IIM Calcutta Means Bright Future

IIM Calcutta is associated with a high-profile tag of quality education and a bright future. I was not expecting admission to this B-School as it would be a dream come true. But with a splendid CAT score and decent interview performance, I got admission to IIM-Calcutta. The reason for not going to other colleges was the name of the institute itself. The institute ticks every checkbox a student would aspire for his/her post-graduate studies. So, there were no double-minded thoughts to choose IIM-C or go for another college. As soon as I got the offer from the institute, I accepted.

MBA gives us opportunities in the future to pursue any line. It has a lucrative and bright scope with greater earnings and global reach. This was the sole reason of mine to opt for an MBA course that too at a prolific B-school. The faculty-student ratio is very appropriate at the IIM as in our class, I noticed a faculty-student ratio of 1:30 i.e., for every 30 students, there was one professor. The teaching staff is very humble and genial towards the students. They are highly qualified in several domains like Marketing, Operations, Human Resources, etc. Our lectures never got boring as the professors always took discussions, debates, live interactions, videos, and case studies for better understanding and two-way communication. The practical approach of the teachers is the best thing I experienced during my tenure. The term exams were difficult. When the concepts were well understood, we were able to score decent marks.

The Institute continuously backs the skills and talent of the students to take up internships and projects. The students are required to attend a minimum of 8-week internship at the institute during the summer or at the end of 1st year. The B-school provides assistance to students in finding the right internship that will also garner a good stipend rate.

If I could describe IIM-Calcutta in one word, it would be 'Splendid Placement Opportunities'. The B-School has tie-ups with so many companies that at the end of the MBA program, every student can manage to work in a big company. At the end of my MBA in 2020, the highest package was recorded at around INR 79-80 Lakhs. if an average CTC offered is estimated for about the top 10% of students, it would range about INR 55 lakhs. The average salary packages were somewhere around 28 Lakhs. With such massive job offers, most of the students got placed in the top 50 companies globally. The major companies that visited in 2020 at my time were Samsung, Google, Infosys, Adani, Uber, Flipkart, Microsoft, ICICI Bank, KPMG, Vedanta, Amazon, Aditya Birla, JP Morgan, etc.

The total fees I paid at my time was Rs. 2700000 that was required to be paid in four unequal installments. The Institute provides a large number of scholarships to bright students (in studies). Also, the students are provided scholarships on other parameters. These scholarships are funded by bug businessmen and personalities under their trusts like Aditya Birla Group, Ratan Tata Trust, etc. Financial assistance and scholarships also extended to the weaker sections of the society like SC/ST/OBC, etc. Prizes are also given to boost the students which gives the students a reason to perform better.

IIM Calcutta celebrates an annual fest, which is known as 'Carpe Diem'. It is one of the most prominent and entertainment-rich fests of the country. I still recollect how we used to wait eagerly for the fest dates to be revealed and we would dance and party for the same. With street dances to arts & culture to pro nights and singing shows, the fest year-by-year innovates itself and is presented in a better version like never before. I also took part in Euphoria, dance competition and had amazing fun. The fest is usually organized in Winters in January-February. The Institute offers several facilities from hostel to wifi. Apart from this, we were provided sports facilities like basketball, tennis, swimming pool, gymnasium, etc. The B-school also contains a knowledge-rich library with splendid heaps of journals. There are various cultural clubs and committees in the college that conducts timely events. Also, it consists of different clubs for social causes, dance, art events, etc.

There are a total of 3 hostels at IIM-C. Out of these 3, one was combined for boys & girls while two were for only boys. With a modest architectural design and cutting curves, the histel has a good outer look. The interiors of the hotels are also not so bad. There are games rooms, restrooms, etc. In the two years I spent, my hostel mates became more like my family as we would celebrate festivals together, played games together, burst crackers, etc. The overall hostel life is worth-experiencing. The food provided is also very good in terms of taste as well as cleanliness. The menu for the food was also designed n such a way that it does not become too lifeless.

Yeah, I appeared for the Personal Interview round with the panelists prior to the admission. The questions were asked from one end to another end without any link. The main mantra for such rounds is the confidence level. The interviewers want to get an insight into how your preparations are with the PI stage. And ironically, they expect confidence and freely answering of questions from us. They asked me questions on heroes in movies, a debatable topic on suicides in colleges, pressure, etc. A fixed question you must expect (even I expected) is about your profile. They will ask you to describe yourself, your projects, your hobbies & interests, etc. Apart from this, I was been asked about prime numbers, social marketing, my preparations with CAT, banks, etc.