Choosing the best PGDM course

MET: Choosing the best PGDM course

Undergraduate students often have a single question ahead of them, should they go in for an MBA or a PGDM course. While both these are excellent options, they become extremely difficult to choose between quite simply because not too many people know the difference between the two or, because they’re just confused. Let’s simplify the process one step at a time.

Step 1: PGDM or MBA: The basic difference between the two is that one is a diploma, that is granted on the successful completion of a syllabus that is formulated by an autonomous institution. An MBA on the other hand is a degree handed out on completing a course, by a college, through a university. The syllabus of an MBA course is more or less standard and varies very slightly depending on the specialisation chosen in the second year. A PGDM on the other hand is a highly specialised syllabus that aims at creating knowledgeable, skilled professionals who are at the top of their game, when it comes to that particular specialisation. This makes the PGDM course a sought after one, for the fact that students passing out of it are highly trained in a skillset and it makes them perceivably more indispensable than similar pros in the field.

Step 2: Choosing the best PGDM courses: Here’s the lowdown on how to choose the best PGDM course for your skillset.

●        Determine your skills: An aptitude test will clear that out for you in a technical sense, but by the time you reach graduation, you already have a working, instinctive knowledge of the career path you’d like to follow. Basing your decision on your instincts, after getting them validated from near and dear ones, professional colleagues and even professors is the right way forward.

●        Follow industry developments: Having an idea ofwhat is happening in the industry of your interest is an edge to have inchoosing the correct PGDM course. Industry developments will often times decide the course and demand for a certain type of professional which will help you understand and mould yourself into one, with the help of the right PGDM course.

●        Inquire about institutes: Always remember that the reputation, quality of faculty and even the infrastructure the institute offers is about as important as the course itself. Make it a point to draw up a shortlist of the topmost institutes in your field of interest and make pointed inquiries about the parameters laid out earlier. This will enable you to make the right choice for yourself.

Choosing the correct PGDM course isn’t rocket science, but there are a few things that can help clarify things in the minds of prospective students. We hope you find our list helpful, as always we await your feedback in the comments below.

MET.edu: Choosing the right PGDM College

MET.edu: Choosing the right PGDM College

A new academic year brings with it throngs of students who are hopeful of making it to the creme-de-la-creme of management institutes. But with competition so stiff in the various entrance exams, that even those who appear in the top hundred percentile, are unsure of making it to the top colleges. The criteria then becomes not one of which course to choose, but of the college you need to go to, because that matters just as much, if not more than the former. Here’s a ready reckoner of the things you need to keep in mind when choosing the PGDM college that is best for you.

1. The reputation of the college: Always ask your seniors, peers, former students, teachers and market pros about the colleges in your spectrum of consideration. Based on the reviews you receive from these trusted sources make your own list, narrowed down to the top 3 colleges based on their reputation. Sure the degree is issued by the AICTE or relevant university, but the college with its aura and perception is what will truly get a prospective employer’s attention.

2. Diploma or degree: Once you’ve figured out the college you want to go to, you need to figure out if you want to do a diploma (postgraduate), or a degree. The difference between the two is that an MBA degree is a more generalised course that helps leaders of tomorrow get a broad based spectrum of how businesses run, while a diploma is for those who want to immerse themselves into one particular specialisation.

3. Duration of the course: There are some colleges that offer a truncated 1 year MBA which often results in the students having to spend up to 16 hours studying daily. While there’s nothing wrong with the same, a 2 year MBA is preferable if you’d like to study in an unhurried manner and make connections that endured for a longer period.

4. Faculty: The faculty of a PGDM college are like the face of the college to the world, after all it is through their reputation that the college gets noticed. A great way to determine if a college is a good one is to take a cursory glance at their faculty and heads of departments. Ask past students and people in the know and make a careful consideration of the faculty, before enrolling to a PGDM institute.

5. Facilities and campus: Another important indicator of how progressive a college is, is its facilities, infrastructure and campus. The college infrastructure is a precursor to the facilities that a student might expect when he joins the corporate world. Therefore, high speed data connections, well stocked libraries and of course lawns and unwind areas for recreation, are an important consideration when thinking of enrolling into a PGDM college.
Choosing the right PGDM college is of critical importance as it can have a tremendous impact on your career, therefore ensure that you select the right college, using these simple to understand and easy to follow hacks.