MBA Admissions 2018
by Dhvaj Kumar SEARCH FOR COLLEGE REVIEWS & RATINGSThe climb to the summit begins.
With major MBA entrance exams around the corner, every MBA
aspirant must slowly be feeling the unnerving shiver of MBA admissions clawing
down their spine. Though MBA admissions will officially begin early next year,
the application form and CAT
cut off release have already begun the hoopla.
Unlike other premier entrance exams in India, MBA admissions
involve a long and painstaking process. Besides clearing the indomitable
entrance exams, aspirants are further put to the sword with GD
and PI rounds. And like every marauding ordeal, it does end with a
prize of a successful MBA admissions process.
Though MBA admissions are usually dominated
by news about the elusive CAT , there are other exams aspirants
keep as a backup. Top B-schools such as ICFAI, XLRI, IIFT etc are namely some
major institutes in India for MBA admissions.
Before moving further, it is vital to discuss the purpose of an
MBA and why it is imperative to pursue MBA admissions for the right reason. The
excruciating selection process for MBA admissions has been made so for a
reason. Top
B-schools impart top notch education, but the same cannot be said
for colleges down in tier 3 and 4.
Spending a pile for MBA
admissions is futile if you don't see yourself as a successful business
executive in the future. Thus, it is advisable to pursue MBA admissions only in
top colleges and to avoid the mistake of pursuing MBA admissions in a lowly
college simply for the sake of adding another degree to the CV.
With essentials out of the way,
let’s get down to the procedure of MBA admissions.
Eligibility for MBA admissions
A candidate is eligible for MBA
admissions if he/she
- has
a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent
- had
secured a minimum percentage of 50% or an equivalent CGPA
These criteria are essential to
appear for MBA admissions.
Procedure:
MBA admissions for most B-schools
follow a similar procedure.
The process begins with a baptism
of fire. CAT, XAT, MAT etc abide by a common syllabus and though they differ in
difficulty, none of them is a piece of cake. CAT
preparation is one of the greatest myths in our modern
education system, contributing to a flourishing multi-million coaching industry
preparing students for MBA admissions.
In a
country crazy about IIMs and IITs , elusive entrance exams such
as the aforementioned end up becoming a pipe dream for many aspirants. Thus,
clearing such an exam with the prize of a MBA admission at the end of a tunnel
is considered a great achievement.
Clearing the written exam is not
enough though, as MBA admissions have additional GD and PI
rounds. These rounds present another unique challenge for candidates
whose interpersonal skills are tested in a closed door environment in the
presence of a moderator. In a group of six for a GD, only two are selected
highlighting the cut throat competition for MBA admissions.
Only after clearing all rounds
can a student finally complete his/her MBA admissions.
Courses offered during MBA admissions-
Like B.Tech aspirants, MBA
admissions are filled with students unclear about the field the want to
specialize in. Being a post graduate programme, courses offered during MBA
admissions are in highly specific areas. Knowing exactly what each
course offers remains vital during MBA admissions.
1. MBA in Finance
The most lucrative
field amongst aspirants during MBA admissions is Finance. The
aim of this course is to acclimatize students to working in any finance
department of an organization across the world. Subjects such as International
Finance and Budgeting train students about the inner workings of Financial
Management.
Banks remain primary employers for MBA Finance graduates. Coupled
with the accelerated growth of the banking sector in India, Finance remains a
sure shot winner for a top notch MBA.
Scope in
banking sector is self evident with vast opportunities in public and private
sector banks
High end financial sectors such as Investment banking and stock
market trading generally poach MBA Finance graduates from top draw institutes
2. MBA in Marketing
Many candidates in recent years
have been choosing Marketing as their specialization over Finance during MBA
admissions. Offering a more dynamic and practical approach compared to Finance,
Marketing deals with consumer and market behavior. In the cut throat world of
modern retail and e-commerce markets, it is essential for brands to know the
pulse of the consumers. This is where Marketing graduates come in.
Positions such as product
manager, sales manager, market research analyst etc are hounded by MBA Marketing
graduates. The field has practically no ceiling as there have always been
products to sell and markets to tap.
3. MBA in Human Resource
HR is another field many experts
vouch for during MBA admissions. Aspirants interested in handling the human
aspect of management are perfect for MBA in HR. Though candidates clearing
entrance exam for MBA usually opt for more traditional fields, the unique
skills required for being a top draw HR often sit perfectly well for certain
students.
With responsibilities such as
work-force diversity management, mergers, acquisitions and studying
macroeconomic forces in the labor market, great HRs are rare to find.
Companies in nearly all fields need HRs to motivate and lead other MBA
executives from different fields.
4. MBA in International Business
As the name suggests, MBA in
International Business is one of the few fields providing vast exposure and
insights of dealing of specific companies around the world. Fields such as
International Finance and International Logistics aim to train students for the
rigors of handling and maintaining business across borders. It is a growing
field and is slowly becoming a lucrative proposition for candidates pursuing
MBA admissions.
With the added benefit of gaining
cross cultural knowledge by touring the world for business, International
Business is slowly becoming an elite branch for students during MBA admissions.
Many global business organizations require professionals ingratiated with
international business knowledge.
5. MBA in Consulting
One of the dream courses for many
aspirants during MBA admissions process, MBA in Consulting entails high profile
jobs straight out of college. As the title suggests, consultants are hired for
an outsider's analysis of the running of a company.
