IIM Admission 2023: Unveiling the Process from Application to Selection
The 2023 IIM admission process commenced with CAT exam registration from August 3 to September 21, 2022, witnessing a significant 2.56 lakh applicants for IIM admission. The process unfolds in two crucial phases: Shortlisting, based on CAT 2022 results, and the subsequent IIM selection process. Anticipated CAT 2022 results are expected in early January 2023, followed by shortlist releases from esteemed IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Kozhikode.
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Currently encompassing 20 IIMs, the addition of the 21st IIM, NITIE Mumbai, is imminent. MBAUniverse.com provides the latest updates on IIM Admission 2023, offering meticulous research on each IIM's selection and admission criteria. This article provides comprehensive insights into the stages of IIM Admission, covering application submission to final selection. Explore the journey through IIMs Admission stages for the latest information.
01.
IIM Admissions 2023: A Journey through Six Stages
The IIM Admission process for 2023 unfolds in a series of six distinct stages:
IIM Admissions 2023 Stages | Key Components | Time Lines & Process |
|---|---|---|
Stage-I: CAT Registration & Application | 10 Years High Registration Number with 2.56 Lakh candidates applying for CAT 2022 | Closed on Sept 21, 2022 |
Stags-2: Preliminary Screening with CAT Cut offs | Based on Minimum CAT Overall and Sectional score | As announced in each IIM Admission Policy 2023 |
Stage-3: Shortlist for PI round | Based on CAT score, Profile, Work Ex and other components | Released after CAT Result declaration by each IIM |
Stage-4: Final Selection Round | Comprises PI-WAT. A few may conduct GD also | Conducted from Feb to April, individually by 11 Old & New IIMs and as a Common Admission Process by 9 new and baby IIMs |
Stage-5: Generation of Final Merit List | Based on weightages awarded to all the components | Released in April/May. IIMs substantially reduce the CAT weightage in final selection |
Stage-6: Making Final Admission Offer | Depending upon the Seats, candidates are given admission offer | IIMs send admission offers in April/May. Candidates need to pay admission fee in time |
Following the enactment of the IIM Act 2017, nearly all IIMs have transitioned from awarding Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) to granting MBA degrees upon successful completion of their management programs. With over 6000 candidates securing MBA admissions annually across Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), these institutions are renowned as the premier management institutes in the nation. For aspiring MBA students, the opportunity to pursue a degree from a top IIM remains a coveted goal. As IIM Admission 2023 policies are unveiled, each IIM independently defines its specific criteria and procedures.
02.
IIM Shortlisting: Criteria Breakdown
Following the announcement of CAT results, IIMs undertake the shortlisting process, wherein candidates' CAT scores and percentiles significantly influence the outcome. The IIM Admission process employs diverse components and weightages for shortlisting candidates. While specific weightages vary between IIMs, certain trends are evident. IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Lucknow, for instance, accord substantial weight to CAT scores in the 2023 admission process. In contrast, some IIMs may decrease the weightage of CAT scores while elevating the significance of other components during selection, underlining the evolving nature of admission criteria.
Name of the IIM | Weight %age for CAT Score |
|---|---|
IIM Ahmedabad | 65 |
IIM Bangalore | 55 |
IIM Calcutta | 56 |
IIM Lucknow | 60 |
IIM Indore | 20 |
IIM Kozhikode | 45 |
IIM Kashipur | 100 |
IIM Raipur | 100 |
IIM Ranchi | 100 |
IIM Tiruchirappalli | 100 |
IIM Udaipur | 100 |
IIM Rohtak | 100 |
IIM Amritsar | 60 |
IIM Bodhgaya | 100 |
IIM Jammu | 100 |
IIM Nagpur | 30 |
IIM Sambalpur | 100 |
IIM Sirmaur | 100 |
IIM Visakhapatnam | 40 |
03.
IIM Admission Eligibility: Vital Considerations
Securing admission in any of the 20 IIMs and esteemed MBA institutions like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, IMI New Delhi, NITIE Mumbai, and IITs requires successful completion of the CAT exam. The first step involves applying for and participating in the CAT Exam, which is mandated for IIM admission. Annually, CAT's administering IIM releases exam notifications in July/August, with online registration commencing in the first week of August. Application submission extends from August to September. Crucially, a failure to apply for CAT precludes consideration in subsequent admission rounds by any IIM.
