IIM Indore's Integrated Program in Management is a one-of-a-kind program that anyone can opt for, regardless of what you studied in high school. There is no clear differentiation made between the various subjects based on whether they are humanities, commerce, or scientific subjects. 

One of my friends is currently enrolled in this program at IIM Indore. As per the knowledge I have gained from her about the program, the following are the subjects that can be considered as Humanities subjects:

• Sociology
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Political Science
• Law
• Presentation Skills
• Economics

The courses offered should not be viewed as separate subjects, but rather as a single unit with several interconnected sections.

I have a few friends from IIM Indore and according to them, it is risky to take a year-drop to prepare for IPM. Before taking a drop and preparing for IPM at IIM Indore, consider the fees which are quite high. You can even appear for the entrance exam for IPM while continuing your current college. If you end up getting selected for admission, you can discontinue your current college.

Earlier the selection process for admission in the 5 years IPM was not so transparent. Students had to resort to Right To Information (RTI) to get to know their stats for the admission process. An entrance exam was conducted and students didn’t even get to know the marks scored in the test and they didn’t even know how to evaluate themselves or the evaluation process. 60 percent weightage was given to the entrance exam and 40 percent weightage was given to the interview.

Nowadays it is very transparent. The admission committee views your past academic results mainly 11th and the boards. It grants you admission on the basis of past academic records, entrance exams, and interviews. So it is considered quite transparent these days as compared to earlier.

According to some of my friends studying at IIM Indore, it is renowned for its management studies. It is ranked seventh in the NIRF Ranking for Management 2020.

• They offer Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) covering the bachelor’s and Masters’ degrees. 
• You can choose to join a college after 10+2 and attempt to crack IPMAT. All you need is to satisfy the eligibility criteria. 
• Many alumni of the IIM Indore’s had secured admission in the IPM programme after joining another institute.

The course has an excellent curriculum and provides the best exposure to the students that is unparalleled to any other programmes in India. Overall, the ultimate choice depends upon your interests and what you want to be in the future.

Yes, the IPM IIM Indore entrance exam can be prepared in 10 months. Some of my friends who joined IIM Indore and opted for IPM prepared for the exam in only 9-10 months.

Although, your level of participation could not be measured in months, but can be determined by the number of hours you put in each day. Many students used to enroll in the course for the year and then choose to drop out. But on the other hand students who are from crash courses are seen to reach their goal.

All in all, concentrate on your studies. Make a proper strategy by selecting the topics which are your strengths and weaknesses and solve them accordingly. Learn time management as this will be very beneficial. Finally, you can also look for a mentor to guide you through the process.

According to my friends studying at IIM Indore, they use a process that consists of two stages to grant admission to suitable applicants to its Five-Year Integrated IPM Program.

The IPM course has a total enrollment of 121 students every year. 57 of them are from the general category, 33 from the OBC category, 18 from the SC category, 9 from the ST category and 4 from the PWD category.

The two-stage process includes:

• Screening of applications and calculation of composite scores based on stream, Secondary and Higher secondary scores, and SAT-1 scores. 
• The applicants are then shortlisted for Aptitude Test and personal interview rounds as per the prepared merit list.
• The aptitude test and personal interview round are conducted of the shortlisted candidates. 
• The aptitude test would consist of written and verbal ability questions, along with a few questions relating to the general awareness, and analytical skills of the candidates. 
• The level is the same as that of the secondary level (10+2) education system of India.

The final compost score is calculated as: Final Composite Score (FCS) = Aptitude Test (40%)+Personal Interview (60%).

After all the rounds are completed, a merit list is prepared to offer admission to eligible candidates based on the final composite score. 

The integrated IIM course offers a vast number of opportunities for the students. IPM students can be categorized into 2 branches, which are as follows. 

Students opting for PGP program: The majority of the students choose this option. The IPM students then sit for the placement process and take posts in Finance, HR, Marketing, Operations, etc, the same as the PGP students who get admission through CAT. However, there are some job profiles in Consulting which do not take IPM students due to their lack of experience.

Students who choose to exit after 3 years:  Some of these students apply to different B schools in India or abroad. The course taught in the undergraduate years of the degree is mainly liberal arts. It has subjects such as Economics, Statistics, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, Communication, etc. So, you can therefore pursue master’s in these courses. Some of the students start preparing for civil services.

If you continue to PGP you will get the same job opportunities and exposure as the PGP students. You also have the option to exit the course after 3 years of the UG program. 

The 2013-18 group received a dual degree with a BA Foundations in Management and an MBA last year, and the later batches are anticipated to receive the same. The degrees conferred are in accordance with UGC guidelines.

The life of a student pursuing IPM at IIM Indore can be very hectic. Over the years, IPM has evolved a lot and is attracting more and more students as the years go by.

It is a tiring course, however. There is a lot of diversity in the IPM course. It also has a Student Activity Council (SAC). Its function is to organize events for the students in various domains. It is also in charge of conducting other activities and festivals on the campus and also acts as a bridge between IPM and IIM Indore.

This council has four committees, three clubs, 12 special interest groups, and the main teams of the national-level festivals of IPM.

The three clubs of IPM are as follows. 

• IPM Activity Club: This club is in charge of organizing various activities for the students and also provides opportunities for honing their co-curricular skills. This club also aims to improve the social life of the students. It also takes steps to organize trips for the students and organizing well-earned breaks for them.
• IPM Entrepreneurship Cell: IPM tries its best to promote entrepreneurship by facilitating a channel of resources of value. The E-cell offers opportunities for live projects and internships to enhance their experience and have an in-depth knowledge of the industry. 
• IPM Social Club: The social club of IPM called ‘AASHA’ strives to educate and provide opportunities to members of IIM Indore to give to society. In the last few years, this cell has conducted blood donation camps, workshops, evening schools, and other social service events.

The hostels are allotted to the students of IPM as per what year they are in for the first three years. The rooms are well-furnished with a television area, and indoor games like badminton and tennis. There is wifi too.

IIM Indore boasts of an enviable sports complex. There are state-of-the-art facilities for both indoor and outdoor games. The fitness instructors guide the students through their expertise through strength training, aerobics training, flexibility training, cardiovascular training, etc.

IPM offered by IIM Indore is a relatively new course. The lack of awareness regarding the course may have been a reason for regret for some students who joined initially. Here are some of the factors regarding the course which can be a bit concerning. 

• The course fee is too high. So, it may not be a good choice in terms of ROI.
• It’s a long-term commitment since the course is 5 years long.
• Although IPM students sit alongside the PGP students for placements, some companies may prefer PGP students over IPM. As companies tend to consider IPM students as freshers, the average CTC offered to IPM students is less as compared to PGP students. 
• IPM course curriculum is still experimental.

These are some of the things that students find most concerning about the IPM course.