GetMyUni's Verdict on IIM Ahmedabad

Parvathy Krishnakumar

“IIM Ahmedabad epitomises academic excellence with stellar placements and renowned faculty, yet its rigorous admission process and associated high costs present challenges for some aspirants.”

Being part of the most well-known educational institutions in Management, IIM Ahmedabad is a highly competitive institute with students who are toppers in their undergraduate programs and academically proficient. It is one of the dream colleges for those who aspire to build a successful career in the field, as it provides outstanding academic facilities and immense placement opportunities. 

Prestigious companies and organisations around the globe are always ready to employ graduates from the institute due to its long-standing reputation of cultivating academically proficient students. From the admission process to the placement drives, the institute throbs with competitiveness among the students.

All the IIMs are well known for their rigorous curriculum and highly challenging atmosphere, and IIM Ahmedabad is no exception. Therefore, the aspirants must be well-prepared to have their egos broken and work hard throughout the course. Even after spending two years through hardships, the students leave the institute with a heavy heart as the place gives them many memories to cherish forever.

Table of Contents

• Tradition of Academic Excellence
• Epitome of Excellence in Faculty
• Architectural Masterpiece Infrastructure
• Contemporary and Comfortable Housing Facilities
• Dynamic and Intellectually Stimulating Campus Life
• Impressive and Sought-After Placement Records
• Final Impression of IIM Ahmedabad

Tradition of Academic Excellence

IIM Ahmedabad is renowned for its undergraduate programs with different specialisations in the Management field. Students can only choose their courses in the second year, as the curriculum and subjects are the same for all in the first year.

Most students prefer to take courses that help them learn from the classes than those that have an excellent scope to score marks or are too intense to be studied by themselves. The preferences are subjective, and students choose their courses based on their interests and the field they plan to venture into.

The flagship course at IIMA is the Postgraduate Program in Management (PGP), which is a two-year, full-time traditional MBA program. Apart from this, the institute offers several specialisations at the postgraduate degree level. The top disciplines offered by IIMA, which provide the students with opportunities to learn and derive knowledge from the class environment, are as follows.

• Finance
• Marketing
• Microeconomics
• Corporate Finance
• Operations Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Human Resource Management
• Strategy
• Public Policy and Management
• Information Management.

As it is one of the premier Business schools in the country, almost all the courses offered by the institute are highly regarded in terms of curriculum and career prospects. Students are advised to choose a path best suited for them and not go by the majority, as a particular specialisation may work for one student and not the other. It must be noted that the students must have undergraduate degree with the required marks to pursue their education at the institute.

Apart from the traditional MBA programs, the institute also offers a one-year full-time postgraduate program in Management tailored for professionals with significant experience in the field. The institute also has a doctoral-level program, the Fellow Program in Management (FPM), for those interested in seeking a career in academia and research.

The quality of the courses offered by IIMA varies based on the curriculum and, most importantly, on the professors in charge of the courses. Hence, students must contact the former graduates of the institute, who are accomplished and think twice about their choice before they begin their program. 

Aspirants must be well aware of the quantitative nature of the courses and the complexity of the concepts and be ready to take on the workload. These courses are of high value and help students build a strong foundation and be well-equipped with the essential skills to pursue managerial roles. IIMA focuses on bringing out the best in students with course curriculums designed to challenge them and enhance their overall learning experience.

On the other hand, the tuition fees for the courses offered by the institute are high and may not be affordable to students from different economic classes. However, the institute provides financial assistance to students who find it challenging to meet its financial requirements through scholarships. The average fees for MBA programs offered range between INR 18,19,000 and INR 23,23,000, based on the specializations.

Epitome of Excellence in Faculty

Alongside being highly qualified and well-experienced in the field of Management, the professors at IIMA are witty and friendly to their students. The faculty members are proficient in teaching and knowledgeable in their respective subjects, ready to help with even the silliest of doubts. They take special care in ensuring that all students are on the same level in academics by giving them assignments, surprise quizzes and conducting guest lectures to learn more about the complex concepts. 

