Firsts are always scary. And so was this! At least this was how I imagined it to be. Dreaded how will things fall into place. Of not knowing zoom at all, to now being an equal partner. My mind hadn’t been that disrupted like the way it was then. To be unable to answer questions like- how will this go? How will I look? Will I be able to pour my thoughts rightfully to the interviewee? Only I wished someone to save me from the anxiety. And then, there my turn came in. It said and I quote “Radhika un-mute yourself” and it was like I’d lost the power to follow it. Alas! My zoom ditched on me. It wasn’t working, and I thought id lost it. I have lost my chance, it’s over. Then a moment later I received a call, the person said to log in again. And I precisely followed what he said. And there were the faces who, I guess waited so patiently when my zoom hung up on me. They had a warm smile to make me feel at ease. I never imaged it would start at a pace so normal and comfortable. My fear, anxiety had all turned into a feeling which didn’t want the interview to get over. ‘Ask me questions’, was all I wanted. The way they drove the interview had my mind blown, they didn’t make even a question difficult to answer, as if like I’d prepare for it for almost always! The trail had to come to an end, and so warm greetings were exchanged with a click on the red button on the screen.

Radhika Mehra

“I solemnly affirm that the facts which I shall give to the reader shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”

I believe that it is my sole duty to introduce IBS to everyone out there who is not aware of it, because I will be graduated by the time you read it, so I have nothing to lose! Let me state the obvious, the pandemic hit us two years back and blah blah blah, we switched to online mode, nobody saw it coming but everybody had to deal with it, and so everyone did! And IBS did it in a unique way possible. IBS made sure that each and every one of us gets the quality of education and experience it has promised. I believe that we the batch of 2020-2022 are amongst the lucky ones because we experienced corporate world through a different perspective, watched it through a different lens and dealt with it through different approaches.

IBS gave me a special experience, I call it ‘ online rendezvous ’, where I faced the world, interacted with it, got to know the depths of business all within the four walls of my home. IBS taught me that if I want to fly, I don’t need to go on a mountain cliff, I just need to have wings, wings of curiosity, will power and constant learning mindset.

Name : Karina Malik
20BSP1023

IBS never failed to amaze students in any sense. IBS Selection process was very smooth and convenient. From the registration process to all the document submission , the college helped me at every stage. The selection process comprised of presentation , followed by an interview. It was a new kind of evaluation and the college gave us freedom to choose a topic according to our choice and share real time experiences. I was quite nervous , but the interviewers were very welcoming and boosted up my confidence during the whole process. The whole interview went very well for me. The best part was the result was announced in just two weeks and I was all set to start my journey at IBS.

I was quite nervous to start my MBA with this online medium. I never thought that IBS will make it so smooth and zoom will start to feel like our actual classroom. My learning experience has been great so far, Quicforce has actually become my best friend. Special thanks to our professors who are a constant source of motivation and always keep us going. IBS is not just restricted to studies , beyond the study hours the weekly webinars are very informative and have given me a chance to gain knowledge. The case study method helps us to think beyond textbooks and apply all our skills, it just opens our minds and is helping all of us to be corporate ready. The variety of clubs IBS offers has helped me to enhance my knowledge and gain confidence in whatever I do. So far , the experience has been great and appreciative, Not going to lie but joining IBS has changed my life in the best way.

Name : Sonali Khurmi
Batch : 2021-2023

Being caught up with all the exams and admissions amidst the pandemic was rather daunting. There was a ray of uncertainty with all the exam patterns changing and processes delaying. However, ICFAI Business School came up with a commendable response to the ongoing pandemic by taking the online approach to the selection process. I admired how the IBS team communicated all the necessary information in a crystal clear format.

Even before the selection process began, all the applicants were invited for the Selection Briefings, which deemed itself to be quite fruitful in terms of what we could expect from the MBA programme in general. The virtual auditorium was an interactive platform that informed the students about all the relevant details. It was a kind of a seminar that provided much-needed guidance to the students and also briefed them with the tips and inputs for the selection process. In the hindsight, it becomes crucial to attend this for all the prospective candidates to clear any ounce of doubt they might have.

Now, the experience of my Selection Process was well organized and swift. We were allotted different slots and sessions according to which we were expected to log in within our time frame. Soon after logging in through the link provided in the IBS portal, the panellists allowed me into the online room to conduct the personal interview. I was asked varied personal, technical and management level questions along with the presentation that I had prepared. In about fifteen minutes, I was done with the process. The way everything was meticulously organized felt like a breeze to go through.

After my selection, we had classes on the online platform. IBS provided all the required academic tools to substitute for the in-person classes. All the study material, relevant notes and case studies were systematically arranged on the Quicforce platform provided to all the students. When the hybrid mode of attending classes was in effect, the presence of Digital Boards in the classrooms delivered better readability and clarity to all the students such that we shared a similar learning ambience be it online or offline. Availability of such digital resources and equipment certainly helped in better understanding of the fundamental concepts during consultations and doubt-sessions. Furthermore, there were no qualms or hesitations in visiting the campus as all the covid protocols and norms were strictly enforced by the campus security.

Overall, the way IBS handles its operations makes me proud of my decision to associate myself and my career in the hands of this esteemed institution.

