Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
With the declaration of CAT and other top MBA entrance exam results, half of the race of grabbing a seat in the coveted B-Schools is already won. The next half of the race is yet to be conquered.
After receiving the shortlist offer from your chosen B-schools, you need to face the second round of the selection procedures. When it comes to the round of selection, one size does not fit all. Each institute has a different selection methodology to follow.
Free Study Material: VARC | DILR | Quant | Chapter-wise Practice MCQs
CAT 2024: 60-day study material | CAT'23 Official Question with Solutions (Slot 1, 2, 3)
Test: 20 Free Mock Test | 10 Year PYQs | Most Scoring Concepts
Generally, B-schools conduct Group Discussions and Personal Interviews which are the most common routes for selecting the students for final admissions. However, over the past few years the B-schools are ruling out the importance of Group Discussion and preferring Written Ability Test or Essay Writing as it brings more insight into the thinking ability and analytical skills of the candidates.
The six new IIMs, including IIM Ranchi, Raipur, Rohtak, Trichy, Udaipur and Kashipur conduct a Common Admission Process which includes Written Ability Test and Personal Interview rounds. The recent IIMs, IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodhgaya and IIM Sambalpur will also participate in the CAP rounds.
The following table brings to you the parameters used by the top B-schools for the final selection process.
B-School | Group Discussion | Personal Interview | Written Ability Test | Profile (Past Academic Record & Work Experience) | Gender & Academic Diversity |
| |||||
|
| ||||
|
|
| Gender Diversity | ||
|
| ||||
|
|
| Gender Diversity | ||
|
| Gender Diversity | |||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| Gender Diversity | |||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
Extempore | |||||
|
| ||||
| |||||
|
|
| Gender Diversity | ||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| Work Experience | |||
|
| ||||
| |||||
|
|
| |||
|
|
| |||
Case Discussion |
| ||||
|
| ||||
Group Exercise |
|
| |||
Group Exercise |
|
| |||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| |||||
|
** The B-schools above are placed in random order
Some B-schools have come up with unique parameters for the admission criteria, which they claim, enable them to get a better perspective on the candidates’ qualities. SPJIMR Mumbai conducts WAT, Psychometric Test and two rounds of Group Interview.
Let’s have a more insight into other criteria that B-schools adopt other than the traditional Group Discussions, Personal Interview, and WAT exercise.
Explaining the Group Interview rounds, Arunika Ganguly, a first-year student of SPJIMR Mumbai says, “SPJIMR conducts Group Interviews instead of Personal Interviews. There are two rounds. If one qualifies the 1st GI, you proceed to the 2nd one. Each GI has 6 participants. The interview board questioned each participant one by one. After a round of introductions, they grilled candidates further on their previous responses. In between, some other participants were questioned on specific points that other participant had mentioned.”
Talking about the second round of GI, she says, “The questions asked in GI-2 needed a lot of clarity of thought as some of the questions were about justifying my answers in the psychometric test. It could potentially be difficult if one is unable to explain why they have ticked a particular option.” Arunika suggests candidates to answer with a clear objective and ensure that one is not sucked into one’s own argument.
Gautam Puri, Vice President, Career Launcher adds, “The interviewers may also grill you on core academic knowledge and may go deep into questions related to your work experience.”
On cracking the Group Interview process, Divya Chawla, SPJIMR Mumbai student of 2014-16 batch suggests candidates to create a unique competent image before the interviewers. “Since it is a group interview, relative performance plays a major part. Set yourself apart. You should say whatever you with utmost conviction. If you’re well prepared, and if you deserve it, you’ll get through!” she says.
Group Exercise or Group Task is conducted by MICA, IMT and the common admission process of SNAP participating B-schools. Though earlier the Group Exercise round at Symbiosis Selection Process was replaced with WAT, both GE and WAT rounds are back again with the Personal Interview rounds as per the current selection criteria of the institutes.
In the Group Exercise rounds, the candidates are divided into groups of six to eight candidates. They are given a task to be completed in the stipulated time. The tasks generally are on the lines of advertising or marketing or designing a product.
Psychometric Tests enable the B-schools to evaluate your personality traits, psychology, attitude and behavior of the candidates. Generally, the duration of the Psychometric Tests range from 10 to 15 minutes. SPJIMR conducts a 15 minute Psychometric Test which is clubbed with the essay writing round.
The trick to perform well in the Psychometric Test is to be yourself and absolutely true to yourself. Spontaneity is the key. “For the psychometric test, the best approach is to select the answer which comes to your mind first, without giving a second thought,” says Divya. You might be asked to justify your answers in the Psychometric Test during the Interview rounds as well.
