XLRI or SPJIMR? Where should I go?

I have a few friends at both of these institutes so I can give you some idea about them. Here is a brief outlook of what you can expect if you choose any of these two management schools. 

SPJIMR Mumbai: 

Pros-

• Location is a big advantage as it not only gives a good city life but also access to corporates for networking, guest lectures, etc.
• The placements are among the best and a very talented peer group.
• Faculty are also good as some are ex-CEOs of startups while others have loads of corporate experience with good contacts within their domain industry.
• The curriculum is unique with mandatory committee participation, internships with NGOs, and mentoring underprivileged children.
• Internet connectivity is good. The campus is beautiful. 

Cons-

• Hostel rooms are not that good, you have to share rooms with others.
• The quality of food at the mess is bad, but you can try street food in Mumbai.
• Sports facilities are not up to the mark, but the Andheri Sports Complex is not far away.

XLRI Jamshedpur:

Pros-

• Bigger brand than SPJIMR Mumbai currently. Ranked higher (9th) than SPJIMR’s (18th) in NIRF 2020 management rankings.
• Larger alumni base than SPJIMR as it was established earlier.
• Faculty is good mostly.
• Placements are among the best partly because many HRs of top companies and consulting firms are XLRI alumni who visit here, but not SPJIMR.

Cons-

• Location (Jamshedpur) is a disadvantage as you will miss the big city life if you are into it.
• The batch size is much higher than SPJIMR. In the placement year 2021, it had 358 students while SPJIMR had 233 students.

So, if you want a bigger brand value, want to be part of heritage with good placements and a life away from the hustle-bustle of a city, then you should definitely choose XLRI Jamshedpur.

However, if you want a great city and college life with good placements and an experience that is beyond the walls of a traditional classroom, then you should join SPJIMR Mumbai.