Is Being An IIM-C Topper Better Than Being An Average Student At IIM-A?

Be it IIM Calcutta or IIM Ahmedabad, getting into an Indian premier management institution itself is an achievement. When we raise a question on which IIM is the best in India, there will be a huge debate which ends with no conclusion. Frankly, every IIM is doing its best in its own parameters.

Let's get into our actual discussion, is being an IIM Calcutta topper better than being an average student at IIM Ahmedabad? Firstly, who'll deny the top position at these institutions? Everyone will nod their heads when asked if they should aim for this position for a lucrative career.

IIMA and IIMC are individually the best. If we compare both in terms of the academics, the grades of IIMA depend on class participation. This means students should prepare well before going to class. On the other hand, students at IIMC have to devote more time to case studies. Other than this, the amount of effort is same for all the students at both the institutes.

It is better to be an IIMC topper compared to being an average student at IIMA because the placement officers usually prefer to recruit the top guys of the respective institutes, though the academics at IIMA is a bit tougher compared to IIMC.

In the admission process, there will be a high cut-off for IIMA compared to IIMC. This is enough to ensure that students prefer IIMC over IIMA. However, in the recent years there is no much difference in the CAT percentile of students making it to these institutes.

If we discuss about the alumni, the former RBI Governor, Raghuram Rajan is from IIMA. On the other hand, the CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, is from IIMC. Both the institutes earned a place in the QS World University Rankings: Masters in Management Rankings 2018. This proves that both are best, however, if you have to pick one, edge goes to IIM Ahmedabad because it has better placement orientation, selection process and living and learning experience.

At the end, we just want to make a statement that most of the IIMs and IITs proudly represent the country in many areas, such as the World University Rankings, because you should not come to a conclusion that other IIMs are downplaying.