Choose your MBA College Wisely

I preferred the HRM program as XLRI is one of the best for this program. The course curriculum is very rigorous, especially in the first year, as there are multiple general subjects a student needs to learn to understand management. The core specialization comes from the second year. The faculty members are experts in their fields and deliver quality knowledge through projects, group simulation exercises, quizzes, etc.

XLRI guarantees a 100% summer internship. The highest for the 2022-24 batch stood at INR 3.5 L PM and an average of INR 1.54 L PM. Popular companies like BCG, Mckinsey, Accenture, Bain, and Company, etc., actively participated in getting the cream.

XLRI has outshone itself yearly by achieving a 100% placement record with an average stipend of around INR 32L. It received over 480 domestic and three international offers with active participation from more than 115 recruiters. The highest package received for the 2021-23 batch is INR1.1 crore PA. International offer and INR 78.2 LPA domestic offer.

The cost to study is typically on the higher end, but it's worth it due to the brand the XLRI has established for itself throughout these 75 years. However, multiple financial assistance is available to a student as XLRI discounts can avail education loan at a lower interest rate than the market through SBI Bank. Moreover, numerous scholarships are available to an XLer, like Mirae Asset Foundation Scholarship, IDFC First Bank Scholarship, etc. The fees are also compensated by the ROI a candidate receives through Internships and Placement offers. As the average internship offer was around 1.54L for 2022.

Campus life is worth living. After all the hectic classes conducted in Learning Centers throughout the day, the evenings spent at Dadu's, Campus Café, and Bishu's are ones I can never forget. There are multiple E-journals, HBR articles, Euromonitor, research papers, etc. facilities available in the library as the budget spent per student is around INR 1L. The college is spread across 50 acres with four main hostel buildings, residential facilities for the faculty, and an International Center for visitors on the campus. There are multiple clubs and social groups like SIGMA and Samarthya for students promoting giving back to society. EV fests and MAXI fairs are the big events conducted by inviting various artists and colleges for multiple competitions, especially in sports and marketing.

XLRI offers a residential program with single occupancy bedrooms. The administration staff pre-allocates the rooms, and the mess facility is also provided, charging around INR 6K monthly. The hostel fee is INR 85K a year. The main drawback of the room is the absence of an AC as it gets pretty hot during June. However, the weather is quite good in Jamshedpur.

A candidate must have a bachelor's degree to be eligible to appear for the XAT exam and must clear the sectional and the overall cut-off of the XAT exam. Generally, the cut-offs are lower for a non-engineer female compared to other counterparts. The application form can be accessed through XLRI's official website or visit xatonline.in. Applications are generally open from September- October, and the exam is conducted in January. The fees vary depending on the number of programs you apply for. The cumulative application fee for the flagship courses Human Resource Management and Business Management is approximately INR 2400.

After attempting XAT, there was a written essay-based exam conducted immediately after the conclusion of the XAT. After being shortlisted, there were separate interviews for each program you received a call for. The interview pattern for HRM was based entirely on my SOP, and for BM, it was more of a technical one about my background. I prepared through reading and advancing my knowledge other than my commerce field.