Get Answers on Test Preparation, Admissions & Campus Life
Study Abroad Countries
Should IIM Lucknow be chosen over FMS or XLRI just for the IIM tag? It reeks of secrecy (no placement reports, no waiting list numbers provided without RTI) and barring the campus life I haven't heard
I have said this before. No college is better than the other. It’s just a matter of preferences and suitability. Yet you are here comparing some 3 best B Schools in India. Neither of the 3 colleges is lacking in any aspect. So you won’t be making a bad choice by choosing one from FMS, XLRI, or IIM Lucknow.
The most crucial step while choosing a college is checking your priorities and knowing what you want from the college and where you are headed to in the future. Once you are determined in what you are seeking no college can really stop you. So don’t worry about the confidentiality at IIM Lucknow. With the right mindset, you can make the best out of it. I think focusing on the following aspects will help you make a better decision
- Quality of education
- Campus life
- Career goals
- Big companies coming to the campus for placements
- Fees
Once you have set your goals, all the above 3 colleges will help you achieve them. Lastly, don't choose IIM Lucknow for its IIM tag. If you are honest with your goals, the IIM brand value is not more than a mere tag.
The minimum cutoff for the general category is 90, whereas the cutoff for OBC is 82 at IIM Lucknow.
|
Section |
Marks |
|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (Section 1) |
85 |
|
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (Section 2) |
85 |
|
Quantitative Ability (Section 3) |
85 |
|
Total |
90 |
The final selection of a candidate is based on his position in the merit list. The merit list is prepared by calculating the Grand Total for all the students.
Grand Total = Shortlist Total + GDPI Total
Can I prefer SPJIMR over IIM IKL?
Yes, one can definitely choose SPJIMR over the three IIMs IKL. To answer the why part, I have individually compared each IIM to SPJIMR and justified why SPJIMR is a better choice in all the 3 cases.
IIM Indore
SPJIMR over IIM Indore is a choice as everyone is aware of the huge batch size at IIM Indore which becomes a major obstacle during placements. Moreover, it gives a lot of weightage to past academics so it’s not a good option for those who fared average during 10 and 12 but are now ready to face challenges.
IIM Kozhikode
The only aspect in which Kozhikode has an upper hand when compared to SPJIMR is the campus beauty and I am sure this is not the most important criterion for judging a college at all. SPJIMR offers a more innovative and structured curriculum, a smaller batch size combined with the chance to live in the city of Dreams. The only aspect that it lacks in comparison to Kozhikode is the fact that you have to choose your specialization during admission itself whereas Kozhikode gives you a year's time to do so. Then again if you are certain of your specialization, nothing is better than SPJIMR.
IIM Lucknow
Honestly speaking many might consider IIM Lucknow a tad bit better than SPJIMR and rightly so. When it comes to consulting and Finance, IIM Lucknow is a better option. It also attracts the best profile and not the kind accepted at SPJIMR. Additionally, the batch comprises IITians majorly who are there for the tag. These geniuses create tough competition which is lacking in the case of SPJIMR. This turns out to be a benefit for SPJIMR as students who are not at the top are able to get good roles at top consulting firms. So in terms of Finance, Consulting, and IIM tag, IIM Lucknow seems to be better but is similar to SPJIMR in all other aspects.
Which is the better choice between SP Jain, IIM Lucknow and XLRI Jamshedpur?
When considering MBA programs, XLRI is a top choice and better than both SP Jain and IIM Lucknow due to its strong academic curriculum and excellent facilities. It is not only known for its Human Resources (HR) program, which is considered to be the best in India, but also for its Business Management (BM) program, which has a strong track record of 100% placement year after year. Additionally, XLRI has a wide range of placement opportunities for its students. Overall, XLRI is a well-rounded choice for an MBA program.