Sahil Jassal
(21BSP1018)

Joining a post graduate program in the pandemic kept students deprived of the necessary exposure they must get to develop in an all-inclusive manner. The conventional classes were not viable for a long time for the past year and yet; IBS Gurgaon is conducting classes in the hybrid mode to make sure the students who could afford to travel to the premises had full opportunity to attend physical lectures, which in real time were also streamed on zoom as online classes. This innovative method of teaching allowed students to visit the college as they please with the proper guidelines of Covid safety being followed from entering till exiting the gates of the premises.

“Teachers made sure that their attention, while taking a hybrid session, is not biased in any form towards either side, the students who study online are as well ushered as the ones in the campus and I can attest to this as a fact having experienced it firsthand.”

IBS Gurgaon in the early stages of the pandemic handled the completely online mode of classes and examinations in a razor-sharp manner wherein no stone was left unturned by the faculties and the management to deliver the best possible material, guiding the students along every step. The online selection process for getting into the campus is also very smooth and has improved with every passing session with the institution being increasingly sensitive towards the pre-requisites of admission seekers.

The cutting-edge tech set up to deliver classes; which includes a digital board is decisive in consulting students’ doubts and maintaining a fine balance between the online and offline studies where, in the latter, one can consult with faculties personally anytime with all the Covid protocols being implemented strictly with the right protective equipment.

 Freshly graduated? I know the feeling. A day of feeling accomplished followed by a race for the best possible MBA colleges. But what really defines a good college? Is it just the ranking we see on various websites and journals? Should we blindly follow what everyone else is doing? If yes, then where is the X factor that we keep hearing about? What’s so special about us that makes us different from the crow we are competing with?

Or is there more to it? Of course there is. Now I know choosing a good college can put a lot of pressure on us. And why not? It basically paves way for the rest of our lives. And many times you’ll hear your elders talking about how if you don’t get into an IIM or some cream college, your life is over. We hear that so much that we actually start believing it. But let’s stop and think for ourselves…is it really true? The answer is no. You are the only one who decides how your life is going to pan out. Yes a good college is an added advantage, but let’s not start giving up just yet.

This brings me to my earlier question. What defines a good MBA college? Well, following are 10 points that, in my opinion, are ‘must have’ in a good college and why I chose IBS Gurgaon. Check these out before you take a leap of faith.

1. Academic structure-While I was looking for a college I was sure to check out its academic structure. It is essential that the curriculum of the college should be competent and rigorous enough to push you to achieve your highest potential. This information can be easily available on the websites of the college and brochures.
2. Extra co-curricular activities- Some of us might not be too much into extra curriculars, but believe me, you cannot neglect it and hope for an overall development. Being an admirer of the arts, one of my major concerns was about the clubs that my college had and I was pleasantly surprised that it had about 19 of them! It is a great way to tap into a student’s interests.
3. Practical knowledge- Just like all of you, I had about 18 years of theoretical knowledge and wasn’t very keen about getting 2 years worth more of it. Therefore,I looked for a college that gave the practical approach its due importance. Making students create and present various projects is an effective way of making them come out of their shells. Not just that, IBS Gurgaon makes sure that the group members are constantly rotated to get them comfortable with working in teams.
4. Industrial visits- Familiarising the students with how the industry works is essential so that they can put whatever they havelearnt into perspective. And you’d be surprised at how efficiently these industries have to work in order to compete in the market. On one such visit to mother dairy, I could not help but marvel at how something as small as a carton of milk, has to go through a series of complicated processes before it reaches the market. And the scale of the operations was wondrous!
5. Guest lecturers– Knowledge being passed on by experienced and well established professionals in the various fields of an industry is a treat to a student hoping for a bright career. So I also looked at the various guest lecturers that came to the college to talk to the students.
6. Return on investment- Well…its just another term for what we look at first while comparing the colleges- placement packages. What we fail to realise quite often, is that we must compare and weigh them according to the investment made. For example, if a college demands a fee of 7 lacks for two years and provides you the opportunity to get a job that pays about 5-8 lacks per annum, I would say its a decent deal. I use the word opportunity because at the end of the day its your own potential that gets you a job. A college is merely there to help you reach your goal. Brand value is another factor you may want to consider.
7. Faculty support-I believe that the support of the faculty of any college plays a vital role in the development of a student and how he performs. Accessibility, not only in classes but also outside of them is very important. My college, for example, has a great practice of allocating a mentor to each student where they can voice their concerns in a one on one chat without any hesitation. I think this sense of security goes a long way in helping people find their confidence.
8. Summer internship opportunities- Summer internships are an indispensable part of your MBA life. The right exposure can turn into a great opportunity. So checking out the companies that come to college for internships is very important. One of them just might be your future employer!
9. Alumni network- Finding out how spread out the alumni network of a college is- as well as how they are doing in their respective professions- can give you a fair idea about the college.
10. Extra opportunities-I would also advise you to observe if the college takes any extra initiatives to give their students an edge that other colleges might not. I was constantly on a lookout for such opportunities- an online internship or volunteering maybe- that would give my resume an X-factor. Never had i expected that such an opportunity would present itself right where I was. I was able to apply and get selected for an internship with my college, without having to compromise with my studies. Now that’s something you don’t find everywhere!

After having considered these points, I’m sure you’ll be able to make an informed decision. Good Luck future managers and choose wisely!

Mritunjai Rai

Class of 2018