As I have interacted with the ex-students online, I got to know some facts about IIM Indore. These facts might also be helpful to you as they can provide you with an answer to your question.
As a student of IPM, one would certainly be able to pave the way to a non-disappointing and successful career.
My friend had the opportunity to get selected for the student exchange program in the third year. She shared her amazing experience.
She was sent to the University of Latvia. Studying in Europe gave her the freedom to explore it, make new friends from every corner of the world and most importantly gain knowledge about different economies.
Expenses
The total expenditure amounted to approximately ?4–5 lac for the five months she spent there. However, she was lucky to get an ERASMUS+ grant which covered most of her expenses.
Study
You are free to opt for any course of your choice provided that you complete the minimum credits criteria of IIM Indore. It’s recommended that you go for such a course that satiates your interests and is unavailable in your country. Some of them include International Law and Culture.
Travel
You can travel to most of Europe if you have a Type-D Visa. The climate is extremely cold and you will not be able to adjust initially.
Food
There are no mess facilities, only college canteens. The taste of the food is not up to our taste. But spending much on food is futile. You can spend the maximum on traveling and you won’t regret it.
My friend had a great time as an exchange student at the University of Latvia thanks to its relaxed ambiance.
Being a Science stream student does not make a very bigger difference when it comes to IPMAT by IIM Indore. The exam has Quantitative Aptitude (QA) and Verbal Ability (VA).
The students from Commerce or Humanities background who have Maths and English as their subjects in Standard 12th have actually same chances as a student from Science background.
The Science stream student who is also preparing for other competitive exams such as JEE may have some advantages in the QA section.
Absolutely, it is true. It has been seen that many students who have average academic scores are selected in IIM Indore for the IPM course. Basically, the selection is based on the criteria that include aptitude test score, personal interview, and written ability test for which the scores required are 50 percent, 35 percent, and 15 percent respectively.
The panelists in the interview can ask various questions related to the low academic score but if you can tackle the situation with some of the respectful reasons then there is a high possibility for your selection.
Lastly, we can say that despite your low academic score you can manage to get into IIM Indore for the IPM course by giving your best into the personal interview and written ability test.
Obviously, a low score may affect your interview but only a little. The key is to justify your low scores confidently and also answer any questions that are asked from your 12th syllabus.
Another way is to highlight your extra-curricular activities and achievements. Mention your other strengths but don’t lie about anything.
As far as the drop year is concerned I don’t think it will be much of a hurdle in your selection process because a major chunk of IPM students has taken a drop year. Still, you should be able to specify the reason for the same if asked.
Integrated Program in Management (IPM) is a 5-year program offered by IIM Indore after completion of which you will get two degrees; a Bachelor in Arts (Foundations of Management) which will consist of the first three years and an MBA for the last two years.
The course curriculum of the final two years will be exactly the same as that of the MBA students; a total of 6 semesters spread over 2 years. The first three years will have a total of 9 semesters. The various courses offered during the first three years along with the topics are given below.
A brief look at the courses offered at MBA level is also given below.
These are briefs of the courses being offered at the institute. The actual curriculum along with the credit points are given on the institute website.
You should go for it without a second thought. And, yes it is totally worth spending 5 years there.
The greatest advantage that IPM gives you is that you can join IIM Indore just after completing your 12th examination. Additionally, you will get great job offers from good after completing the IPM course from IIM Indore.
During the placement drive of 2021, the highest package offered was INR 56.8 LPA while the average company CTC stood at INR 23. 6 LPA, and the median CTC was INR 22.6 LPA.
So, if you are getting an opportunity to join the course, go for it.
Minimum percentage required for an open category student is 60%. So considering your profile you have a high chance of getting into IIM Indore for IPM.
But the admission criteria of IPM Indore involves a composite score and a small part of it is 12th marks. The 2 parameters that are considered are
Aptitude Test Score- 65% weightage
Personal Assessment- 36% weightage
Your 12 marks come under the PA or Personal Assessment. But the weighting is very less. Maximum weightage is given to the interview that is conducted after shortlisting.
So you can easily compensate for your low 12th marks with higher marks in Aptitude Test and Personal Interview.
Every coin has two sides. Similarly, every college has its pros and cons. My review of the IPM course will list the pros and cons of IIM Indore and its IPM course. Fortunately, the pros overshadow the cons to a large extent
Pros
In addition, there are humanities, literature, and skill-building courses, along with an option to pursue a foreign language. The IPM also has a group of subjects called ‘bridge courses’. They comprise courses related to information technology, intellectual property rights, or introduction to corporate law.
Cons
Choose wisely after weighing the pros and cons according to your convenience and interests
You cannot make such a binary comparison between IPM and CA.
You will learn topics from a variety of fields in this program, including math, science, economics, sociology, psychology, law, accountancy, and the arts. The PGDM curriculum that follows teaches you the fundamentals of finance, marketing, human resources, operations, information technology, etc., and prepares you to specialize in any subject of your choice. Regardless of your academic performance, you will be able to spend 5 years at an IIM after graduation. This strengthens your character in a way that is impossible in CA, where you must make all of your own preparations. You'll be able to interact with the best minds in the nation all at once thanks to it. Early exposure to cultural differences is crucial for the development of your personality and professionalism. The fact that IPM students receive the same treatment as PGDM students place a great deal of responsibility on them.
CA is a professional program that develops your accounting skills and offers competitive pay. However, doing so necessitates independent study, which calls for strong self-discipline. It lacks the social learning component, which must be made up for in another way.
You should choose IPM and pursue CFA, actuarial, or another type of certification intermittently. Many people have chosen to do this, and the outcomes have been very positive; they have been hired by prestigious financial institutions like JPMC, DE Shaw, Nomura, etc.