7 Things To Consider Before Joining A B-School

You finally did it! Converted the B-school of your dreams. *cue confetti rain and party poppers*. But, before everything consider these things before joining a b-school.

But, what now…

Once now you converted the B-school(s) of your dreams.

Yes, in the plural.

What now?

All of the B-schools you were hoping would fall in your lap, actually did! Plus, a few more. You had left it up to fate. God let thy will be done. It turns out, God’s will for you was to be ecstatic and confused by the conversion.

What do you do now? How do you decide among all of these amazing institutes, which are as good as the next one on your list?

How do you decide which one is for you?

Here are 7 things to consider before joining a B-school:

Profiles offered

It’s easy to scan the placement reports and delight that XYZ a.k.a your first preference has giants like Google, Goldman Sachs, etc. etc. on campus for placements. Or to be wowed by the hefty salary offered. MBA placement reports are often inflated and do not tell the whole truth. They do not tell that the proposed B-school salaries are a sum of shares,  allowances, and bonuses.

The only thing you need to zoom in on the profiles that companies are offering. This will be one of the most important things to consider before joining a B-school.

Questions to ask: Which companies are visiting for summer and final placements? What profiles are they offering? Is one of them the profile I want to build my career in? What is the highest salary they are offering for it? How can I get in touch with present-day students and alumni to confirm these facts?

Curriculum

You are going to study. Boht hard. Not in the textbooky way you did during your undergrad but with a more practical and hands-on approach. That being said, you need to know what exactly you are going to be taught.

Questions to ask: How old or new is their curriculum? How is teaching being delivered? Are the professors updated? How hands-on and practical is learning? Will it help my career after MBA?

Faculty

The least of the concerns of many university/ college goers. However, the quality of the teachers is a big factor in determining the quality of your 2 years. A professor who has worked in the industry and/or earned a Ph.D. can help in the progression of your career unlike the ones having questionable backgrounds.

Questions to ask: What is the faculty's background? Who has graduated from where? Who has worked where? Are they still active in their respective fields through events, research, or book publications? Can they open new MBA career opportunities for me?

Involvement/ Exposure

If you need a mantra for B-school, let it be: expand your horizons. Meet as many people as possible, collide with ‘unsolvable’ problems, participate in competitions, be a part of on-campus communities, and go international if possible! In short, grab the best B-school opportunities that are available at every turn.

Questions to ask: What opportunities are available to become involved? Are international programs or collaborations on offer? Which are the partner universities in such programs? How many seats are offered? Will my class be diverse? How many competitions are held and when? How many communities are functional on-campus?

Location/ Infrastructure

Your B-School location will decide whether you have to plan a night of entertainment in the city or whether you can go on a whim. It will determine the type of people in the surrounding area. The infrastructure will decide the vibe of the place which will be a critical invisible factor in shaping your personality. Hence, another essential thing to consider before joining a B-School.

Questions to ask: what type of environment am I looking for? Will I be happy in the heart or the edge of the city? Which amenities do I want nearby? Do I want to live in a new city and culture?

Moolah

Indian institutions aren’t overflowing with scholarships and financial assistance schemes. The Aditya Birla and the OP Jindal scholarships do not cover even 25% of the fees and are received by only a few. The criteria for Need-Based Financial Assistance is too tough to be cracked by general middle-class students.

Questions to ask: am I assured to an INR 70,000 package after my MBA so I can slowly and definitely pay off my loans? How much financial backing will/do I have for the EMIs?

Your Instincts

You already know what kind of B-school would be perfect for you. You have the gut-level feeling. If you can make sure to visit the campus. If you couldn’t discern your instincts before, you’ll surely be able to after this.

Questions to ask: which B-school do I feel “called to” in spite of my friends’, family’s, and the media’s voices?

Most of all, do not blindly trust what is portrayed in the media. Do not blindly trust the average MBA salaries. Do not trust the aspirations of your relatives who have already predicted that you’ll score a crore plus package.

Trust in your own analysis, in what you want for your future, in what you believe is right for you. Be honest in assessing what you want out of the 2 years of your MBA and how you want them to be.

Final Thoughts

Answer the above questions honestly and thoughtfully. Thoroughly consider these 7 factors before joining a B-school. Then and only then can you be sure that you’ve made a 99% right decision.