I have got a CGPA of 6.5 in my first semester of BTech in IIIT-Hyderabad. Can I improve it till 8.5 for getting an admission offer in a prestigious management institute in IIMs or ISB?

People usually have two opinions regarding MBA admissions. First, the admissions have little to do with numbers, second, CGPA and numbers are extremely crucial. My answer is here to support the second opinion and she’s light on the importance of CGPA.

Don’t decide on your next degree hastily before even completing the first one. You may want to explore more interests before deciding what you want to finally choose. Most people in IIT commit the grave mistake of not focusing on their Academics because they think that the ECE or IT sector is not their cup of tea. They forget that they are among the best computer science minds right now and do not make the best use of this opportunity. Identifying the opportunities offered by the institute is a crucial step before deciding on your future career. Even if after enough reflection you realize that the IT sector is not for you, you may explore other options.

Recently many alumni of IIIT Hyderabad have joined as graduates of IIMs after gaining work experience. But almost every alumnus I have looked up had an excellent CGPA, nothing less than 8.5.

So CGPA is not the only factor but is one of the most important factors during admissions at IIMs. One can get into an IIM even with an average CGPA but having a good CGPA will increase the plethora of opportunities definitely.