The median salary offered to students in the batch of XLRI was INR 30 lakhs per annum, with the top 10th percentile averaging INR 48 lakhs per annum and the top 25th percentile averaging INR 43 lakhs per annum. The top segments for roles offered were Consulting, ITES, E-Commerce, Gaming & Online Services, and Sales & Marketing. XLRI is highly regarded as the best institution in the country for Human Resources (HR) education. HR roles were offered by a wide range of companies, including P&G, HUL, ITC, Colgate Palmolive, Marico, JP Morgan Chase and Co., Google, Samsung, Bajaj Auto, Myntra, Ola, and others. The HR roles offered include HR Consulting, Recruitment, Compensation & Benefits, HR Analytics, and Chief of Staff. Premier consulting firms like PwC, EY, and Deloitte open exclusive HR consulting roles for XLRI students, further emphasizing the trust placed in XLRI graduates as future HR leaders.
Which is the better choice between SP Jain, IIM Lucknow, and XLRI Jamshedpur?
It depends on your business school needs. You listed three prestigious schools. This may help you choose:
- SP Jain is famous in India and globally for its global business and entrepreneurship concentration.
- The oldest and most famous Indian business school, IIM Lucknow, is known for its academic rigor and research.
- XLRI Jamshedpur emphasizes management and social responsibility.
Academically, with facilities, and placement, XLRI is better. It is the best in India for HR and BM, with 100% placement every year.
Should I spend 2 lakhs on a certification course from IIM Lucknow and Wiley in Product Management? However, I would want to change my job role from Business Development to Product. Is this a good way?
- A certification course only provides you with a certificate, not actual skills.
- Product managers are never hired based on their certifications. That is something that no company ever does.
- Theoretical skills are frequently taught in most B schools. Companies today have little time and patience for such talent unless you want to start as a fresher.
- Consider the product management certificate to be an add-on rather than a core feature. This is the most important mental shift to make to get things started right.
- Learn the fundamentals.
- Begin observing your surroundings.
- Begin to wonder why some things work and others don't.
- Begin writing. Writing clarifies things. A product manager's most important skill is writing.
- Next, analyze a product (any of your favorites) to understand the user experience and product decisions (for example, why did WhatsApp launch the basic group admin feature after so many years, why did hike shut down despite massive funding/userbase, and so on).
What should I choose between SPJIMR Finance and IIM Lucknow, having converted both?
If you are deciding between IIM Lucknow and SPJIMR for Finance, it is important to weigh your options. Here is what you need to know about IIM Lucknow's Finance faculty and placements:
- Placements: IIM Lucknow Finance placements have been doing well, with a good number of front-end roles coming to the campus. The highest salary for Finance stood at INR 53.34 LPA and the Mean salary at INR 32.21 LPA. Some of the companies that recruited from IIM Lucknow for Finance roles include JP Morgan, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, Black Rock, Kotak, Investec, Avendus, Arga Investments, Spark Capital, Ernst & Young IBD group, Piramal Group (Capital Markets), Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Nomura, Standard Chartered, and HSBC.
- Front-end roles: Many companies offer front-end roles at IIM Lucknow, including JP Morgan, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, Black Rock, Kotak, Investec, Avendus, Arga Investments, Spark Capital, Ernst & Young IBD group, Piramal Group (Capital Markets), and foreign markets desks based out of India like Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Nomura, Standard Chartered, and HSBC.
- Learning and Faculty: The Institute offers a good number of electives in Finance ranging from subjects like Investor Psychology, Quantitative applications in finance, Project Finance, Corporate Banking & Risk Management, etc. The faculty is able to provide exposure through guest lectures and industry workshops.
On the other hand, SPJIMR may not have as many big-name companies visiting for Finance roles compared to IIM Lucknow. From what has been reported in the media, some notable names missing at SPJIMR during the past 2 years include Citibank (front-end markets role), JP Morgan (front-end markets role), Nomura, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. However, Barclays visited SPJIMR but not IIM Lucknow in the last 2 years.
When choosing between the two institutes, it is important to consider your personal goals and interests. Do your research and decide which institute aligns better with your career aspirations.
