My Future "Tense" : MBA in IIT-Kharagpur (India)

[raghuveer_v]

Hi folks!

It's weird but I joined MBA in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Kharagpur.

The school is actually named VGSOM (Vinod Gupta School Of Management) after an alumnus who donated US$2 Million !!

http://www.iitkgp.ernet.in/vgsom/

As you might be aware, I took the GRE and applied for MS (in Electrical Engineering) in some US universities. While the decision from all 6 univs is pending (since my childhood ), I have been shooting arrows in the dark for alternatives in the meantime...

Writing entrance tests for M.Tech(M.S.), MBA, applying to jobs,.etc..

One of those struck. After a casual interview and group discussion, I almost completely forgot about it. Then oneday, I was in the waiting list. I had to make a decision or let go of the offer. I weighed my options. I hadn't too many.

(1) MS in US: I had (and have) pending, the admission decisions from all six universities I applied to. Say I'll get into one. Getting the Visa is still a gamble. My brother's Visa application has been rejected twice - rendering his year long prep+apping useless.

(2) MS or M.Tech in INDIA: I wrote the entrance test (called GATE) without prep. Got a score of 95.7 percentile which is neither too good nor too bad. I did apply to a few institutes, but there is still the crucial stage of interviews.

(3) JOBs: While some big names have recruited a few people into the IT sector from our institution, they strangely didn't want people from our discipline (Instrumentation). I applied to a few other jobs. One of them is - as a member of the hardware and software testing lab of India's best selling technical magazine - there is yet an interview stage to cross.

(4) MBA: On the positive side, the school (IIT-KGP) is ranked 15th best B-School in India and has a good placement record. The IIT-brand also has quite a good value.

I was definitely not interested in an MBA. Not that I am averse to it. I agree that one should have a target and pursue it with dedication. Some people know what they want and get it. Lesser mortals take what they get. I ended up in the latter, and I guess the larger, group.

Something tells me that it takes a different recipe for success in MBA than in Engineering or MS. But I'll try and tune myself to MBA. I know it's not going to be any easy. More, I don't know what exactly I am gonna do. But When your career is at stake, It should bring out the best in us. Hope!

"When there is nothing else,...
... there is hope."

[raghuveer_v]

Now, I request you people to tell me like I'm a five-year old, what an MBA means and whether I need to prepare myself before attending the classes.

(BTW, The classes start from 23rd of July - means I got three full months to spend.)

[ss6872]

First of all, let me congratulate you on getting into the MBA program and making a considered decision.

It is indeed very prudent of you to not wait for the results from the US universities especially with slim chances for visa approval. You are still young, and if you still wanted to pursue higher education in the US , you can always do so after your Masters in India. For one, it would improve your chances due to extra academic years and secondly, maybe the visa situation might have improved by then.

I would have certainly advised against joining a job yet, especially since you seem like you have the desire and potential for more advanced education. Also, many times it can lead to frustration later in your career, as you will discover that moving up the professional ladder will be tougher with just one degree and no further specialization.

However, you still don't have to accept this MBA as what you were destined to do. If you wanted to pursue MS or Mtech, there is still a good chance as your GATE score is not bad at all. I had around the same score, around 96.5 percentile and i successfully got into IIT Kharagpur and Delhi and I opted for Delhi, Polymer Science and Technology. More than the GATE score your interview and group discussions will matter to get into the IITs.

But again, if you end up pursuing MBA , put your heart and soul into it, i'm sure you will come out with flying colors. All the best to you.

[varkir]

Hi Raghu,

First of all my hearty congratulations,

May be its true what Vidu has said but i would like to ask one question at this stage. How are prospective students with 1-2 yrs of experience considered for admissions? Is it not advisable to get some hands on exp and then apply?

Vidu and concerned please do care to adress my question.

[ss6872]

Varkir,
My thoughts on this issue are that relevant experience is always a plus point for graduate school admissions, especially MBA, but it does not mean that if you don't have any experience you will be rejected.
Other things like your GPA, GRE/GMAT score, academic achievements do matter and most importantly , i think, how you present your case with an SOP will also be a major determining factor.

