Top B-schools choose CAT Scores for admission
By siliconindia   |   Monday, 26 September 2011, 23:47 IST   |    1 Comments
Printer Print Email Email
Bangalore: There are mixed reactions coming out from the MBA aspirants as well as the Professors of the MBA courses, for the new system to accept CAT (Common Admission Test) scores for admission to MBA programs at reputed institutions like IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology, Bangalore), IIScs (Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore) and FMS (Faculty of Management Studies). These prestigious institutions were conducting their own tests for admission to their respective MBA programs, until last year. But now CAT scores are considered for admissions to over 140 B-schools in the country including these institutions, reports Times of India. However, IITs have commonly decided to accept CAT scores to select students for there MBA programs. This offer was made to lessen the number of examinations. But the students and MBA aspirants is of the feeling that this system has put them under more pressure. The IITs have a different view on this matter, as they believe that the use of CAT scores for admissions is a way of showing unity with other reputed B-schools in the country. G Srinivasan, HOD, Department of management studies, IIT Madras explained that, every year, only about 40,000 students take the JMET as opposed to over 4 lakh students who take GATE and JEE. However, we must admit that, even though students will be under pressure because of this new move, it may help them reduce preparation burden. In addition, we have the independence to choose what exams to use for admissions. He even argued that there was not much of a difference between JMET and CAT. Prof. L.S Ganesh, Department of management studies, IIT Madras said that CAT is a well-evolved exam and there are more students taking CAT than JMET. Moreover, their MBA programs are equal with those offered at other reputed institutes which will help them to re-align their image as a business school. Nevertheless, other criteria like cutoffs, performance in the group discussions and interviews will ultimately dictate admission of a student in the MBA program.