You should definitely attend IIM Lucknow rather than FMS Delhi. IIM is a brand, a distinguishing mark that will stay with you for the rest of your life. You never give up the IIM tag for FMS, no matter how much it costs.
The FMS campus has a dingy canteen the size of a bungalow, women dressed in glittery clothing roaming around, and plenty of heat and dust. There are also no hostels. You must take a PG if you go there. Food will be provided by the PG and nearby vendors.
In terms of finances, IIML fees are not comparable to Harvard fees. If you have given money to coaching institutes, you can certainly afford IIML. You may need to take out a loan, but you can certainly afford it.
Anyway, back to culture and way of life. In comparison to FMS, IIMs are king-size. Acres of land, well-kept cultivated greenery, a clean campus, and tasty mess food. Any IIM mess is better than most engineering colleges' mess, and Lucknow's Mess is delicious. The sports complex includes a large swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam bath, large courts, and other amenities. Every two months, there will be massive student festivals where you can interact with students from other IIMs. You'll get a free membership to a nearby club where you can wine and dine. The student exchange program with Europe at IIM Lucknow is fantastic. You have the opportunity to study alongside international students and make friends from all over the world.
During the IIM Lucknow summer placements for the 2022-24 batch, 570 job offers were made and over 185 recruiters visited the campus. Aside from that, the highest and average stipends offered during summer placements at IIM Lucknow for the 2022-24 batch were INR 3.5 lakh per month and INR 1.41 lakh per month, respectively.
Both the colleges are top-notch, it depends on what the students want from their MBA. IIM Lucknow does give something extra but it comes with the cost of extra fees. It's a misunderstanding that people don't find time at Lucknow, one can easily follow their passions and still end up with an equally good and sometimes more desirable job.
The table shows a brief overview of the institutions.
Particulars |
FMS Delhi |
IIM Lucknow |
Median Salary |
Rs. 25.6 Lakh |
Rs. 20 Lakh |
Highest Salary |
Rs. 58.6 Lakh |
Rs. 54 Lakh |
Entrance Criteria |
CAT |
CAT/XAT/GMAT |
Fees |
Rs. 1.92 Lakh |
Rs. 19.25 Lakh |
Campus life:
Job Offers:
Academics:
Brand Name:
Between the two institutes, IIM Lucknow is definitely the more recognized owing to the IIM tag.
But, from a plain career point of view, if you are hard-working and don't believe in figures then join IIM Lucknow. You will have greater career opportunities.