The faculty members at the institute are famous for their interactive classes where students not only learn their subjects but also have the opportunity to have an environment for overall development. The professors play a significant role in building the future of their students. 

The professors keep their offices open continuously for the students to visit them, even for a little chat. Most of the teachers are well informed and up-to-date with the latest technology and developments in the field, which helps the students be updated with the current scenario as they graduate. 

While most of the professors at the institute are easily approachable and make a positive impact on the students for a lifetime, there are a few professors who only focus on academics and tend to make it difficult for the students to keep up with their classes. According to the students, most of the professors at the institute impart academic knowledge but create an atmosphere where the students can nurture their skills and develop professionally.

Architectural Masterpiece Infrastructure

Designed by the famous architect Louis Khan, the institute's infrastructure is an excellent piece of art that combines old-world charm with state-of-the-art facilities to cater to all the academic and residential needs of the students. The whole campus is well-planned with all the required facilities in classrooms, library, sports complex, etc. The institute has 24/7 Wi-Fi connectivity and provides ample accommodation for students and faculty members. 

The geometric structure of the campus is shaped to provide adequate space with proper light ventilation and areas to hang out and study. The lush green campus, filled with trees, attracts several birds, which helps the students to relax between their demanding academic schedules.

The most significant feature of the institute's infrastructure is its library, known as the Vikram Sarabhai Library, which has an assortment of printed and digital resources helpful for students. The library has enough books and resources for the students, leaving them no excuse to slack on their research projects and assignments. The library is spread across a vast area with ample seating for students to focus on reading and learning. It also has a great outside view, making it more attractive for the students to visit the library.

The classrooms are equipped with the newest technology, enabling interactive learning. The classrooms are designed so that the entire class has a direct view of the professors from all sides, making it easy for them to concentrate on the course. According to the students, the classrooms have the perfect ambience for a wholesome learning experience, with the teachers making it more fun.

Another notable feature of the institute is its sports complex, which comprises abundant facilities, such as Badminton/Basketball/Squash/Tennis/Volleyball courts, Cricket/Football grounds, and areas for indoor sports like Table Tennis. Students can access these facilities whenever they want to take a study break. In short, the students widely utilise the sports complex as it provides world-class facilities.

There are more than 12 food outlets within the campus, along with the cafeteria that serves good quality food and beverages, served hygienically. The canteens are open till late at night, which is convenient for students spending their nights awake to study and work on their projects.

Contemporary and Comfortable Housing Facilities

IIMA offers housing facilities to all students in the hostels, or dorms, as the students call it. Around 20 dorms on campus accommodate 25 to 40 students in single occupancy rooms. Each dorm has a unique culture with separate rules, wardens, representatives, etc. There are dual-occupancy rooms available for students who are married as well. The shared facilities at the hostel include washrooms, a refrigerator, a microwave, a washing machine, a kitchen and a caretaker available from morning to evening. 

The hostels are well furnished with all the required amenities, such as study tables, single cots, table/chairs, cupboards, and whiteboards. Air conditioning is available only in certain rooms, which is expected to be implemented in all the rooms in the coming years. Students also have the option to purchase or rent coolers to compensate for the lack of AC. 

The hostel rooms have picturesque views from the balconies, available on all floors except the basement. The security guards and wardens in each dorm ensure the students' safety. There are surveillance cameras around the campus, which adds to the security. The average hostel fee for the entire course period is INR 1.76 lakhs.

Overall, the dorms/hostel rooms are comfortable, spacious and safe for the students, although the heat and pests can sometimes be unmanageable. According to the previous years’ students, the hostel rooms have the perfect ambience to study and enjoy the company of their peers. 

Dynamic and Intellectually Stimulating Campus Life

The institute offers its students a vibrant and intellectually charged experience where students can engage in a myriad of academic pursuits, cultural events and extracurricular activities, which creates an enriching campus life. Multiple clubs and committees, such as the marketing club, are part of the institute that organises several academic and cultural events.

