My MBA at Nirma University

Nirma University is among the best private institutions in Gujarat. It has a rich legacy and an established track record, which enables even those students to pursue an MBA who were not able to secure as high scores as required for an admission into more prestigious national and private B-Schools. The admission process is conducted in multiple stages and needs a valid CAT score, along with a stellar performance in the TDP, PI and a decent academic track record.

The course spans over six trimesters and two years, with each individual trimester being approximately ten weeks long. Core subjects form the mainstay of the curriculum in the first year, with electives for the cause of specialization kicking in second year onwards. The faculty has read at the best institutes in the country and undertakes a lot of effort to teach us in the best way they could. Casebook method, corporate role play, individual and group assignments and board work, along with working on live projects during internships, are the pedagogies utilized. It was difficult to score well, if one wasn't serious.

Summer placements are an essential part of the curriculum and are organized after the end of the first year. It is organized during the final placements of the second year and ends up getting reflected on our report cards as well. It is 8-10 weeks long usually and entails exposure to the industry and the future workplace. Companies like HDFC Bank, Cognizant, IDFC First Bank, Zydus, Nielsen and Heidelberg Cement were prime recruiters. Stipends are provided as well, with a chance for converting the opportunity into a PPO as well.

The average salary was pegged at Rs 9 lakhs, with the highest package offered being Rs 12.33 LPA. Most of us had quite a low prior work experience, which is thus reflected in the magnitude of the aforementioned figures. BFSI and IT/IT-es were the most prominent recruiting sectors, while marketing was the major domain. Companies like Adani Wilmar, Dell, PhonePe, Bandhan Bank and Hyundai were among the prime recruiters. I got into an analyst's role into an MNC, which has put my career into the trajectory I desired!

The total fee of the course is approximately Rs 10.04 lakhs, without considering the charges for accommodation and mess, along with costs of electricity, water supply, books, printouts etc. Various scholarships are offered to general category students for mitigating the costs and providing a cushion, to an extent.First 30 admitted students, on the basis of merit, need to maintain a GPA of 7.0+ and maintain a decent attendance and overall demeanour, in order to be eligible for a scholarship of Rs 1 lakhs. Same holds for need-based scholarships, which are offered in varying amounts on the basis of financial status of the candidate's family. Vidya Lakshmi Portal enables tracking of education loans and is supported by GoI.

"Perspective Richter" is the annual management-cultural fest of the college, with events like "Vaudeville' by institute of technology remaining open to us as well. Thus, a multidisciplinary environ, with adequate presence of high-profiled businessmen, performers from the domain of entertainment and an enthralled footfall of participants from the region. All in all, these were amongst the best days of our stay in there.Student-run clubs and organizations enable an overall development of one's profile and also equip individuals with soft skills and relations for life. I was a part of the cultural committee, which was a great experience in itself.There are apt facilities for playing sports and relaxing oneself on the campus. The library is well-stocked with books, journals, magazines and digital resources, which make it a center for teachers, students and researchers alike. Classrooms were spacious and had an environment conducive to learning with presence of speakers and projectors.

The total accommodation fee is Rs 1.3 lakhs for the two-year long stay, while not taking electricity and water charges, along with those of mess into consideration. Thus, quite inexpensive with all facilities like almirah, wardrobe, bed, mattress, study chair and table and racks available for all boarders, with hygienic common facilities like washrooms, laundry and mess.The mess food is delicious and salubrious, even though it tends to get monotonous. We had lively discussions in her, which are still cherished by us for the fond memories they imparted.

Post shortlisting on basis of CAT scores, we were asked to appear for the interview round. It consisted of the TDP (theme development presentation) and the personal interview (PI), which were conducted in the presence of university professors itself. It was quite interesting and strenuous too, to an extent. However, the experience was pleasant overall. Final shortlisting included academic performance in undergrads as well.