Q: XLRI or SPJIMR? Where should I go?

If you aren’t sure about the field of specialization, then you should choose XLRI. It is widely reputed for its HR program. The head HR of most of the top MNCs in India are XLRI alumni. It is more reputed and has a large alumni base. XLRI placements are better than SPJIMR. The average CTC for the institute is INR 30.73 LPA. SPJIMR has a better placement record for Information Management and Operations, compared to XLRI.

Question 1

XLRI or SPJIMR? Where should I go?

Accepted Answer

If you aren&rsquo;t sure about the field of specialization, then you should choose XLRI. It is widely reputed for its HR program. The head HR of most of the top MNCs in India are XLRI alumni. It is more reputed and has a large alumni base. XLRI placements are better than SPJIMR. The average CTC for the institute is INR 30.73 LPA. SPJIMR has a better placement record for Information Management and Operations, compared to XLRI.

Question 2

What CAT percentile do I require to get calls from IIM Blackis, FMS, SP Jain, JBIMS and MDI Gurgaon?

Accepted Answer

For GEM, the CAT percentiles required to get an interview call from IIM Blackis, FMS, SP Jain, JBIMS, and MDI Gurgaon are

ABC and FMS: Both institutes required nothing less than 99.5. Those who get admission at a lesser percentile, usually don’t belong to the GEM category. There are many who don’t even get a call with 99.3. So to stay on the safer side, go for nothing less than 99.5.
IIM Indore and Kozhikode: Both the institutes require percentiles around 97.5 for an interview call
SPJIMR: This Institute has unique selection criteria under which CAT is given less value and calls are issued on the basis of the candidate's profile. The CAT percentile required in this case is less than the normal if you have a good academic profile along with work experience,
MDI: This institute issues calls around the 96% mark.

It’s important to know that these figures are based on trends and not on actual data so you will find exceptions everywhere. Moreover, it’s better you don’t waste time analyzing the CAT cutoff and start preparing for the same.

Question 3

Which is the best MBA college in Mumbai among: JBIMS, SPJIMR and NMIMS? Which college among these have highest ranking?

Accepted Answer

It is a close call between SPJIMR and JBIMS. NMIMS is not in the same league as these but it is a decent B-School and ranked among the top 30 in India. JBIMS has the highest rank. Indiatoday 2021 ranked the institute 12 for MBA.

JBIMS offers better ROI. Course fees for the institute are INR 6.05 Lakhs. While the average CTC for the institute is INR 27 LPA, according to JBIMS placements highlights of 2022. If you are interested in Finance, you should choose JBIMS.

If you are interested in Marketing and Ops, you should go for SP Jain.

Question 4

How similar/different are IIM Indore and Spjimr?

Accepted Answer

SPJIMR is better than IIM Indore in terms of academics, faculty, exposure, etc. The advantages of choosing SPJIMR are as follows.

The institute follows a unique pedagogy. SPJIMR stands out because of its experimental teaching methodology and outside-the-classroom learning experiences. There are some unique programs like DOCC, ADMAP, Abhyudaya, etc. which will help you get business-ready.
SPJIMR batch size is smaller compared to IIM Indore. So, it’s easier for students to receive decent placement offers. SPJIMR placements 2022 had an average CTC of INR 30.10 LPA.
Students need to decide their specialization while applying at SPJIMR. As the specialization is predefined the courses are more streamlined according to the need of that specific industry. Students are better able to decide the company and job roles that want to have in the future.

These factors make SPJIMR differ from IIM Indore. As for similarities, both IIM Indore and SPJIMR have the same range of course fees. The recruiting companies are almost similar for both. The peer group is excellent at IIM Indore and SPJIMR.

Question 5

How are IIM A students different from students of, say, SP Jain, NMIMS, FMS or JB?

Accepted Answer

Students at IIM-A are similar to those at SP Jain, NMIMS, FMS, and JBIMS. Aptitude and intelligence are roughly comparable. IIM-A students do not have to compete as hard for placements, so they are less concerned, whereas students from other colleges are constantly concerned about placements.

You'll notice that students from other colleges perform better in competitions than IIM-A because they are generally more hardworking during MBA because the struggle is greater for them. However, because of the brand name, IIM-A students receive far more exposure than students from any other college in India, which benefits students greatly in their personal development.

Question 6

Do students from IIM/FMS/JBIMS/SPJIMR/IIFT/XLRI bunk classes like engineering students?

Accepted Answer

At IIM/FMS/JBIMS/SPJIMR/IIFT/XLRI, attendance is seen as a crucial aspect of the learning experience. Every effort must be made to be present in class and to participate actively in the discussions. In fact, class participation is considered to be such an important factor in determining grades that a significant portion of the total course weightage is allocated to it. This system is in place to encourage students to be engaged in the learning process and to ensure that they are taking full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them.

On the other hand, at IIT Kanpur, there is a more relaxed approach to attendance. While it is still advisable to attend classes and to be present for lectures, there is no strict requirement in place. This gives students more flexibility and allows them to choose when they want to attend classes based on their personal schedules or other commitments. It also means that engineering students are not penalized if they miss a class or two, as long as they are able to make up for it by participating in other ways, such as completing assignments or preparing for exams.

