HOW TO SELECT A B-SCHOOL (2)

SECONDARY PARAMETERS

Degree Vs Diploma:

Even though the most prestigious B-schools like IIMs give you a diploma, yet a student has a tendency to opt for B-schools which offer a degree rather than a diploma. The institutes that are affiliated to a university or have a deemed university status offer you a degree. It is generally believed that a degree holder has far higher chances to apply for a doctoral programme in the Best B-schools abroad.

Boarding Vs Day-school Programme:

A good B-school day would consist of at least 4-5 hours of class room training followed by at least 6-7 hours of working in groups outside of the class. As a result, a major part of value addition happens during learning outside classroom. This not only assists in the development of personality of the individual but also forges teamwork as the way to succeed, using experience and knowledge of one’s peers. So, the B-schools with compulsory boarding programme get a higher rating than the ones with a day programme.

GStudent and faculty exchange programmes are the norm but schools like IIMs and FMS are looking at getting foreign students through GMAT to give an international feel to the programme. Besides, some B-schools are tying-up with other foreign universities to try and offer a joint or dual MBA. Lastly, some B-schools like IIM-L are trying to get European and American accreditations to highlight the quality of their course and give it an international outlook. All this helps define the idea of quality of a B-school for the student.

Fee Structure:

While selecting a B-school, fee can take a back seat, because these days all the banks are providing educational loans at an affordable rate. If you are getting an admission in a good B-school like IIMs, MDI, S. P. Jain, etc., the banks would happily provide the loans to cover the expenditure for the two-year period. Additionally, the terms are pretty comfortable. The important fact unstated is once you graduate from a premier B-school, the placements can take care of the loan amount easily.

Timing of Entrance Examination:

Exams like CET Maharashtra (for institutes like JBIMS, Sydenham, etc.) and admission procedure by institutes like Tata Institute of Social Sciences are conducted in June, by which time most of the schools have come out with their final lists and have even asked to pay part fee in some cases. Even though the programmes, say by TISS, are excellent, a student may not be motivated enough to go through the process again. So the time is important.

Location:

This may turn out to be an important factor in case of a new school. An HR manger would think twice before devoting two-days to visit a B-school in a not-so-well-connected place. On the other hand, new B-schools may get a look in if they are located in metros or industry-centric areas. This factor becomes redundant with time as the school builds up its reputation. Hence, even a seemingly simple decision to select a B-school requires a lot of research to come to the final conclusion. This would give you valuable insights not only on the distinctive fabric of a B-school but also would help you find the best place