Making a career choice can be difficult. Even more difficult can be choosing the college, within a career, especially if you wish to pursue an MBA program. In today’s world of instant gratification, there are umpteen choices to eat out in a food-court, seek entertainment on countless OTT channels or go for a ride in cars ranging from Suzuki, to Audi. A business school is no different. There are IIMs at one end of the spectrum and MBA colleges at every nook and corner of the street. So how and which one do you choose. The answer lies not entirely in what the school offers in terms of Programs, Faculty, Placement or Fee – rather, what works for you.
Delhi NCR boasts of several colleges that offer MBA programs, but most if not all, have similar sounding curriculum, pedigree of faculty and industry connect – across the fee and Industry Tier that they represent. Therefore the real difference lies not in what’s on the menu, but how flexible that menu is – based on your need. How adaptable the curriculum is, how well are communication and other soft skills integrated for students hailing form a diverse cultural landscape, and how often are the practical skills imparted and tested – ahead of the facetime with industry. Being in one of the fastest growing corporate hubs, Gurugram boasts of several marquee colleges, and here is your cheat sheet to zero down your choices.
1. Integrating Curriculum with Industry needs.
Watch out for the industry that appeals to you, and how closely does the college mirror that industry’s requirements and pain points. Look out for guest faculties, lectures, live projects and case studies from the industry on their social media platforms. Exposure to real life problems and solutions builds skills, perspective and knowledge that make students desirable and employable at the start of their career, in an extremely competitive job market. This amalgamation of Industry experts at the time of formulation of a Curriculum is the most vital component in placing your college on your clipboard.
2. Developing Soft Skills among Students
Does your prospective college invest in soft skills as part of curriculum? Weigh the core and elective courses that offer an opportunity to develop and demonstrate effective writing, speaking, presentation, teamwork or leadership skills. Such skills are best taught through workshops, seminars, group projects and webinars encouraging maximum participation from students. Look for student videos, events and project deliverables that amplify their creativity. If you carefully analyse the profile of top performers in any college, in addition to a good grip on the subject matter, they would definitely impress the hirers with their personality and values.
3. Collaboration with Industry and Establishing Centre of Excellence
MBA students should have a fertile mind and not restrict their knowledge based on classroom teaching only. Most industries in Delhi NCR have collaborated with the Higher Educational institutions and are willing to establish their Centre of Excellence which aids and assists students more on the practical aspects than on the theory part. Prioritize MBA colleges in Gurugram that groom and invest in such centres of excellence in topical domains such as Data Science, Sustainability, Analytics and research. Motivational labs and Start-Up incubation centres are excellent infrastructures to improve cognitive skills and project management. All these bring out a strong academic fabric amongst students and enhance their employability in a multifaceted environment.
4. Intellectual Capital of the School
A college is known by its alumni, but equally by its faculty. Look under the hood for the academic and industrial experience of the faculty. Go that extra mile to validate the career profile of the faculty on their Linked in profile and validate the engagement of such faculty in industry events and student spaces. You learning depends upon how well it gets imparted, in the first place – so if there is a tie between two colleges – put your pen down on the one that carries an enviable pedigree for its faculty.
5. Strong Placement Cell
Placement is where the rubber meets the road. A student looks up to a Strong Placement Cell which helps in the journey to find a job commensurate with his knowledge and skills. A strong Networking through industry interactions facilitates students enabling students to meet up with their future employers. The Placement Team provides timely career guidance continuously, thereby creating a link between the students and the prospective employer. Students are updated on the current industry status as to which sector is doing well and an insight into the industry which helps students in the decision-making process. Track the profile of companies visiting the campus, when double clicking on your college of choice.
Know what’s right for YOU
After all the analysis, comparison and review of several colleges in their glossy websites and vibrant social media platforms, you may still be confused. That’s when you need to look what works for you?
Does the intense competition and rat race excite you or intimidate you? Can you handle the pressure of a class till afternoon, a quiz in the evening, project delivery by midnight and a job interview next morning? Do you prefer a small class size under the direct gaze of the teacher, or a large class where you fly under the radar. Are you a people’s person or a geeky scholar? Do you need to stay on the campus, or away from it. Does the proximity to corporate hub excite you or unsettle you? Are you an NGO material, or CEO stuff? Does an expensive fee structure assure you of their brand, or desists you from making that investment?
Segregate the colleges along the Must-Have criterion that work for you. Only after you have filtered out the noise, highlight and underline the sales pitch for each college that connect with your ethos, skills, pace and personality.
Conclusion:
MBA Colleges in Gurugram are well equipped to cater to MBA students, looking both from their personal and professional growth points of view. If you hold the above denominators of evaluation, NorthCap University School of Business would definitely make it to your selected clipboard, offering you a fertile ground for industry connect, a highly adaptable curriculum and plethora of soft skills that transform you into a budding professional.
