GMAT

Start early and by August, shortlist 8-12 universities that you will apply to. Visit university websites and note application requirements, deadlines etc. By September, be familiar with bank loan options and scholarships to fund your studies. Begin by downloading admissions brochures from the university websites. Most brochures are out more than a year earlier. Do some initial research on various accommodation options. Crack the exams: June 2016 to December 2016. Prepare for required standardized tests like GMAT GRE SAT TOEFL or IELTS depending on the course and university. By June-July or three months before the test date, register for GMAT/ GRE. Register for TOEFL/IELTS at least a month before the test date. Take the required tests around September. Plan for buffer time in case you need to retake the test. Check test taking and re-exam process and guidelines. Its application time: August 2016 to October 2016. Shortlist the colleges and prepare for your application. Think hard about what makes you unique as an applicant and sketch out your strengths and self assessment. Contact your professors and direct managers for the required 2-3 reference letters. At least a month before your application deadline. Check the deadline timetable! Begin drafting your SOP and essays. Give a months time to structure these documents properly. Apply before the deadline!
What next: November 2016 to April 2017
Don't delay replying to college e-mails. And there will be quite a few! Appear for personal/video interviews. These are scheduled around January to March. Once you get acceptance letters, make your decision as soon as possible. Depending on the deadline, notify the universities of your decision. You will need to pay a non-refundable deposit to confirm your admission. Visa and money matters: May 2017 to July 2017. Search for and begin applying for external scholarships (if applicable). Apply for student loan, after you get your acceptance letter. Gather paperwork for your student visa. Check visa requirements. Apply for student visa in time. Keep in mind the time taken for visa processing!
Get ready to fly: July 2017 to August 2017
Book airline tickets. Arrange for an International Debit/Credit card. Collect all the documents and their photocopies, to take along. Check out Pre-departure checklist!

Hello Hardik,
First of all, don't feel worried. According to the bill, all the IIMS have been empowered to provide a degree instead of a Diploma. Earlier, only universities were allowed to provide MBA degrees while all the private institutes used to give a Diploma. Though the course outline is almost the same in both degree and Diploma, but the value of MBA is more, especially in countries outside India. However, the good thing is that many organizations as well as competitive exams consider Post graduate Diploma to be equivalent to MBA. Please evaluate the pros and cons and check your list of expectations and requirements for making a more informed decision. I hope you will find this information useful. All the best for your future endeavors.

SP JAIN
ISB
IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore
XLRI Jamshedpur
M, Calcutta
XLRI, Jamshedpur
IIM, Lucknow
IMT, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad, Nagpur & Dubai
IIM, Indore
ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad & Mumbai
IIM, Kozhikode
MDI, Gurgaon
FMS, Delhi
TAPMI, Manipal
Dept. Of Management, BITS Pilani, Rajasthan
XIM, Bhubaneswar
IIFT, Delhi & Kolkata
Goa Institute of Management, Goa
K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai
School of Management and Entrepreneurship - Shiv Nadar, Mumbai University, Greater Noida
MICA, Ahmedabad
PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore
TISS, Mumbai
IMI, New Delhi, Bhubaneswar & Kolkata
Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management, Ahmedabad
VIT Business School, Vellore.