Managing career

 I couldn't make it to a good B-school this year, as my CAT score was rather poor, but I am getting a seat in a private B-school in Pune for Rs 6 lakhs. Will it really make a difference where I study once I get a job?
    Harish Kataria
If at all you get a decent one, that is. The scene can be pretty mediocre for those who get their MBA degrees from a majority of the (highly overpriced) private B-schools. Most of them boast of 'near-hundred percent' placement, that too in top MNCs. And you'd be downright gullible to believe them. In most cases,it may be just one odd student who makes it to these companies.
   Because of lack of proper infrastructure, placement cells act as mere consultants. And if you are lucky enough to get a job, the starting salary could be as low as Rs 8000-10,000 pm. Also, you might have to settle for a lower-end job like that of a sales representative or BPO associate.
   So do check out the rating before you sign on the dotted line. A good MBA from a good B-school is your brand equity throughout your work life. Make sure you don't settle for a D-grade B-school and ruin your prospects out of desperation or impatience. Gather some work experience instead.
   As you must be reading in the papers, the plum offers at B-school campus placements are all going to those with two to three years of experience because companies want people who can hit the road, running.
   Indians, unlike their western counterparts, traditionally prefer to acquire their academic qualifications before stepping into the job market. But business management is essentially a functional hands-on science, not a mere theoretical academic discipline. The practical work experience will help you relate to the case studies discussed in class and generally make the most of the course. You will be able to relate to what is being taught and discussed as compared to the freshers who opt for the course straight after graduation. Overall, it will be great value addition.
   And try again next year. Now that you know what areas to beef up on, you are sure to perform better in your tests this time. That you will have better opportunities when you make the decision to go to a wellknown B-School, goes without saying.

Which way

I always dreamt of studying in the US. However, since my father had to take a loan, I opted for a small college close to where my aunt lives, so that I can save on boarding and lodging expenses. My friends say that it is pointless studying in such a college. What should I do?
   Pulkit Johri
Just because someone goes to a snooty private college doesn't mean s/he is any more educated. I know a whole lot of students who went to really small colleges, community colleges or state universities who are now doing incredibly well. At the same time, there are some who went to colleges like Stanford and Harvard and basically drank and partied on their parent's money and ended up as first-rate losers. They never amounted to anything because they were admitted purely because they had the money.
What you do in college and how well you study is more important than where you go. Even if you went to an Ivy League college and did well, that still doesn't guarantee your success in life.Besides,once you have your foot in the door in whatever profession you choose, where you went to study no longer matters.

Law wise

Is there a common entrance exam for all law courses now?
   Gaurav Pant
What you have heard only applies to those seeking admission to five-year BA(LLB) to seven national law colleges,for starters.Starting this year, law school aspirants will have to take a Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for admission to the national law universities at Bangalore, Bhopal, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Kolkata and Raipur.
   Nearly 20,000 students are expected to take the exam on May, 28, 2008, courtesy a joint initiative of the MHRD and the UGC.The CLAT will come as a boon for students since they will no longer have to prepare for seven different exams. Nor will they have to pay seven times over because there will be a one-time test fee of Rs 2000. Moreover, the test will only have objective type questions.
   With salary packages soaring and foreign placements gaining prominence among law graduates, students have shown increasing interest in legal education in recent years. Compared to 10-15 applicants per-seat five years ago, today there are more than 100 applicants perseat.

Executive management

Please tell me something about the executive management programme at IIMA. What is the eligibility? Is 50% in graduation necessary? I am presently working as a manager in a construction firm in Bahrain, but at times I feel stymied for the lack of formal management qualification. If my company sponsors my study, can I get direct entry to the programme?
   D M Kant
The one-year postgraduate diploma in management for executives (PGPX) at IIMA is aimed at experienced executives who wish to acquire formal education in management to be ready for leadership positions in the firms they join. The programme has a general management focus, with an emphasis on managing across borders and cultures in the private corporate sector. The goal is to prepare participants in firms that they join.
   For starters, you need a good GMAT score (if you have more than one GMAT score, the highest score will be considered). CAT scores are not considered. Needless to say, you need a decent academic record, a clear idea of why you prefer pursuing the programme at IIMA, leadership potential and six to seven years of supervisory/managerial work experience for graduates and five to six years for postgraduates. PhD/MPhil are evaluated on caseto-case basis. You should be at least 27 years at the time of joining.
   No minimum aggregate of marks is specified. However, you are expected to possess a consistently good academic record. Even those who have a previous PGDM/MBA and have been working since then can apply. All candidates, whether sponsored or otherwise, must go through the PGPX admission process. There is no separate quota for sponsored candidates.
   While there is no reservation for people working outside India, the programme actively seeks an international mix of participants. There are approximately 140 seats in this fully residential programme. Accommodation is available for both - single and married participants. And there is no entrance test for PGPX.
   As the focus is on general management, no specialisation is offered. However, a wide selection of elective courses, including marketing, finance, supply chain management, strategic management, and even sectoral areas like financial services, infrastructure, are offered.
   The PGPX can be considered equivalent to the one-year management programmes offered by INSEAD (France), ISB (Hyderabad) and Asian Institute of Management (Philippines) among others.
   You can even pursue higher studies like PhD at IIMA upon completion of PGPX, subject to certain academic standards.
   The programme has a compulsory five-week international immersion component where all participants go abroad for a week of academic study and four weeks of project work to prepare participants to take on challenging assignments anywhere in the new globalised world.
   Placement services are available to participants who are not sponsored by companies. The application form and submission are both free, but the fee for the PGPX (2008-09) is a hefty Rs 14 lakh, including tuition, board and lodging and including the travel to and from the host country for the international immersion segment.
   Application forms will be available online on www.iimahd.ernet.in in early April 2008. The application deadline is August 10, 2008.
   So there you are -short of getting you an admission ticket, I have given you all the low-down.

Eligibility wise

I have heard that there is some special test for studying biomedical science in the UK. Can you please tell me something more about it?
   Diya Lamba
The Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a subject-specific test developed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) to select applicants for medical, veterinary and biomedical science courses. But it's not required for admission to all colleges.
   The BMAT is to be taken only by students who wish to apply to the Imperial College London (medicine, biomedical science), University of Oxford Medical School (medicine, physiological sciences), Royal Veterinary College (veterinary medicine, combined degree programme), University of Cambridge (medicine, BMAT not mandatory, graduate course in medicine, veterinary medicine).
   The BMAT measures two specific thinking skills, problem solving and critical thinking. The two-hour pen and paper test consists of three sections:
   Section 1: aptitude and skills - 60 minutes - 35 multiple choice questions
   Section 2: scientific knowledge and applications -30 minutes - 27 multiple choice questions
   Section 3: writing task - 30 minutes - one essay question from a choice of three
   For details on how to register, prepare and practice for the test, log onto: www.bmat.org.uk
   The website also carries an introductory specimen paper with an answer key, which is very useful. Ideally, you should take the BMAT on November 5 this year, for which the application deadline is September 30.