The institute's faculties and student body are very broad-minded and always supportive of each other in their innovative ideas and overall development. However, the students are competitive in nature. In the first year, it might surprise many students who have been toppers in their respective institutions. They may seem just above average, as one student is better than the other in academics, intelligence, and other areas. 

The competition among the students is exceptionally high, which can either make or break them. Yet the tension between the students is diluted by the cultural and tech fests and celebrations on campus regularly. It is guaranteed that the students will have a wholesome college experience at IIMA.

Another advantage of being part of such a prominent institute is that the networks built from the institute can benefit the students in the future, as there will always be an IIM alumnus in the top companies in the country.

One of the drawbacks of studying at the institute is that it is located on the city's outskirts, making it difficult for the students to explore outside the campus. Nonetheless, there are regular transportation modes that can be used by the students.

Diversity on Campus

Needless to say, IIMA is hugely diverse in terms of culture, gender and other factors, as students from all regions of the country are part of the community. Even the faculty members are from different parts of the country, adding to the diversity on campus. As mentioned above, everybody at IIMA is broad-minded and accepting of all genders and ensures every student has equal opportunities and resources, regardless of their cultural background. 

The culturally rich environment makes it easy for the students to learn more about the country and get much-needed exposure for aspiring leaders in the management field. Every festival from a different state is celebrated on the campus equally.

Dress Code

As it is a business school, students are expected to wear formal attire for interviews, classes and other academic activities. However, there is no specific uniform for the students on campus. According to the dress code, students are prohibited from wearing casual clothes, like shorts, pyjamas, track pants, slippers, etc., for lectures. They can wear semi-formals or business casuals if they meet professional standards.

Students must always be well-groomed and clean. They are expected to wear suits for conclaves, placement drives and workshops and be presentable. Apart from that, the aspirants can wear any outfit of their choice while in hostels or when not attending lectures. 

Impressive and Sought-After Placement Records

Holding a solid reputation of being one of the country's most prestigious business schools, IIMA has maintained an impressive track record of placements over the years. Top companies have consistently recruited students from the institute for more than 10 years. The placement process at the institute is highly competitive and is conducted for more than 4 months. Several companies from all parts of the world participate in the placement drive held on campus. 

Besides, the institute has a well-connected alumni network, influential business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy-makers that play a crucial role in offering placement opportunities to freshly graduated students. The Career Development Services (CDS) team at the institute also assists the students in preparing well for the placement process by organising mock interviews, network events and pre-placement tals.

As for the salary packages, IIMA has one of the highest offers among the other IIMs, and almost 100% of students get employed with a decent salary package. The students are placed in several fields, such as Consulting, Marketing, Finance, Operations and Human Resource Management. It can be said that going through the tedious admission process, working hard and getting good grades in the exams have benefits, with students having fruitful careers ahead of them.

According to the previous years’ placement records, around 188 recruiters participated in the placement drives. A total of 280 job offers were acquired, with 9 international offers. The highest salary package was INR 1.15 CPA, and the average package was INR 34.36 LPA. 

Final Impression of IIM Ahmedabad

It can be concluded that getting into IIM Ahmedabad is one of the most significant achievements of the students as it has immense opportunities to offer, and rest assured that all students graduating from the institute are well educated and equipped with the required skills and knowledge to thrive in the field of Management. It is one of the most celebrated institutions, not only in the country but also globally. 

Yet, the students need to remember that the perception of a business school can vary on their individual preferences, career aspirations and personal expectations. Prospective students should thoroughly research and speak to former students before deciding on their careers.

IIMA is an excellent option for students aiming to reach heights as it assists them throughout their course to reach their full potential. However, they must be ready to work hard and fully concentrate on their studies to achieve their aim.

Following are the pros and cons of IIMA to get an idea about the institute.

*Source: iima.ac.in and iimaofficial Instagram