MICA: Not your average b-school

The curriculum has been changed recently to keep up with industry trends and needs. It was done as per discussions with industry experts. The new curriculum is fast-paced, relevant to industry, and career-focused. While 1st year is mostly around marketing, strategic communication, and MICA specific culture related subjects, subjects like Finance, Accountancy, HR, and Operations are also taught. Since the academic rigor is quite high, regular assessments take place. In 2nd year you get to choose 1 sectoral and 2 functional specialisations, which again, are very career and industry focused.

Placements of the college is quite decent, considering the job market and niche profiles that come on campus. It's not like a 'mecca of marketing', but a mix of various roles including Sales, Marketing, General Management, Product Management, Branding, Strategy, Consultancy etc. The placements are carried out by Placements Committee who work with utmost dedication and honestly. All top companies across sectors come on campus to recruit, for both Summer Internships and Final Placements. 100% Placements are guaranteed here, while the highest package goes upto 40LPA, median is 19LPA and average is 18LPA, approximately. The reports published online are true in nature and aren't inflated unlike other schools.

The fees for the programme is around ?28,00,000, of which approx ?13,00,000 is paid for 1st year. The fees includes everything from mess food, hostel, tuition, library, resources, and insurance. The fees is same for everyone but there are need-case based financial aids provided by the college which waives off most of the fees. There's no management quota or caste-based fee system.

The campus is quite big with a lot of extra-curricular and cultural activities happening across the year. Every festival is celebrated with pride and you won't feel homesick here. There are a lot of committees which can help you learn, collaborate, and grow as a team and an individual. The committes include Marketing Fest- MiCanvas, Music- Studio 7, Cultural- CulComm, Alumni- AEC, to name a few. There's a 24/7 Library called KEIC, which is a treasure in itself, quite literally. All the classrooms are air conditioned with ample light and techological support. There's fast wifi available on campus too. In terms of sports, there are a lot of sports available like football, basketball, lawn tennis, badminton, table tennis and a gym. The admin has recently made a 'calisthenics' park as well which's quite good too. All in all the infrastructure provided is quite useful and good.

With my background, I was clear that MICA is the place, a true calling. I didn't apply to other colleges at all. Talking about MICA's USP, it lies it it's culture, values, and a student led-student run life, deeply embeded to every single brick wall on campus. The admission process in itself is quite rigorous. You need to give either of CAT/XAT/GMAT as a baseline, with MICAT. The best of CAT/XAT/GMAT is chosen with your MICAT score (if you pass your psychometric test) and then you're shortlisted for GE-PI process. The GE-PI process is one of it's kind. GE is a group exercise in which you perform an activity or a simulation in a group of 6-8. PI is personal interview which for me, was very conversation, my story and insights based. The panelist is a team of 3, which mostly includes a faculty member, an alumni, and an industry expert. With your final GE-PI, diversity, Acads, CAT, MICAT scores, final merit list is prepared.

Faculty at MICA are really good. The sections are divided well so that there are 50-60 students in each section. Faculties usually have a healthy and supportive relationship with students, and are quite approachable. Each session is well structured with good and relevant pre-reads, in-class discussion, and post-reads which are then evaluated through hands-on assignments, both group and personal, and examinations. The exams are usually divided into midterms, endterms depending on course credits, and are quite practical and approachable, based on frameworks, theories taught while also testing analytical bent of mind. Rational AI usage is also a major focus now, and faculties tries their best to incorporate the same in assignments, and discussions.

For MICA, post MICAT and CAT/XAT/GMAT, there's a GE-PI Round. There's not written test after GE-PI shortlist. GEs are mostly like a simulation or an activity to be done within 30 minutes in a group of 6-8 people. The topics are very creative and could vary from poster making, to a skit, to a musical jingle, to an ad making activity. MICA's PI is quite an experience. It is a conversational interview, where panelists tend to find questions within your answers and cross question you. While this is being done, in most of the cases, you get your own time to think and speak. The questions could vary from Why MICA, to past academics or work ex based questions. The panelists try to get the most out of you within the span of time. While some interviews were as short as 15 minutes, some stretched to 45 minutes as well.

On campus there are a lot of hangout spots including SH area, MiCafe, JEK (Jannat-E-Khayaal) and of-course, our 24/7 Canteen- Chhota. The Library is also 24/7. Every other night, you might either study in KEIC, or have food at Chhota, or go on those late-night MICAn walks. The campus has tall boundary walls reinforced with barbed wires and glass pieces which makes it absolutely safe at night. Being in outskirts, the nightlife is kind of dead outside the campus, as main city is quite far but there are good cafes and places to hangout nearby! The hostels are also safe and 24/7 under CCTV surveillance. In 1st year you get double sharing hostels, Palaash, Silver Oak, Parijat and Ashoka, while in 2nd year you can go either for double sharing rooms in Ashoka (Attached washroom & balcony brownie points), or single occupancy across Champa, Chandini, Amaltas, Chinar, Gulmohar, and Kachnar. There are also new proposed hostels under construction on campus.