A management degree is one of the most sought after degrees in the present day. But what sometimes leaves the aspirants perplexed is choosing the best b-school in India for themselves. As a matter of fact, with the rapid growth of management institutes, it is a challenge for any candidate to be sure about the options that they would like to choose. On the other hand, the business school which the aspirants are getting their degrees from plays a vital role in the career path and affects their future prospects.

Here are some tips for you to help make the choice for the right business school

Brand of the Management School

Going for a management school that is well known and a brand in itself, matters a lot for the candidates. A management school that has made itself a brand by creating a rich legacy will hold itself to higher standards of education. The difference between a no name institute and a renowned one can be huge once the students start appearing for job interviews. An alumnus of a well established brand of the b-school gets more recognition and does not have to convince at length the prospective employers of the quality of his education. There are also corporate that have tie ups with certain brands of business schools and do not hire from outside these brands.

Faculty

This is perhaps one of the most important attributes to check. You must check if the b-school you are targeting has full-time and well qualified faculty or not along with a mix of visiting and adjunct faculty. Many management schools have visiting faculties with only a few permanent members of the faculty board. Having full-time faculty members is important as they will invest a higher amount of time and energy in grooming the students, being part of the brand. They are also less likely to move to a different organization mid-semester and as a result will add stability to the educational experience of the students. They also have powerful industry contacts which gives them the industry oriented view of their subject.

Infrastructure of the Institute

Apart from the basic facilities such as classrooms, library, cafeteria, labs, the students should take a close look at the upkeep of such facilities. You need to know if the hostel has Internet connectivity and WI-Fi. If not, it may require you to find other means since the MBA/PGDM/PGPM programmes are known for their project works. The campus should be study-friendly and having a healthy environment. Avoid institutes that show a sign of neglect and have an unhealthy surrounding.

Fee Structure

Knowing about the fee structure about the management school is also an important thing for the aspirants. However it is not the sole criteria on the basis of which you can choose the institute. If you are short of funds, you can get in touch with banks that offer educational loans. Once get a job, you can go about repaying it over a period of time. The fee structure however should be considered to ensure that at the beginning of the course you are confident that you will be able to meet the financial demands.

Student Placement

To know about the placement of the students of the institute, you may check the placement record. The areas to focus on would be the profile of companies that hired candidates, the sectors of recruitment, and the average salary that were offered to the candidates. Apart from these, you also must check the employers that have regularly come for campus recruitment. Also check if the companies have hired students from the stream you are interested in and for what kind of profiles. Apart from these, also check regarding the average and maximum package that has been offered to a few previous batches. It will give you a somewhat fair idea of what package you may be offered if you choose to pursue your management degree from the institute.

Internships

The industry linkage of the b-school must be checked in order to ensure the industry acceptance and practicality of the education that is being offered. It is very important for the students to get exposure of the market and industry while they are undergoing their MBA/PGDM/PGPM programme. Without this, the course remains a theoretical exercise with no validation of the things learnt at the campus. Internships may help in enhancing knowledge of the students through live projects and create opportunities to make business contacts. This assists them in getting their desired jobs once they graduate. The job interview usually also has some detailed questions about their experience during internship.

International Exchange Programmes

The credentials of the management school in regard with international exchange programmes are also one of the important considerations. This helps the students if and when they look for opportunities in other countries. Students also get a clear picture if they want to work abroad or stay back in their own country. The exchange programme also talks volumes about the international recognition of the MBA/PGDM/PGPM course. Please exercise caution since an international affiliation does not guarantee a great institute.

Location

Location should also be on the checklist, not only because you will stay there for two years, but also because of the proximity to the prominent corporate. Business schools that are located in metro cities are given more preferences because of the presence of Multi National Companies there.

It is not easy to simply pick the best b-school in India out of so many in the list. It is however crucial that you spend time and energy in running a thorough check. It will pay back many-fold when you embark on your journey making your career. Wish you best of luck in taking this important decision of your life.

