About 3.29 lakh registered eligible candidates for CAT 2024. Around 2.93 lakh took the CAT exam. The total number of seats across all IIMs is approximately only 5,500. This is to say that less than 2% of everyone taking the exam can secure a seat at an IIM.
As concluded above getting into the Indian Institutes of Management is very competitive, with only a tiny fraction of aspirants gaining admission. Even though a large number of candidates are actually writing the CAT exam every year. This fierce competition indicates why students should also be looking at esteemed management institutes that are not IIMs as well.
Besides the IIMs, there are various other institutes that accept the Common Admission Test, conducted by the IIMs, as an accepted entrance for qualifying their rigorous admission process. This process consists of multiple rounds, such as the group discussion, personal interview and the written test. This blog will throw light on some of the top 5 colleges other than the fiercely competitive IIMs, accepting 60 to 70 percentiles in CAT. An analysis of their placements and the top recruiters along with the various specialisations offered.
Top Colleges Accepting 60-70 Percentile in CAT
Some of the most prominent institutions accept students who have achieved a percentile ranging from 6 to 70 on the CAT. These reputable B-Schools provide some of the most in-demand MBA programs with ample placement support and diverse specializations.
For instance, both Indus Business Academy in Bengaluru and KIIT School of Management in Bhubaneswar provide effective management education with substantial graduate placement support.
The Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies in Kochi has a unique culture of experiential learning that adds another level of learning for students. Similarly, the MIT School of Business has an experienced faculty and several well-connected industry professionals. In addition, Doon Business School provides a solid academic rigor and industry interaction. Just to be clear, each of these institutions will provide immense value for students who have only a moderate percentile on the CAT exam, but still intend to have a successful career in management.
1. Indus Business School, Bengaluru
Located in the Southern City of India, Bengaluru, Indus Business Academy is a private institution with a global reputation for its PGDM programs. The institution offers full-time residential PGDM programs with multi-specialisations in Finance, Human Resource, Business Analytics, Operations, Marketing, and Retail Management approved by AICTE. The recent cutoffs have usually been 70 percentile for most of the entrance exams taken together. The college scores well in the placement area, as the highest salary package at the college is INR 18.36 LPA, whereas the average salary package is INR 8.4 LPA. The top recruiters at IBA Bangalore are the companies with the best reputation like Deloitte, Godrej, KPMG, Kotak Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv and KPMG.
2. KIIT School of Management, Bhubaneswar
KIIT School of Management, located in Bhubaneswar and founded in 1993, is a well-rated B-school that combines innovative business programs and placement success. KSOM specialises in advanced programs, including Business Analytics and Operations & Supply Chain Management. This allows students to gain new learning of practical industry experience with modern infrastructure. Admissions are generally based on entrance exams, with candidates scoring approximately the 70 -75 percentile range. As of recently, KIIT School of Management reports the highest placement package to be INR 18 LPA and an average package to be INR 9 LPA. Many top leading companies, such as TCS, Deloitte, ICICI Bank, HDFC Life, and Bajaj Finserv, have engaged with KSOM graduates. The total cost for KSOM's MBA program is INR 18,00,620.
3. Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi
Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies in Kochi was established in 1955 as Rajagiri College of Social Sciences with a focus on social work education. RCBS has a two-year full-time MBA and PGDM degree program with specialisations in Finance, Marketing, Operations and Information Systems, and Business Analytics. RCBS sets a cutoff percentile of around 50 for admissions. The placement statistics report a median salary package of INR 6.5 LPA. With top recruiters including Deloitte, HCL, Axis Bank, Oracle, and Amazon. The fee for the PGDM/MBA Program is INR 7,50,000. Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies is part of a larger Rajagiri Vidyapeetham group, which holds a vision of excellence in higher education developed by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) group, on holistic development and socially responsible education.
4. MIT School of Business, Pune
The MIT School of Business in Pune was established in 2005 as the first private management institution in the city to offer full-fledged postgraduate-level management programs. It is currently promoting the following programs- MBA with specialisation in Banking and Financial Services, Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Family Business Management, Finance, Healthcare Management, HR Management, and International Business.
The cutoff for admissions is generally around the 70th percentile. MIT SOB has had excellent placement, with the highest compensation of INR 51.36 LPA and an average of INR 7 LPA. MIT SOB has a good turnout of recruiting companies, including Accenture, Bosch Global Software Technologies, Adani Group, Capgemini, Dabur, HCL, L’Oreal India, and PwC India Acceleration Center, among others.
5. Doon Business School
Doon Business School, located in Dehradun in 2007, is a top management School recognised by AICTE and affiliated with the Uttarakhand Technical University. One can pursue an MBA degree at the school with the option of getting specialised either in Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Business Analytics, Agribusiness, or International Business. Typically, the admission cut-off is around the 60th percentile.
The placement record is very good. The average package is recorded to be around INR 7.65 LPA, and the top recruiters are Adani Cement, Aditya Birla (Ultratech Cement), Deloitte, Yamaha Motors India, and Wipro. The total tuition fee for the MBA program is INR 8,72,000. DBS is committed to the experiential learning of students through workshops, industry tie-ups, foreign immersion experience, SAP, and SAS certification programs, and international experience.
How to Secure Admission 60-70 Percentile CAT Score
If your CAT score has landed you somewhere in the neighbourhood of the 60th-70th percentile, it means that you are potentially eligible for several good MBA schools in India. Follow the various suggestions given below for ensuring a smooth and successful admission to any one of the B-Schools as mentioned above.
Target the Right Schools: Research B-schools that accept CAT scores in the 60-70 percentile range and are aligned with your future career objectives.
Explore other entrance exams: If the other potential B-schools you've identified have entrances based on other entrance exams like the MAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT, etc., it may be worth your time to explore these opportunities as well.
Strengthen Your Applications: Draft a good SOP that analyzes your background, motivation to apply to the program, and future career objectives. Obtain good-quality and reference letters from professors/supervisors. Ensure that you are highlighting all of your academic, professional experience, internships, projects, etc. that would transfer over to a successful academic career.
Succeeding in the Selection Process: Prepare for the GD, WAT, and PI in the selection process with test prep and take notes on what you can improve upon. Practice with mock interviews to improve your ability to drive and strengthen your intellect. Stay up to date with current affairs in your country using newspapers such as ‘The Economic Times’.
Increase Your Profile is an Added Bonus: If you have relevant work experience, ensure that it is leveraged to the fullest. Gain certifications or coaching in a skill set such as Digital Marketing, Financial Modelling, and Business Analytics.
Apply to schools ranked favourably aligned with your specialisation like Marketing, Finance or HR. Aspirants who have achieved a CAT percentile within the range of 60 to 70 will have increased chances of admission into preeminent MBA programs. This will significantly improve and enhance their career options.
Conclusion
IIMs may be the most prestigious and sought-after institutions for management education in India, but there are several viable alternatives in the non-IIM institutes as well. Candidates with a percentile of 60-70 should not lose heart. There are innumerable good B-schools that take scores in this range. The colleges such as Indus Business Academy, Bengaluru, KIIT School of Management, Bhubaneswar, Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi, MIT School of Business, Pune and Doon Business School have offered effective programs with strong industry interaction and placement opportunities. Paying attention to these colleges will unlock various vistas and perhaps enable you to have a valuable MBA experience and a gratifying career. So take the right step towards beginning your management career at any one of the above-mentioned business schools by making the decisions that suit you the best.
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