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.