the next.

  To improve VA, go through vocabulary flashcards and read a range of reading materials including editorials of leading newspapers.
  
  Go through these expert tips to prepare better:
  - How to improve at Verbal Ability
  - Cracking CAT: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning
  
  

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• Q

  How to improve accuracy in CAT?

  A

  Do not take too much stress. Read and understand questions well before attempting. Focus on solving questions you are familiar with. Don’t skim through questions, read carefully before attempting to answer. Avoid guesswork as CAT has 1/3 negative marking

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• Q

  How to work on improving the test taking speed?

  A

  Don’t spend too much time on a single question. Some questions take more than three minutes while some lesser. Instead of spending time on one problem, come back to the question later.

  A good strategy is to familiarise yourself with the various problem types and practice as many questions as possible. Mocks and sample papers are a good resource for this. Try Vedic Maths tricks for improving speed.

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• Q

  How to decide, whether to attempt a particular question or not?

  A

  The best way to figure out whether to attempt a certain question depends on your level of familiarity with the question – have you attempted a similar question in mocks? If unsure, it is better to move on to the next problem and solve it later when you revise the paper. Do remember not to put more than three minutes on one question (maximum seven minutes in DI).

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• Q

  Is it better to take more mocks per day or concentrate on individual subjects?

  A

  To reap maximum benefits of mock tests, it is extremely important to analyse accuracy, speed and question selection after a Mock CAT.

  Do a thorough analysis of your strengths and weaknesses to improve your preparation. However, if you focus on taking too many mocks on a daily basis, it may not leave you with enough time to assess your performance. A reasonable number is 2-3 mocks per week.

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• Q

  How to analyze mocks and improve from one mock CAT to the other?

  A

  After taking each Mock CAT, the right thing to do is to solve all the questions again in a non-time bound method. The feedback from test series will reflect your position in sectionals and point out the sore spots. Refresh the weak concepts and check if you have improved in those areas in the next mock test.

  If you gave correct answers in the first attempt, look for an easier and better alternative to solve the question.

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• Q

  Demotivated by Low Mock CAT scores; how to get the focus back?

  A

  Mocks are a way to prepare for the main exam. The purpose of mocks is to identify weak areas and improvise. Instead of being demotivated, streamline your preparation and focus on how to improve your score. 

  And don’t forget, mock CAT is not the real CAT – it’s for preparation only. Don’t let anything bog you down. You need to relax your mind and focus on giving your best on the day of the exam. Be positive in your thinking and have faith in your abilities.

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• Q

  How many Mock tests to write, one month before CAT?

  A

  Attempting one mock CAT in 2-3 days or about 2-3 mocks a week should be enough. If you focus on taking too many practice tests, it may not leave you with enough time to assess your performance. The best option is to be calm and focus on light revision of weak areas to improve final scores.

  However, it is better to stop taking mocks in the last week of the exam. Reserve the last days for reviewing all that you have done till now, and most importantly stay relaxed on the day of the exam.

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