After scrutinizing the list of colleges you mentioned, I think the most viable option is IIM Bodh Gaya. It is the most suitable among the 3 because it has been growing at a spectacular rate. The 2 major reasons for its rapid growth are
Both these factors differentiate Bodh Gaya from Sambalpur and Sirmaur extremely well.
Fortunately, I have close ties with alumni of both the institutes namely, IIM Sambalpur and IRMA Anand.
IIM Sambalpur is one of the youngest IIMs. In general, IMs offer programs like MBA or PGP in the following specializations; Marketing, Finance, Operation, and other domains. IRMA on the other hand is well-reputed for its strong program in PGDRM i.e. MBA in Rural Management.
Here are a few similarities between IIM Sambalpur and IRMA
Here are a few differences between IRMA and IIM Sambalpur
So, now coming to the main point, unless you are deeply interested in Rural Management, IIM Sambalpur seems to be the best option for you. The IIM tag will provide excellent opportunities and exposure and help you shape your career excellently. Despite being established in 1979, IRMA’s growth rate is not at the level of IIM Sambalpur that was established in 2015 and is already flourishing. So unless you are adamant about Rural Management, IIM Sambalpur is the best option.
First of all, it’s wrong to compare IIM Sambalpur with a below-average institution like IBS Hyderabad. IIM Sambalpur might be a new IIM but it is still among the tier 3 colleges whereas IBS Hyderabad is nowhere near.
My friend is currently pursuing an MBA from IIM Sambalpur and has listed the following pros and cons of the institute
Pros
Cons
All in all IIM Sambalpur is a decent choice if you are passionate about the IIM tag only and have limited options. Some years down the line it might improve in brand value as well. So go for it if it’s the tag you are after but go for ISB if you want a better teaching experience.
Anyone who can get 93.26 percentile without any preparation is bound to get 97 or 98 with proper preparation. So why give away the chance easily when you can aim for a better institute? It’s best you prepare for the CAT sincerely this time and target the top B Schools in India.
However, if you are planning to sit for CAT again, you need to be certain about some things. Like you will have to tolerate tremendous pressure and a hectic schedule. You will have a non-existent social life and all your energy will be invested in preparing for CAT. Most importantly you have to remain consistent throughout your preparation. Without consistency, all your efforts will go in vain. You should also make research the colleges you are planning to target next year and study their respective admission criteria.
But if you are not confident enough to sacrifice so much just to risk a year, you can always go for IIM Bodh Gaya or Sambalpur. Both these IIMs are new but will provide the necessary means to start your career. Basically, you need to be sure of what you are expecting from your MBA degree and you will have the answer.
Generally speaking, IIM Sambalpur and IIM Bodh Gaya are baby IIMs and quite similar in the sense that they have been established around the same time and have similar facilities. Yet if I had to choose one, I would always go for IIM Bodh Gaya because of the following reasons:
Particulars |
Statistics |
Number of students |
200 |
Number of Recruiters |
70 |
Highest package |
INR 48.58 LPA |
Average Package |
INR 16 LPA |
Median Package |
INR 15.25 LPA |
We can say that IIM Bodh Gaya has made quite a mark despite being recently established. It has witnessed fast-paced growth over the past few years so it’s definitely a good choice.
In the middle of picturesque hilltops in Odisha, IIM Sambalpur is situated. Here, you can wake up to beautiful sunshine and humid weather every morning, which will give you energy. However, this morning brings with it a rush to finish eating breakfast and get to the academic block in time for your classes.
The Academic block is a short walk from the Hostel blocks. Our classrooms are fully equipped with air conditioning, comfortable seating, and modern equipment. We have experienced faculty from a variety of backgrounds, both in-house and visiting institutes such as IIM A, B, C, XLRI, and others.
After classes, your day spins around in all directions. In the evening, you typically attend meetings and enjoyable events from various clubs and committees that are put on by students. If you don't have anything like that, you can go out with your friends to the Hirakud dam, Right dyke, or take a long drive all the way to the main city for fun. You can also participate in those based on your interests, hobbies, or preferences for volunteer work.
Following dinner, some students participate in outdoor sports such as badminton, cricket, football, and so on, or indoor sports such as chess and table tennis, or watch television in the common room. You meet your academic groups, project groups, and so on to do the work, which usually takes most of the nights in the hostel block's discussion areas.
However, these moments of shared work always strengthen batchmates' bonds. Some of the pros and cons are mentioned below:
Pros:
Cons:
The main purpose of pursuing an MBA is to elevate your current profile and render you better career opportunities. Doing an MBA just for your resume or because everyone is doing it is not justifiable. And honestly, neither of the two colleges you mentioned has the potential to enhance your employability skills. So I would right away say that both these are not good options.
The reason why IIM Sambalpur is not worth it is mainly because being a new IIM, its tag has little or no brand value. Its overall worth is also very less in comparison to other IIMs. Most importantly, if you were able to get into a new IIM, chances are you can even get into an older, better one with a tad bit more effort and determination. So you can try again next year and join a better one.
The reason why XIMB is not worth it is because of ROI. The high fees compared to mediocre packages that are offered make no sense. You can get similar packages at a tier 2 college with much fewer fees.
Still, if you are under pressure to choose one, definitely go for IIM Sambalpur. The IIM tag might come in handy someday in our country whose corporates still value the tag more than the potential.
According to the IIM Sambalpur MBA admission policy 2024-26, the approximate batch size is 320.
Last year in 2023, the approximate batch size was 300 according to the admission policy and around 5,696 students received the provisional admission offer, including students from all the categories.
IIM Sambalpur admission 2023 data are as follows:
Category | No. of Candidates selected IIM Sambalpur | Candidates Shortlisted for WAT-PI | Candidates with Admission Offer |
---|---|---|---|
GEN | 151272 | 9543 | 2464 |
EWS | 9465 | 2393 | 502 |
OBC | 36967 | 6104 | 1615 |
SC | 18357 | 3946 | 752 |
ST | 5162 | 1183 | 363 |
PWD | 951 | 306 | NA |
It all depends on your goals, preferences, and many other factors. So, see if they align with your constraints and needs. You can go for any as both are comparable but with the only difference is the IIM tag. Below is a table comparing them on different aspects;
Metrics |
IMT Ghaziabad |
IIM Sambalpur |
Year of Establishment |
1980 |
2015 |
Ranking (NIRF 2022) |
44 |
66 |
Fees |
INR 19.53 Lakhs |
INR 10.8 Lakhs |
Average Package |
INR 16.64 LPA |
INR 17.35 LPA |
Highest Package |
INR 64.61 LPA |
INR 65.6 LPA |
Campus |
Spread across 14.7 acres |
Spread across 200 acres |
Top B Schools like LBSIM/FORE are incomparable to the new IIMs. They have been established for decades and the new IIMs cannot be included in them at least in the near future. Although some might say that some new IIMs are under the mentorship of old IIMs like Lucknow, they haven’t made the mark yet. Whereas the already leading B Schools LMSIM and FORE are on the verge of making it to the top. Even the IIM tag is of little value here.
Let me explain this through an example. You go to buy an electronic device and purchase a branded device. Yet the model is a very old one. It is of little value despite being branded. Same is the case here. The new IIMs do give you the IIM tag but it is of little worth.