Impact of COVID-19 on MBA admissions

By: Akila Narayanan

The All India Technical Education Council (AICTE) has revised the academic calendar for the year 2020-21 despite the country’s prevailing Covid-19 situation. The Council has recommended that affiliated institutes and universities complete the first therapy process by October 5 this year. 

Global recession causing a decline in the jobs due to Covid-19 pandemic has affected the overall structure of the Education industry. From online classes and admission interviews to postponement and even cancellation of some key entrance exams, a significant change in the education system might be on the cards.

Let’s study how Covid-19, a global pandemic has changed the world forever, impact students preparing for key MBA entrance exams, such as CAT and MAT:  

• The disturbance caused in the usual life due Covid-19 has caused anxiety and nervousness in virtually every aspirant, admitter and student. In our country, MBA sessions generally start in June or July. However, there is a strong possibility that classes will not start as expected this year, as many B-Schools have not yet completed their admission process. Besides, the pandemic has caused an economic catastrophe in our country. The economic recession has already begun, affecting the job market and causing mass unemployment among the young workforce of some of the top corporates.
• These variables are expected to affect MBA entrance examinations in 2020. The post-global recession-era (2009) can be compared with today to get answers to what this year might be. The current situation has sparked an economic recession, which will affect almost every sector. The education sector and the MBA industry are no different. 
• Preliminary rounds (GD-WAT-PI) at business schools were held online due to lockdown. This could become the future of the selection process at B-Schools. More applicants are expected to compete with each other in the MBA entrance exams in 2020, which may cause B-Schools will increase their test cutoffs or levels of difficulty. Although we may not have the application number in our pocket, our planning is. 

• Let’s study extra hard this year, give more than 100 per cent, stay focused and ace the MBA entrance exams 2020. TheAll India Technical Education Council (AICTE) has revised the academic calendar for the year 2020-21 despite the country’s prevailing Covid-19 situation. The Council has recommended that affiliated institutes and universities complete the first therapy process by October 5 this year. 
• Twice amid the pandemic, the AICTE has changed the instructional calendar.It has also ordered the colleges to postpone the classes and conduct special classes for the students who will appear for the final year exams. The guidelines were updated after the MHA passed an order to keep all educational institutes closed until August 31.

• Now, the AICTE has announced that there should be no qualifying admission tests for admissions for MBA/PGDM courses. This is because in many states, some of the entrance tests could not be conducted due to the pandemic and there is no indication of whether to postpone or cancel the entrance tests.
• The institutions are allowed to choose candidates based on GD/PI, which will be conducted before the college starts. There is a probability of them being conducted through digital mode in the future, avoiding travel from one place to the other.

About the Author:

Akila Narayanan is pursuing MBA from Thiagarajar School of Management, Madurai, with an interest in Marketing and Finance. She has completed her graduation from Velammal College of Engineering and Technology, Madurai. Her hobbies include playing guitar, badminton and reading books. She has also been awarded the first prize for a social welfare project titled “The Life Saving Block Detector”.