I am fresher student studying at IIM Lucknow, I want to drop out. What are my chances of converting IIM-A,B, C after gaining 2-3 years of experience?
I don’t think it's wise to decide to drop out from IIM Lucknow when you already worked hard and cracked the entrance. You even succeeded in the interview and yet here you want to give it all up. Every year the level of difficulty of entrance exams like the CAT and XAT keeps changing. Students who might have scored 90+ percentile one year might score 40-60 percentile next year. It all depends on preparation and mindset. Meanwhile, you have already succeeded and gotten into an IIM so why take it for granted?
Yet if you are adamant about not continuing, I would suggest you just focus on your job and gain a lot of experience. Chances are that you might climb the ladder without an MBA or IIM. Many CEOs and CFOs don’t need an MBA to make them what they are.
Despite it all, if you are appearing again for CAT, then make sure you have a valid explanation of dropping out during your interview.
Should I go to IIM Lucknow or IIM Shillong?
The college you decide to go to depends on what you want from your MBA. Many are just interested in placements. Some want to experience a nice relaxing college life. So these points might clarify further which of the 2 colleges is for you
Location: IIM Shillong is located in a serene area in North-East and has a calm temperature throughout. The ambiance is much more relaxing than IIM Lucknow which has extreme temperatures.
Curriculum: IIM Lucknow has a rigorous curriculum and the students face cut-throat competition causing many to repeat the first year. In contrast, IIM Shillong’s curriculum is balanced and students remain relaxed most of the time.
Sports: If you are a sports freak, then IIM Shillong is not for you as it has very limited opportunities as opposed to IIM Lucknow which has amazing opportunities.
Placements: The placement statistics of both the IIMs are given below
|
Particulars |
IIM Lucknow |
IIM Shillong |
|
Highest CTC |
INR 58 LPA |
INR 55.22 LPA |
|
Average CTC |
INR 31.03 LPA |
INR 23.10 LPA |
|
Median CTC |
INR 29 LPA |
INR 22.28 LPA |
|
Major Sectors |
Consulting, Finance, General Management |
IT and Analytics |
|
Top Recruiters |
Microsoft, Myntra, Winzo Games, Vodafone - Idea |
DE Shaw, Deloitte, TATA Steel |
From the above table we can infer that placement opportunities are better at IIM Lucknow than at IIM Shillong.
Alumni network: IIM Lucknow has a stronger alumni base and brand value owing to its early establishment.
So IIM Lucknow is definitely a better option if you are career oriented. But if you want to experience a relaxed campus life and create memories, IIM Shillong won’t disappoint you a bit.
What percentage of the total batch of MBAs at IIM Lucknow go for a foreign semester exchange in their second year?
Typically, 50-60 students from a batch of about 450 at IIM Lucknow go abroad for an exchange term. At IIM Lucknow, it's known as the Student Exchange Program, or simply Stex. IIM L does not have affiliations with many prestigious business schools around the world. It has no affiliations with any schools in North America, with the exception of one or two in Canada. The majority of the schools with which it has collaborations are of average or poor quality in Europe.
So, either you should have a stellar profile, including your GPA in your first year at IIML, to get into a good school for Stex, or you should consider going to Stex for a three-month Europe tour with a complimentary term abroad to bring back some credits after you are done vacationing in Europe. If you're looking for good exchange programs, you should probably look into better B-schools in India like IIM A, B, C, or ISB.
Which one should I opt for: PGDCM from IIM Calcutta or PGPM from IIM Lucknow?
If we compare PGDCM and PGDM at IIM Calcutta, we see that both the courses have the same networking, placements and even infrastructure.
Now if you compare both the IIMs, IIMC and IIML, there is hardly any difference in the curriculum or even placements. So deciding which IIM to go for depends on your own preferences.
But if you are planning to quit IT then I suggest going for the full-fledged MBA course from IIM Lucknow rather than a system at IIM Calcutta.
IIM Lucknow will offer excellent exposure and placements and you will end up getting an above average salary package for consulting.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER
