NMAT 2007 Placement

NMIMS enjoys the reputation of being one of the oldest MBA institutes in Mumbai and is known for its marketing excellence. It also has enviable industry access plus its location wins it brownie points.
For starters, it attracted the top players in the FMCG sector:


•ITC Ltd.
•L'Oreal India Pvt. Ltd.
•Hindustan Lever Ltd.
•Britannia Industries Ltd.
•Dabur India Ltd.
•Perfetti Van Melle India Pvt. Ltd.
•Marico Ltd.
•Whirlpool of India Ltd.
•Henkel India Ltd.

The Finance as well as the Pharma & Healthcare sectors were well represented.Top names include:

Finance (banks/insurance/risk management) sector

•ABN Amro Asia Corporate Finance
•Axis Risk Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd.
•Centurion Bank of Punjab Ltd.
•GE Commercial Finance
•GE Money
•HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd.
•ICICI Bank Ltd.
•ICICI Securities Ltd.
•Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.
•Lehman Brothers Services India Pvt. Ltd.
•Morgan Stanley Advantage Services Pvt. Ltd.
•SBI Capital Markets Ltd.
•SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
•Securities and Exchange Board of India
•CRISIL Ltd
•DSP Merrill Lynch Ltd.
•Macquarie Bank Ltd.
•Credit Analysis & Research Ltd.
•J. P. Morgan Services India Pvt. Ltd.

Pharma & Healthcare

•Cipla Ltd.
•Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
•Emcure Pharma Ltd.
•Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
•Lupin Laboratories Ltd.
•Orchid Laboratories Ltd.
•Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.
•Sandoz Pvt. Ltd.
•Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
•Unichem Laboratories Ltd.
•Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd.
•Baxter (India) Pvt. Ltd.
•Nicholas Piramal

Media groups like Leo Burnett & Television Eighteen India Ltd. (CNBC) have also graced the 2007 placement platform. Finance has been a big player in the previous year. However, this year things will be different due to the global bear run and widespread economic collapse. Somewhere or the other, this year’s MBA graduates will feel the pinch in their annual CTC if things don’t start looking up. The salary stats for 2007 are:

Domestic Placement

Highest – INR 14.25 Lacs per annum
Mean – INR 8.85 Lacs per annum
Median – INR 9.3 Lacs per annum

International Placements

Highest – USD 75, 000
Mean – USD 70,000


A sector wise placement for 2007 looks like this:

NMAT 2009 - forms are out!

NMAT date is out. All applications are to be filled online.

Last date of form submission is 10th of November (6:00 pm).
Date of exam: 28th of December, 2008 (Sunday)
Time: 10:00 am -12:30 pm
Modes of Payment:
• You can deposit cash at select Axis Bank Branches. You can also make the payment by Demand Draft or Credit Card.
• Alternately, you can also pay through the IMS centers.
Registration fee: Rs 1600

Narsee Monjee scores because of its location. Mumbai offers great placement opportunity for young MBA graduates. It also ensures that you have a enough scope of interaction with fellow institutes like the Symbi colleges, Welingkar, K J Somaiya, Jamnalal Bajaj and others. You can also be guaranteed of a rocking college life. You can zip off to Lonawala, Khandala or even Goa if the city gets to you (provided you can afford to take an off).

NMIMS has a trimester system. Work load is neither more nor less than other management institutes. It’s just that we are not used to studying regularly, the general tendency being to put off everything till the last month before exams. And, that’s when the trouble starts.Will put up its placement stats...keep watching this space:)

The global credit crunch -how is it going to affect B-school placements?

Every newspaper and TV channel worth its salt is talking of the global economic meltdown and the weakening of the rupee. But, have you wondered what is going to be the effect of this meltdown on the B-school graduates?

The international banking sector is on a nosedive. Within a space of six months (the crisis started with the Bear Stern collapse in March), big names like Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns and AIG have been wiped out. Other hotshots like Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, American Express and Deutsche Bank will be more circumspect in their hiring.