[synthia]

Hi Raghuveer,

First of all, Congratulations. Next, we all know how tough this year has been to all applicants. But, considering ur skills I guess u are meant to shine in whichever field u choose. So, worry thou not I'm absolutely sure that u will reach ur goal in the days to come. u know wot? Its not the destination that is impportant but the path we take in reaching it. All successful people have but one thing in common and that is reaching their goals with undeterred perseverance. The only thing that really matters is how we acheive it. On reaching the target, the only good memories that linger with us would be the path we had taken in getting there. So, putting an end to this extremely long and boring epic of mine, <font color="purple">U WILL REACH SPLENDID HEIGHTS OF SUCCESS</font id="purple">.

<font color="pink">GOD BLESS YOU </font id="pink">my friend.

[varkir]

Thanks a bunch for your inputs Vidu!!

[dkpbus]

Hi Rags

Congratulation !! that you got into IIT KGP. I've been there once to meet my ***. Prof. in EE branch. Place seems ok. KGP is a kind of town peaceful area. Well I don't have much Idea about the ranking, Placement or faculty of IIT KGP VGSOM. But one thing for sure I'd say... for a person like you at least this college doesn't deserve. A person like you should go to at least top 10 cols. Few years ago IIT Delhi launched its MBA program, I think in 1997, which proved to be a fiasco (Sort of). What I think IIT brand name is good for technical education but not for MBA. It won't be that much helpful what I think. More over in India, because of recession, no one is paying much attention to MBA's even from IIMs. MDI Gurgoan, ranked 6th in India, last year had a terrible placement. People were ready to join jobs paying only Rs 96000 pa ( appox. Eq. to US $ 2000 pa). average salary has declined in top ten colleges. Job expectancy too has nosedived.

My concern here is, if such is a situation in top MBA colleges what about the colleges like IIT MBA (Delhi, Bombay or VGSOM). And above all, I don't see a good rise in economy in near future. I've few friends from IIMs, MDI, SP Jain and I saw everbody crying. May be for a short term but if that is the case with them I think it'd be worst for others.

Anyway

Good Luck

[Sri]

Hello Raghuveer, First of all congrats to u on getting into IIT-KGP. U did achieve something and proved that u can convince some adcomm members, somewhere in some part of the world.

But, IMHO, MBA is really good after u get some real exposure in the industry, have some experience working for some non-profit organizations and getting an overall picture of what it takes to be a good businessman. And also, I concur with dkpbus about the ranking and standards of MBA at IITs and NIT(my alma-mater). These colleges are good for tech stuff, but, it doesn't seem convincing enuf that they'll have an equally good MBA program......So think twice before u leap.....Actually job placement scenario is much much better in India compared to US, so in worst case scenario where u dont get a chance to come to US (hopefully this wont happen), I would suggest that a job is better and then plan for an MBA 3 years down the lane....However, its only a suggestion and final decision shud be based on all the other parameters in ur equations.......

Good Luck with whatever u take up !!!
-Sri.

[Erin]

Well, Raghuveer, I guess the first thing I should say to you is congrats! Although I have to admit that there's part of me that is thinking that somehow, this is not really the best thing for you, or better, not the "ideal" situation for you.

But in life we rarely have the option to choose that which is "ideal," nor is any one of us really able to figure out precisely what "ideal" would be, anyway. As others have said, you are both very young and very bright, meaning you still have enormous potential for what you could achieve in the many, many years of work and study that lie before you.

I trust you will excel in an MBA program; that's a given. What I wonder, though, is whether you will become passionate about. I have a sense somehow that, should you indeed pursue this course of study, you will excel in the program, find a good job after finishing, and then, after a few years of working, decide to pursue either a second Master's or a Ph.D. You seem to be a natural academic, and I sense that you will always enjoy the more theoretical aspects of whatever you do. These are merely my opinions, formed over the last year and a half of watching you participate, try your best (with humor, kindness, gentleness, and always, a sharp intellect). I may be completely wrong, though.

I know you are financially committed, but perhaps your options are still open? Who knows? You may just get a juicy offer from a school here that you can't turn down. I would hope that you would remain receptive to other paths your future may take.

So again, Raghuveer, congrats. I have full confidence that no matter where you go and what you study, you will excel. And I do hope you can make it to the States one day (perhaps as a guest lecturer? ).