How to choose the right management college

You have decided the management course you want to and got just the right marks for it. While our academics decide most of our future, colleges can add that extra edge to help us make it big.

There are many rankings available for B-Schools, but while taking a decision to go to a college there are many real aspects that you need to consider. We spoke to experts to find out how to select a management college. Read through and see the parameters you need to keep in mind while talking to the colleges of your interest.

Faculty:

Govind Sharma: Let's start with faculty. The professors should have at least three years industry experience at managerial level so that they understand the dynamic nature of the industry. They will be able to share with you the real business situations with examples.

Gautam Joshi: The faculty should have relevant experience and preferably should be PhD holders. Overlaps among teachers should be avoided. Many times an IB expert is handed over a marketing or HR subject to teach. Students should look at the brochure keenly to understand if a particular college is following this. Talking to ex-students may also be a good idea.

Reputation from Industry perspective and placement:

Sharma: The most important factor is the number of companies visiting over the past few years. Ideally, the same organisation should have visited regularly for five years and every year they should have hired similar or more no. of students.

Joshi: Good institutes don't need to call companies to their campus for recruitment, rather the companies are always eager to recruit students from such good institutes. Students should not get carried away by the glittering names of big corportates on the institute's prospectus. Try to talk to the alumni or others who can provide you with authentic information.

General environment and fee:

Sharma: The college should have a liberal atmosphere where students are able to share their thoughts. The fee should be in line with the average and lowest package. It should ideally be an amount which you can recover within a year of working.

Joshi: Hefty amount of fee doesn't indicate that it's a high level institute. However, don't compromise with the college just because it offers the course with less fee, remember, if you're capable enough to hit the bull's eye then there are several methods like educational loans, scholarships, concessions etc. to get financial support to fulfill your dream.

Infrastructure:

Joshi: Library, Laboratory and supporting infrastructure plays an important role in the overall feel of the college and the quality of education.

Projectors (DLPs), Computers, Electricity Generator, Seminar Hall(s), Practical Labs(especially for Finance Students) etc. are some of the very basic needs of an MBA aspirant. Study Material is the second most important thing to be considered after Faculty. Regularly updating the library content and up-gradation of books is a must.

The bus service provided (if required) should also be inquired about clearly. Hostel service and the environment including the size of the rooms, quality of food provided there in the hostel mess etc. should also be inquired.

Questions to ask while talking to the Institute:

Asking the right question at the college could get you information which may not be mentioned in the brochures.

• Do they have an international tie up with universities or companies?
• What is their course delivery methodology?
• Do they have AICTE approval?
• Details of students who got placed through campus placement, like the company, minimum salary etc.
• Does your Institute offer any scholarship for meritorious students?
• Does your Institute organise academic and non-academic events?
• What are the recognitions and accreditations the institute has?

Gautam Joshi further adds that, "A student needs to find out the provision for industrial training. This is important especially if you are thinking of summer training. Most institutes are non-committal when it comes to this. Similarly, Institute's provision for industrial visits is also crucial for the right exposure."

About the experts:

Govind Sharma has done MBA, P.Phil, CRTI, PGDHRO, PGDTD. He is working as a Manager - HR and Admin with Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd.

Gautam Joshi has done BBA, MBA (Finance and HR) and is working as Business Associate at MNYL Insurance Co. Ltd. from the last 3 years.

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