n MBA today represents growth and career opportunities.

Today, there are about 700 institutes in the country offering MBA programmes.

These institutes exert themselves to hone students and ensure they are equipped with the requisite levels of decision-making ability and business-handling skills.

This often leaves a student with a mind-boggling number of options.

Watch out for the following when choosing your institute or if faced with having to choose between institutes.

Put your nose to the ground. Do some sniffing!

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1. Infrastructure

Infrastructure means the resources an institute has at its disposal.

Translated, this means better facilities for students. Infrastructure would consist of various factors like campus area in acres, total number of classrooms, etc.

Today, the total number of computers, the ratio of students to computers, etc, would also be important to deliver an edge in education.

2. Intellectual brawn power

The intellectual capital of an institute would mean the experience of the faculty, the number of books and library budget allocation of the institute.

The number of management-related books in the library, access to published journals or online journals, etc, will give you a fair idea of this.

The experience of the faculty of the institute is an indication of the learning imparted at the institute.

Keep in mind factors like the total number of permanent faculty and whether there is a fair mix of relevant industry and teaching experience.

3. Placement record

The placement record of the previous years are normally available on the web sites of the institutes or in its brochures. Instead of vague data about placements, look for specifics:

~ For foreign jobs, look at the percentage of students placed abroad.

~ Keep an eye out for the average salary offered per annum, as well as the maximum and the minimum salary offered per annum.

~ The number and kind of companies that appear at the institutes and the kind of offers that are being made will largely influence your choice once you have a call from an institute.

~ The duration of the placement days -- if all the placements occurred on Day 1 or Day 2 and so on might be reflection of the demand of the students from that institute. 

4. Industry interaction

The level of industry interaction indicates where exactly an institute stands in real time with the industry.

The number of programmes conducted by the institute both on its premises and at companies, as well as the number of workshops and seminars held are direct indicators of the industry perception towards that institute.

5. Exchange programmes

Check if the institutes you are considering offer exchange programmes.

These are common at most IIMs, IITs, etc.

They expose students to the international management arena, offering insights into a global trade environment and business practices.

6. History

When the institute was established reflects the kind of time it has had to develop and establish itself.

This will have a direct impact on the kind of placements as well as other resources at the institute.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier

Bindiya Keswani is the assistant manager, Studies, at Career Forum.

Career Forum provides training programmes for various entrance examinations for MBA like CAT, XAT and CET.

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