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Conducted during November–December every year, the Common Admission Test (CAT) determines a candidate’s choice of business schools. For any aspiring MBA aspirant, factors governing the selection of B-schools remain the same. The test score primarily determines the choice set. A very high percentile would mean a good choice of schools.
Although some experts consider CAT to be ineffective in discriminating between lower-order students, a school that exclusively takes students based on CAT examination stands higher in the pecking order than a school that accepts MAT scores as well. Perceptions matter.
But invariably, the final choice lies in your hand. Do your research well. Make an honest assessment of your abilities and accordingly select colleges. Do not select a college because your friends or seniors went there. While it does help to have familiar faces on campus, an MBA experience is as much about your peers, as it is about your studies. So go for a college that offers you the best and at a good price too.
In case you haven’t got the score that gets you into the top rack schools, you need to have plan to fall back on. Consider some of the following suggestions:
1. Retake CAT the following year and improve your scores
For those of you who are determined to get into the top schools, the IIMs in particular, the only option would be to take the CAT again with a greater focus on areas where you could do better. So sit for the entire range of exams once again: CAT, XAT, FMS, IIFT, SNAP. This could, indeed, prove to be a wise decision since there are many who made it to the best institutes after multiple attempts. If you have decided to give another shot, do remember that the effort required would definitely be lesser than the first time.
To take up this challenge the first thing that you have to do is to keep in touch with your preparatory material to maintain your competency. Three months before you retake CAT, prime yourself for the test through rigorous practice.
2. Explore other Indian B-School options
For those who are willing to settle for less than the best in the B-school listing, there are many options. Remember that there are some great schools outside the IIM fold. So be on the look out for other options. We must be concerned whether the degrees are recognized, but you’ll be surprised to know that some unrecognized degrees do well in preparing you for a job. Take for instance the ISB, Hyderabad.
Apply to around 10 schools. It is important to map your individual profile based on the following factors to be able to take a decision on the ones you must finally select to apply.
• Your academic background: your college; your stream; your scores in 10th, 12th and graduation.
• Your prior work experience: the company; the position and responsibility; the duration of work experience
• Your aspiration: what you expect to gain from doing an MBA
• Your current entrance exam score: what kind of cutoffs the colleges set
3. Attempt State-level entrances
You could attempt state-level entrances such as Maharashtra MBA CET. This test is the admission test for JBIMS, a premier B-school, and other good B-schools such as Sydenham, K.J. Somaiya, WE School, among others. The test carrying 200 marks is to be attempted in 150 minutes with no negative scoring. To know more, visit www.dte.org.in. As an aspirant who has already prepared for the CAT, all you need before taking the CET is to quickly learn the additional concepts and question types (e.g., visual reasoning) assessed in the CET and follow it up with sufficient test-taking practice. Take around three to four simulated practice tests and follow it with diligent analysis and feedback.
4. Explore International MBA/ MS options
With the opening up of economies, multinational organizations are faced with a growing requirement for transnational managerial resources. This has led education in general, management education in particular, to cross borders.
Management education aspirants now have a viable alternative to the shortage of seats at the IIMs and other premier B-schools in India. Earning an international MBA is an option that one should consider if funding the course is not an obstacle. If you financial position is strong enough then all you need is hard work and a sharp focus.
The key reasons to seek an international degree are:
• to get education that is often of better quality than that available locally
• to avail better career opportunities with international exposure as an added advantage
• to gain exposure to different cultures/ways
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