“CAT or no CAT?”
A boy named Manoj was in the final year of his graduation. A B.A. student from Loyola College in Ahmedabad, he wanted to do an MBA in HR after graduation from one of the top MBA colleges in India.
He spoke about his ambition to Ashwin, who was his senior from Loyola. Ashwin after completing his MBA in Finance from IIM-Calcutta and was now working with JP Morgan Chase as a Senior Analyst.
Manoj: “I am studying really hard for CAT, I hope I’m able to get into one of the IIMs.”
Ashwin: “Why are you restricting yourself to thinking just about the IIMs? You do realise that some of the best HR colleges are not even IIMs, and they have their own entrance tests.
Manoj: “Wow! How could I be so ignorant? Please tell me more!”
Ashwin: “XLRI and TISS are perhaps the most coveted colleges for HR. You need to pass XAT for getting into XLRI; similarly, TISS would require you to go through TISSNET.”
Ashwin had appeared for many exams like XAT, NMAT, SNAP, IIFT, IRMA, etc. Ashwin told Manoj that preparing for these exams wasn’t easy. It did require a lot of hard work and dedication. Manoj was inspired and started for preparing for other examinations.
Thinking beyond CAT
Many students face the same dilemma. Is appearing for CAT the only way to get admission in MBA colleges? Are there no colleges that do not accept CAT score?
This article comes as a relief for those students who fear that the CAT exam is the only gateway to MBA. There are many MBA entrance exams apart from CAT, for which a student can appear for to get into a good B-school. However, there are also business schools that accept candidates irrespective of whether they have appeared for CAT or not. Here is a list of the some of the top MBA colleges in India that do not accept the CAT score:
1)XLRI, Jamshedpur
XLRI offers Post Graduate Diploma in Management in fields like Business Human Resource and General Management. XLRI shortlists students by their score in Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT). The candidate also has to submit an essay within 20 minutes after the completion of the competitive exam. After the candidate is shortlisted based on his XAT score, he has to appear for either PI or GD and PI both, based on the field he chooses to do PGDM. XAT will take place on on 8th January’17 for the 2017 intake.
2) NMIMS
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies is one of the top MBA colleges in India. It offers MBA in Pharmaceutical Management, Capital Market, Banking, Human Resource, etc. To get into NMIMS, a candidate needs to clear NMAT. A candidate can attempt NMAT up to 3 times to better his scores. NMAT doesn’t have negative marking. The final merit list is prepared based on the NMAT Score, Written Test marks (as applicable), Group Discussion, Personal Interview, Presentation (as applicable) and work experience. The test taking window for NMAT 2016 is 75 days long, from 7th October to 20 December.
3) Symbiosis International University
Symbiosis International University has 11 colleges spread over Pune, Bengaluru, Nashik, Hyderabad and Noida. These colleges offer MBA in Marketing, Human Resource, Finance and Operations. To get into Symbiosis colleges, a candidate needs to go through SNAP. SNAP is usually organised in the month of December, and this year, it is going to be conducted on 18th December. General awareness business scenarios and current affairs make up almost 20% of SNAP. After the students are selected based on the SNAP score, they appear for GD and then PI.
4)MICA, Ahmedabad
Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad offers PGDM in Communications, Fellow Program in Management – Communications and many other Post Certificate programs. Candidates who want to get admission in MICA need to give CAT, GMAT or XAT along with MICAT. MICAT tests students in areas such as Divergent Thinking Abilities, Written Communication Abilities and General Awareness about contemporary social and business issues, including areas relevant to media, marketing, advertising & current affairs and Analytical & Verbal Abilities. MICAT-I is on December 11, 2016 and MICAT II on Februrary 12, 2017.
5) IIFT
IIFT was established by the Government of India in 1963. It is one of the top MBA colleges in India with its flagship course in International Business. IIFT has its institutes in Delhi and Kolkata. It offers MBA course in International Business. The exam that a candidate needs to clear to become a part of the institute is curated by the business school itself. The exam has a special General Knowledge section, which contains around 26 questions. After the IIFT exam, students are shortlisted to write an essay, baed on which they are shortlisted for GD and PI. This year, the IIFT examination date is set as 27th November, 2016.
6) IRMA, Anand
Institute of Rural Management, Anand was established in 1979. It is amongst the top institutes of India that offer programs in Rural Management. IRMA accepts scores of both CAT and XAT for the admission. Apart from CAT and XAT, the candidate has to appear for Issues of Social Concern test. Based on the CAT/ XAT score, Issues of Social Concern test, group activity and personal interview, a candidate is selected. The date for IRMA test is 12th February 2017.
7) Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
TISS is one of the top MBA colleges in India for HR studies. Their unique focus means that they test candidates in a different way, beginning with TISSNET. Admission into TISS is on the basis of the TISSNET score and subsequent GD/PI rounds. TISSNET 2017 is scheduled on January 7, 2017. As per the Institute website, negative marking will not apply for TISSNET 2017.
So, one doesn’t necessary have to give CAT to get into a top B-school in India. So, do you think Manoj will be able to get into one of the best B-schools in India without giving CAT? Let us know in the comments section below.
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