What to consider when choosing a B School.

Choosing a B School can be hard especially since there are so many choices and so many things to remember when choosing the right college. With the number of options available today, students need to spend a good amount of time researching different colleges. It’s always better to plan ahead, the process of choosing a B School. To help you along the way here is an 8 step primer of things to consider when choosing a B School.

1. Location

The biggest factor that comes into play when choosing a B School is the location. That is of course, unless you’ve secured yourself an admission into the prestigious IIMs and ISBs. If you haven’t or don’t see too many chances of that happening, choose a B School which is situated in the metro’s due to easy connectivity options and better opportunities for social interaction.

2. Faculty and Accreditation

You obviously want to get into a B School which has a great teaching staff. The best way to find that out is by enquiring about the teaching staff. See how many professors have more than 10 years of experience. If there are a good number of experienced professors, it’s usually a good sign for a B School. Also choose an accredited institute as ISO certification doesn’t mean much.

3. Peer Groups

It is important to know the legacy and kind of students that studied in the B School of your choice so you can take an informed decision regarding whether you want to join or not. Pick up the college brochure and see the alumni section. See which colleges your soon to be seniors came from. This helps you get an idea of the diversity and kind of people who will be your partners in this journey.

4. Fees

An MBA from a prestigious B School can cost a lot, but then that’s the price you have to pay for a good education. Nevertheless a good way to decide on how much fees you should be paying, is that you should be comparing your proposed average salary from placements within the college and calculate how many years it will take you to recover your initial investment. The shorter the better. Although some institutes are very expensive, the quality of education is also quite high, so if the best education is your criteria, then don’t shy away from spending the money.

5. Job Profiles

Companies recruit freshers at multiple levels with different pay packages. See what is the profile of jobs offered at the school. If the profile of jobs is good it may be a good idea to take an admission.

6. NRI/Management Quota

Many institutes offer management quota and NRI quota. If the college offers you a seat from this quota, then it should become clear that they are trying to make money off you. So don’t book a seat in the management quota unless you can afford it.

7. Companies associated with the college

It’s important to check the placement record of the college and the companies that have recruited from there. If you have a strong desire to work in a particular company this could help you achieve that by selecting the right college.

8. Foreign Trips/Laptops

Foreign Trips are for kids and if B Schools are offering it under the guise of field visits then it’s most likely not going to do your career any good. These foreign trips and laptops come at a cost and most of the times are not needed for a good MBA education.