Overall, both B-schools and Engineering colleges have different approaches to attendance and class participation. While IIM Ahmedabad places a strong emphasis on being present in class and participating actively, IIT Kanpur takes a more relaxed approach. Ultimately, the choice between the two institutions will depend on the individual student's preferences and learning style.

Question 7

Which college is better: NMIMS or SP Jain or new IIMs?

Accepted Answer

For the given options, your preference order should be SP Jain>NMIMS>New IIMs. SP Jain and NMIMS offer good ROI and placements. During the 2022 placement drive, students of SP Jain received an average CTC of INR 32 LPA. NMIMS Mumbai 2022 placements ended with an average CTC of INR 23 LPA.

These two also have a locational advantage.

Question 8

How is SPJIMR's placement report better than IIMs including IIM Calcutta and as good as IIM Ahmedabad (both Average and Median)?

Accepted Answer

This years average annual salary of SPJMIR (cost-to-company) is INR 32.05 lakhs per annum, representing a 23% increase over last years figure. The median annual salary was INR 30.10 lakhs per year, with over 59 percent of the batch receiving offers in excess of INR 30 lakhs per year and over 87 percent receiving offers in excess of INR 25 lakhs per year. With the increasing intake of consulting firms, offers were extended to 91 students, the highest number ever reported by SPJIMR for a batch. Accenture Strategy, Alvarez & Marsal, Bain & Co., Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, GEP, KPMG, Miebach, and PwC US Advisory were among the companies that took part. According to the Indian Placements Reporting Standards (IPRS) audited report of IIM Ahmedabad placements 2021, the average salary offered to the PGP/MBA batch 2019-21 was INR 27.54 lakh per annum. The highest annual salary offered was INR 55.00 lakh, while the highest international salary offer was INR 1.16 crore. The average annual international salary offer was INR 74.80 lakh. Every year, SPJIMR includes some additional component in addition to the MEP (MEP already includes non-cash, long-term, and performance-linked components as per IPRS standards), whereas IIMA does not. Yes, SPJIMR benefits from NO reservation, a Mumbai location, and a smaller batch size, all of which contribute to a good placement record and a high average salary.

Question 9

What are my chances of getting a PROFILE based call from SPJIMR (SP Jain Institute of Management and Research)?

Accepted Answer

SPJIMR usually expects an all-rounder profile from its candidates. A profile is said to be good if

Excellent Academics; 90%+ on Boards and 80%+ in Graduation
A great extracurricular background; For instance, Senior diploma in arts/national level winner in swimming, quiz, debate
A good work experience; Consistently high rating by senior management, winner in hackathons

All three or at least 2 of these shall guarantee or increase your chances of admission considerably for a profile-based call from SPJIMR. An additional ground to score well is the application form wherein you are required to fill in about yourself. If your matter appeals to the selection committee you can surely wait for a call. The admission process further comprises two group interviews, essays, and psychometric tests.

We can safely conclude that SPJIMR focuses on an overall good profile and not just high scores.

Question 10

How is life at SP Jain (SPJIMR) for a full time MBA (PGDM)?

Accepted Answer

Life at all the top B Schools in India for MBA aspirants is pretty much the same. It’s hectic and rigorous but highly knowledgeable. The B Schools offer an insight into the various angles of Management in a period of 2 years through excellently designed pedagogy and curriculum.

Coming to SPJIMR specifically, has a blend of a variety of features that sets it apart from other top B Schools. Some of these include Innovative pedagogy, Profile-based interview calls, ADMAP, DOCC, Abhyudaya, Global Fast Track, and Autumn placement structure. But the one aspect my answer will solely focus on is the amazing culture of SPJIMR which is like no other B School.

Harmony: When it comes to student connectivity, SPJIMR really does steal the show. While many B Schools have witnessed cases wherein ragging and bringing down rivals is a common occurrence, SPJIMR refuses to adopt this culture. There is tremendous harmony among the students such that if someone was struck during a presentation, the whole class would try their level best to save him from embarrassment. Such small acts speak highly of the student connection which was observed even by many professors who had visited other B Schools too.
Collaboration: The much-heated events in a B School are Corporate Competitions that are said to bring out the worst side of people. Other B Schools have competitions where competitors are treated as rivals and there is tough competition. Interestingly enough, SPJIMR has a very different outlook on the same. SPJIMR students collaborate with each other while preparing for these competitions. Basically, students help out their batchmates before themselves, and this results in a beautiful bond between them.
Placement Committee: It is very common for a placement committee to be rude toppers who are always causing constant wars between the students. They become placeCom mainly for upgrading their CV. But SPJIMR Placement Committee is yet again very different in the sense that its sole purpose is to get its students the best placements. They conduct elaborate discussions to formulate training plans for the students to face the tough placements. They are friendly yet stern.

I know many may criticize me for jotting such minor points in reference to campus life at SPJIMR. But in my opinion, the culture of an Institute is a very important parameter as it determines what kind of relationships you will have with your peers and the kind of friends you will have for a lifetime. You get to have the best alumni network as a cherry on top.