While it is advised that you start the preparation for the WAT, PI and GD rounds right after the end of your MBA entrance exams, for the Personal Interview and the Psychometric Tests, you will yield better results with spontaneity. Introspect yourself before facing the panel as you will be asked questions about yourself, your aspirations and opinions. Hence along with the knowledge on current affairs, get well acquainted with yourself as well.
Also Read
How Udit Dhiman cracked GD-PI-WAT to get Management Seat
How Aleena Chishti cracked GD-PI-WAT to get IIM admission
How to tackle GD-PI-WAT rounds at top B-Schools
GD-PI-WAT Preparation: Tips from Toppers and Experts
How Koustav Pal cracked GD-PI-WAT to get IIM admission
How Jobin Jacob cracked GD-PI-WAT to get MDI Gurgaon MBA seat
How Sombit Roy cracked GD-PI to get IIT Delhi MBA seat
Stay tuned to bschool.careers360.com for more on GD-PI-WAT.
The student cannot join the postgraduate MA program directly in the second year of the MA after completing the MBA.
Universities generally expect students to begin the first year of a masters' program even though they had qualifications at the level of a bachelor's degree. The university's curriculum along with the courses are planned to give an in-depth knowledge of the subjects.
But you could opt for:
Postgraduate Studies:
Research Career: In case research interests you, then you can pursue a Ph.D. in your specific interest.
Specialized Master's Programs: Find any specific master's course that supports the career goal.
Professional Certifications:
Make a professional certification in CFA, CA, or FRM to enhance the professional skills and better opportunities in the career field.
Job Entry via MBA
After gaining an MBA from a renowned institution, it's possible to get entry into the corporate world where the diversity in the career field is assured.
In the end, it would depend on what you would like and what you are particularly interested in. It will be better if you take a suggestion from your academic advisor or career counselor.
Hello Pratik,
If your family income exceeds 8 LPA, it will affect your eligibility for the NC-OBC category under the CAT reservation rules. The NC-OBC category requires that the family income should be below 8 LPA to qualify. If you anticipate that your income will exceed this threshold, you should update your status and notify the CAT authorities .
Here's what you can do:
Email the CAT authorities
: Inform them about the potential change in your income status and request to be considered under the
General
category, if applicable. You should do this before the examination or any further processing, as your eligibility for the OBC category depends on the income criteria.
Documents and Proof
: Make sure you have a valid
OBC certificate
and any relevant documentation regarding your family income, in case they require verification. Also, be aware that if your income exceeds 8 LPA, you might need to apply under the
General
category, as the OBC-NC reservation is no longer applicable.
General Category Consideration : If your application is accepted as General, you will be evaluated based on the General category criteria, including cutoffs and ranking.
To summarize, notifying the CAT authorities is the correct approach to avoid discrepancies later, and if your income is above the threshold, you will be treated as a General candidate for the admissions process.
For more details about CAT exam you can check out an article by Careers360 whose link is given below:
Link: https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hi Shreya ,
Having a tattoo on your wrist should not create a problem during the CAT exam as long as it does not contain any content that violates exam rules , such as communication-related symbols , unauthorised messages or any text resembling formulas or answers .
For a safe side , it is recommended :
1. Inform the Invigilators : Let them know about your tattoo during the identification check , so there are no misunderstandings .
2. Follow the Guidelines : Ensure you follow all instructions regarding permissible items and dress code on the exam day .
Hope this helps you .
ALL THE BEST .
To know about this please prefer our college predictor
Hello,
Yes, you can also join IIMs two years after graduation, depending upon the justification in interviews and your performance in entrance exams. If you are not sure about CAT, try those other management exams less hard:
Common Management Admission Test: Easier than CAT; 4-5 months of continuous preparation will suffice.
MAT : Much easier and takes place thrice a year.
SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test): A bit easier than CAT, apt for Symbiosis Institutes.
Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT : Hence, easier than CAT but the unique decision-making section.
Use exams like CMAT and MAT as a challenge to be competitively prepared. This can be given about 4-5 months, along with a few rounds of mock tests and smart studying.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive (BDE) is a professional responsible for identifying growth opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance a company's market position. Typically, a BDE conducts market research, analyses industry trends, and identifies potential clients or business prospects. He or she plays a crucial role in developing and implementing sales strategies to achieve revenue targets.
A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A sales manager is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan.
The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
Highest CTC: INR 28.25 LPA | Average for Top 100 offers: INR 17.34 LPA | Ranked #63 in India under Management category by NIRF | 148 Recruiters
180+ Companies | Highest CTC 15 LPA | Average CTC 7.5 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
Ranked No. 1 Business School in India and no.35 in world by Financial Times MiM 2024 Ranking | Highest CTC: INR 81 LPA
Highest CTC 70 LPA | Avg CTC 11.22 LPA | Ranked #55 by NIRF
9 IBS Campuses | Scholarships Worth Rs 10 CR