TIPS FOR SELECTING A BUSINESS SCHOOL

TIPS FOR SELECTING A BUSINESS SCHOOL

A. DECISION ENABLERS

1. Location

·         Except for the top-ranked 25 business schools, location matters.

·         So prefer a metro-based business school to a non-metro one, other things remaining equal.

2. Faculty & Accreditation

·         Prefer a blend of academics and practitioners.

·         Look for the number of faculty members with over 10 years of work experience.

·         Accredited business schools are always preferable.

·         ISO certification does not mean much.

3. Peer groups & impressions

·         They are the most important.

·         From last year’s brochure, see the kind of colleges your seniors came from.

·         Academic and gender diversity, too, matters a lot.

4. Average salary potential & fees charged

·         Very few institutes tell you the absolute truth.

·         So discount average salary by about 25%.

·         See if the fees justify the average salary.

·         Also do not be too restrictive.

·         MBA has a long earning horizon.

·         So go for schools with better brand equity even if the fee is slightly higher.

5. Job profiles

·         Companies recruit freshers at multiple levels with different packages.

·         See the profile of jobs offered at the B-schools.

·         If it is a Tier 3/ Tier 4 school, ask if the companies recruit through their Direct Sales Agents.

·         If yes, be very careful.

B. WARNING BELLS

1. Management quota

·         If you are offered a seat in this quota without asking for it, the institute is trying to make extra money.

·         So check them out carefully.

2. Discounted fees

·         If a school offers you a discount (or even a scholarship), see if it comes on the basis of competitive criterion.

·         Or else the institute is just trying to fill its seats.

3. Listing of ‘companies associated with us’

·         These people may have only given a guest lecture.

·         Specifically ask for a list of companies who recruited during the last year.

4. Multiple-degree offers

·         Many schools offer a range of MBAs within the same campus, but may not have flagship status.

·         If you are offered admission to a program you have not applied for, be warned as it may not be worth it.

5. Foreign trips / complimentary laptops

·         Unless the trip is for a trimester or so, it will just be a pleasure trip, and is not worth your time and money.

·         The same applies to free laptops.

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