Choices are between their dream IIMs and other top-tier institutes. The IIMs have announced that May 14 is the last date to confirm the seats by paying fees.
MBAUniverse.com spoke to several successful candidates to know their plans.
IIM-Ahmedabad is the most coveted institute among all the six IIMs. Students who’ve got offers from IIM-A are clear that they want to join the institute. Amreen Sodhi, an IIT Delhi final year student with a CAT percentile of 99.5, says, "I got calls from four IIMs including IIM-A, IIM-C, IIM-L and IIM-I. It’s a good feeling! I would prefer to join IIM-A because of its top reputation.” Sodhi prepared for CAT at Delhi-based Roots Education.
Likewise, another IIM shortlisted student Raman Arora, a student of Professional Tutorial at Chandigarh with a CAT score of 99.9 percentile, says, “I got calls from all six IIMs but I decided to choose between IIM-A, IIM-B and IIM-C. Finally, I opted for IIM-A because of its brand name and the placement opportunity.”
IIM-Calcutta is preferred by students who are quantitative-oriented and keen on a career in finance. Kirti Jindal, a 99.84 percentile CAT scorer, says: “I have to choose among IIM-Calcutta, IIM-Indore and IIM-Kozikhode. I have chosen IIM-C because it is a more quantitative-oriented institute.”
Amreen Sodhi believes if someone interested in going into finance-related sectors, IIM-C is the right choice because of its good finance faculty.
IIM Bangalore too figures high on the list. Toshit Bharara, an IIT final year student with CAT percentile 99.3, says: “I have got calls from IIM-K and IIM-L. I am also waitlisted in IIM-B and IIM-I. I am hoping to get a call from IIM-B.”
While older, more established IIMs like IIM-A, IIM-C and IIM-B are in a league of their own, deciding amongst the newer IIMs and other top-tier management schools like MDI and XLRI is a tricky one.
Says Shashank Mehta, who has a CAT percentile of 99.4, “In IIMs, I have a choice from among IIM-L, IIM-I and IIM-K. I can also join SP Jain or MDI. But I prefer IIM Lucknow because it’s the oldest institute among all others.”
How do aspirants make the crucial decision of which institute to join? Students that this portal spoke with said that, overall, reputation and placements were two key criteria. Says Toshit Bharara, “I will take a decision on the basis of placement opportunities. Along with this, I also consider rankings of the institute.”
Aspirants also link up with their seniors who made it to IIMs in the recent past to learn more about various institutes. Says Kirti Jindal, “I have some of my seniors at IIMs. I chat with them to know more about the strengths of the various IIMs.”
With the deadline of May 14 fast approaching, aspirants will do well to network, read up and take the best call.