Even hirings in the Indian banking sector have slowed down. According to a faculty member in charge of placements at MDI Gurgaon, the joining dates of MBA graduates in many banks have been delayed (the normal joining dates fall in the months of July and August). Obviously, the Wait and Watch approach is being followed.

Although not confirmed by official sources, it is a known fact that Pre-placement offers have been revoked in a couple of IIMs. But it’s the second tier MBA schools that are going to be most hard hit by this economic downturn. It is quite possible that some companies may even back-out from the placement process. Or, they might outsource the process to consultants because companies have to shell out round about Rs 1 Lac for each hiring during the final placement process.

Consequences of the economic slowdown could include:

• Less hiring so as to cut down on costs
• Comparatively lower salary packages than before
• Placements in Tier 2 MBA schools will be hit

The markets are predicted to go down even further. But, will there be any long term setback? I don’t think so. Placement for the 2008 batch should be a level playing ground. In my opinion, Marketing, Consultancy and Operation are going to be the big draw of this season. What’s your take on it?

The waits finally over- XAT 2009 forms are out!

Besides CAT, one of the most widely given test for MBA entrances is XAT. True to its form, XAT 2009 is scheduled for the first Sunday of January as usual. Arguably the most confounding B school entrance tests, XAT scores are accepted in all four Xavier institutes and a couple of other B schools. This year apparently 60 institutes are going to consider XAT scores. The pick of colleges includes SP Jain, XLRI, Goa Institute of Management (GIM) and Xavier’s Institute of Business Management (XIMB). The test is to be conducted in 31 countries across India.

Date: 4th January, 2009
Test timings: 10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Application forms out for TAPMI

Application forms for T.A. PAI Management Institute is now available for the 2 year full time residential PGDM course for 2009-2011. TAPMI accepts multiple scores – both CAT and GMAT.

Eligibility: BA with a minimum of 50% in aggregate in any discipline. Final year students can also apply.

Accepted scores: CAT (2008) and GMAT (2007-2008)

Admission Procedure: Candidates will be shortlisted as per their scores in any of the two management tests. Final decision will be based on their performance in the Group Discussion and Personal Interview round.

TAPMI application forms are available at:

• Select branches of Axis Bank and State bank of India
• Admission office at TAPMI Manipal and TAPMI CEE, Bangalore
• Applicants can submit their form online

Applicants can also download the form from the site.

Cost of form: Rs 1,200

Last date for issue of forms: 1^st December, 2008

Last date of receipt of forms: 6^th December, 2008

This is what its placement wheel for the 2005-2007 batch looks like:

Comaparative MBA Application Fees

I have prepared a list of application fee for colleges that the average MBA aspirants may apply to. As you can see, MBA is one expensive proposition. My purpose of putting up this comparative table is to urge you to choose your colleges with care. Don't follow a herd mentality. Think about what you want from your education and evaluate whether the college that you are applying to can provide it. Don't cut corners...it's your future…take control of it!

IIFT test tips

If you are thinking of sitting for IIFT, then it might help to keep these pointers in mind.Afetr all, the IIFT exam does enjoy a reputation of being one of the quirkiest entrance tests.

• The paper is bound to be longer than CAT. So, time management is essential.
  
• Last year there was a negative marking of 1/3. In 2006, it was 1/5. What’s it gonna be for 2008 is anybody’s guess.
  
• There is variation in weightage of the different sections.
  
• No specific sectional cutoff pattern is provided. However, its safe to assume that you will be in good stead if you attempt 10 to 12 questions in each section.
  
• In 2006, there were multiple correct answers (@#$%%^ irritating I tell you). In 2007, there was (thankfully) only one correct answer among 4 choices.
  
• Focus equally on business and general awareness issues. This is one area where you can score. The 2006 paper followed a business awareness approach. But, the 2007 paper stressed on general knowledge. It’s best to prepare a mix of the two.