Titles such as Strategy,
operations and technology consultant are merely some of the many fields
consultants are hired for.
This field promises a variety of
different areas to pursue due to the totality required to be a consultant. The
package does come with a precursor of working long hours and ruining work-life
balance.
MBA Admissions: Exams across India
In spite of obvious rumors, MBA admissions
can be done without CAT. There are a number of other top B-schools
conducting their own exam. Some of the exams mentioned below are on the
checklist of nearly every candidate pursuing MBA admissions-
1. Common Admission Test (CAT)
Getting the obvious one out of
the way, CAT is
the gateway to MBA admissions to 20 IIMs and other B-schools
accepting CAT scores. Held in November every year, CAT has become the crowning
jewel of all MBA entrance exams, setting a model for other institutes to
follow.
The exam tests students based on
Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal Ability AND Reading Comprehension (VARC) and
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR).
Registrations
for CAT 2017 started back on August 9 and will end on September
20 this year. Candidates can only apply online. Application fee has been set at
Rs. 1800 for general candidates and Rs. 900 for other categories.
The CAT
exam is on November 2016 this year.
2. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
XAT is
another prominent entrance exam for MBA admissions in India. Based
on similar lines to CAT, XAT opens a path to Xavier B-schools such as XLRI,
XIME and XMB as well as other institutes like GIM and SP Jain.
The exam sections include
Decision Making, Verbal and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability and Data
Interpretation. XAT will be held on January 7, 2018.
XAT application form is available
online only. The last date to apply is November 30 this year and the
registration fee is Rs. 1650. Late registration fee will be Rs. 2000.
3. Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
MAT is another checklist exam for
MBA admissions in India. A number of B-schools accept MAT scores for MBA
admissions such as XIME, TA Pai Management Institute, BIT Mesra, IPE Hyderabad
etc.
With
sections like Indian and Global Environment, Language Comprehension,
Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence and Critical
Reasoning, MAT is a more scoring exam compared to other MBA Admissions exams.
MAT is conducted four times every
year in February, May September and December in both online and offline mode.
For December, Registration will start in October this year and application fee
is Rs. 1400.
Online exam will held on December
9 and offline paper on December 3.
4. NarseeMonjee Management Aptitude Test (NMAT)
As the name suggests, NMAT is
conducted for MBA admissions to NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies,
Mumbai. The exam sections include Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and
Logical Reasoning.
It is being held from October 5
to December 18 this year. Dates can be chosen by candidates looking for MBA
admissions.
Application can only be filled
online. Registration fee for NMAT is Rs. 1800. Late registration fee is Rs.
2000.
5. Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP)
Symbiosis International
University organizes SNAP every year for MBA admissions across India. SNAP is
structured around General English, Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data
Sufficiency, Current Affairs and Analytical & Logical Reasoning.
The exam is on December 18 this
year in online mode only. Application fee can be paif online or through DD. Fee
in online mode will be Rs. 1750 + GST. Through DD, Rs. 2065 will have to be
paid in the name of 'Symbiosis Test Secretariat'
6. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
(IIFT) organizes an exam for two year MBA admissions programme in
International Business. Syllabus for the exam includes Quantitative Aptitude,
Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning and Current Affairs.
Exam will be in offline mode.
Entrance fee of Rs. 1550 can be paid online and through DD. Fee for backward
category candidates is Rs. 775.
The exam is December 3 this year.
7. Common Management Admission Test. (CMAT)
CMAT is organized by AICTE every
year. CMAT score is accepted by all AICTE-approved Institutions and
universities for MBA admissions. Conducted only in online mode, the test pattern
is structured around various sections like Quantitative Technique, Logical
Reasoning, Language Comprehension and General Knowledge.
The dates of CMAT for MBA
admissions haven't been announced yet. The registration fee for General
category is Rs. 1400 and Rs. 700 for other categories. Payment can be made
online through the exam portal or at any SBI branch by Credit /Debit
card.
8. ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test (IBSAT)
IBSAT is organized ICFAI
(Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India) University group for MBA
admissions. It is conducted only in online mode and the syllabus includes
quantitative techniques, data interpretation, data adequacy, vocabulary,
analytical reasoning and reading comprehension
Application fee is Rs. 1800.
Candidates can apply both online and offline. Online form is available on the
official IBSAT website. For offline forms, students can purchase forms from one
IBSAT's marketing centres.
IBSAT will be held from December
21-24 this year.
9. Karnataka Management Aptitude Test (KMAT)
KMAT is a state based management
aptitude test conducted by Karnataka Private Post Graduate Colleges Association
(KPPGCA) for MBA admissions. It comprises of three sections: Verbal Ability and
Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability and Logical Reasoning.
The last registration date for
KMAT has now passed. The exam is on September 17 this year.
10. Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MAH-CET)
DTE Maharashtra will be
conducting MAH-CET this year for MBA admissions. Usually held in March every
year, MAH-CET consists of three sections- Logical Reasoning, Quantitative
Aptitude and Verbal Analysis & Reading Comprehension.
The form is only available in
online mode on the exam's official website. Application fee is Rs. 1000 for
general category and Rs. 800 for other categories. Payment will have to be done
online as well.
The exam is scheduled to be in
the first week of March.
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Created on Sep 11th 2017 08:21. Viewed 422 times.