Over the years, management institutions have burgeoned in the country rapidly. The Multi-National Companies actively seek out management graduates to fill its rank and file and groom them to become future leaders. This has led a vast majority of Indian student aiming to get MBA or PGDM degree to make their career in this field.  However, no matter how many MBA colleges in India are mushrooming and students queuing up to attain a management degree, the question still persists; why management education is necessary? Let us consider the points that justify the value that a management education can add.

Getting to Know How the Business Works

In the two years of your MBA course, you learn a great deal about the pillars of business. When you get into management course, you get the exposure to develop and improve your business knowledge and learn various tools and techniques. This becomes valuable in the later career which requires more analytical thinking to identify and tackle business challenges. Even for the entrance examination, many of these management institutions require them to develop real life skills such as numeric ability, data interpretation, language skills, logical reasoning and current affairs. The graduates from the management institutes are prepared for life and have a higher success rate dealing with upcoming life challenges.

Leadership Skills get Improved

In a management college, you get the opportunity to come out of your cocoon and face the crowd, even if it is a challenge for you.  Various seminars, workshops, projects and case-studies; enable an individual to improve their people management skills. As you progress in your career, you would need to manage people where the interpersonal skills become indispensable to grow into an effective leader. It also provides the students a valuable opportunity to explore their likes and dislikes, as well as their many talents to make the most of upcoming opportunities.

Getting Acquainted with Corporate Etiquette

The management students are required to undergo a few Internship Programs as a part of their curriculum, in which they get the chance to interact with the corporate world. In the course of their internship, they get a taste of the business world where they learn the nuances of running a business and becoming a professional. This prepares them for the real life work conditions which sometimes may make demands such as meeting targets, negotiating, insane working hours, people and their temperaments, pressure, and work-life balance. This ensures that the students graduating from these courses do not live in their fairy world and do not have any illusions about the harsh world out there.

Learning the Management Jargon

When you are doing your MBA or PGDM, you come across management jargon, which are usually a vital part of the business world. This aids in helping a student settle sooner when they join a workforce into an organization. In fact, knowing the management jargon help the students to easily be on the same page with their colleagues and bosses when they have a real job. They won’t feel like an alien in the corporate world. They also develop awareness about the world of commerce and it helps them out when they are looking out for opportunities. Most of the companies are looking for employees who can see the bigger picture and can come up with the ideas that can take the organization forward. The management graduates may have an edge in this regard.

 Better Opportunities in the Job Market

Almost all MBA colleges in India have a placement cell which is dedicated to screening companies to come for campus interviews. This saves the students from visiting different organization in search of a job. Getting a job in today’s economy can prove to be a difficult endeavor and any help one gets in this regard is a blessing. The placement cells also take the students through various employ ability skills training sessions which improves their chances of getting selected in the companies. It is also observed that due to the business acumen these students develop, companies are comfortable taking them at a higher salary and hierarchy than non-management graduates.

Better Career Progression

With an MBA degree, getting a better designation becomes easier. The easier progression of their career can be attributed to the skills developed during their management study. Many companies find it much easier to hire the management graduates who are seen as already possessing the effective management skills and not having to be taught everything from the scratch. The companies may also have policies requiring a person to be already educated in a management course before promoting them as a manager. This is done to ensure that the promoted person has got the right skills in place to perform well in the job. Some people who are eyeing management titles may also consider taking a sabbatical and pursuing a management degree or going for a distant learning management course.

Starting their own Business

The management education also prepares you to become a successful entrepreneur. As the students become more reliant on their skills to manage the business, they may also choose the entrepreneurial path. This is especially useful for millions of students who do not want to make their career doing a regular job and would like some more freedom in their work. Students learn the real life skills of sales and finance as well as aspects of human resource management which are all highly relevant to any budding business owner. The management education also aids them in making better business plans and approaching financial institutions and investors with their ideas.

There are many benefits of a student going for a higher education in the field of management. It can really change the individual’s life by making them more efficient, focused and even ambitious. The skills learnt in the classroom of a management institute can be relevant throughout the life. The individual may find it easier to approach new avenues in life and seek out their true calling leading to a more fulfilling life and career.