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Concurrently, alongside the CAT notification, IIMs introduce the official CAT exam website, iimcat.ac.in. This comprehensive platform offers insight into candidates' eligibility for CAT and admission to IIMs, encompassing the intricacies of the selection process.
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The eligibility criteria for IIM admission comprise dual facets: requirements to undertake the CAT exam and prerequisites for specific IIM admissions. While the distinction between the minimum prerequisites for CAT participation and IIM admission is modest – both necessitating a minimum of 50% marks in graduation – the evaluation and weightage attributed to CAT scores, academic performance, and additional parameters diverge among distinct IIMs.
04.
IIMs Shortlisting and Selection: Navigating the Process
IIMs initiate their shortlisting phase in January/February, unveiling the list of candidates progressing to the Personal Interview (PI) round. This selection occurs among those with valid CAT scores, program applications, and fulfillment of the IIM MBA eligibility criteria. While CAT cut-offs for shortlisting span 80 to 98 percentile, this process also accounts for academic backgrounds and diversity.
The IIM Selection Process: A Crucial Step
While shortlisting improves your odds, true success hinges on converting your IIM call into final admission. The pivotal final selection process involves a diversified assessment, with CAT score, Personal Interview performance, work experience, and candidate profiles receiving different weightages.
IIM Admission: Generation of Merit List
The ultimate merit list is unveiled in April/May, determined by the comprehensive evaluation of factors. Past trends suggest that candidates excelling in unconventional domains such as social work, diverse artistic pursuits, or sporting achievements might be considered at lower CAT scores.
05.
Unveiling IIM Selection and Admission Criteria
​IIMs' selection and admission criteria consist of two key components: shortlisting and final selection. These stages assign distinct weightages to factors including CAT scores, academics, work experience, diversity, Group Discussion/Written Ability Test, and Personal Interview. It's noteworthy that CAT score's importance in the shortlisting phase exceeds its value in the final selection round. Adjustments have been introduced to the IIM admission process in 2023, reflecting evolving dynamics.
CAT Exam Score Weightages Adjusted: Evolving Diversity Emphasis
IIMs have recalibrated their admission process, moderating the weightage given to CAT exam scores during shortlisting. This adjustment varies from 50 to 75 percent out of 100, highlighting a concerted effort to enhance diversity among admitted students. It's noteworthy that certain newer and Baby IIMs uphold a distinct approach, solely considering CAT scores and assigning 100 percent weightage to them.
Redefined CAT Cut-off Percentiles for IIM Admissions: Recent Trends
In recent years, IIMs have revised their CAT cut-off percentiles, setting them at 70-80 sectional percentile and 80-90 overall percentile for admission consideration. This shift aims to establish a more inclusive approach. While minimum cut-offs range from 80 to 95 percentile, effective cut-offs often exceed these values. It's crucial to recognize that not only the overall score but also the sectional scores in CAT hold significance. For precise cut-off details, referencing each IIM's individual admission policy is recommended.
06.
New IIMs: Common Admission Process (CAP) Pathway
Distinct from their older counterparts, new IIMs such as Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, Trichy, Udaipur, Bodhgaya, Jammu, Sirmaur, Sambalpur follow a unified approach. These institutes employ a shared shortlisting criterion through the Common Admission Process (CAP), which encompasses Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT). Following CAP, each new IIM then formulates an individual merit list, leveraging its unique parameters and weightages for final admission offers. However, IIM Rohtak, Amritsar, Nagpur, and Visakhapatnam maintain their autonomous admission procedures instead of participating in CAP.
Varied Fee Structure across IIMs
The fee structure across various IIMs has experienced considerable variation over the past years. The relatively newer IIMs such as Nagpur and Visakhapatnam command MBA fees ranging from 14 to 17 lakhs. Meanwhile, second-generation IIMs including Udaipur, Rohtak, and Tiruchirappalli charge between 16 to 19 lakhs. Top-tier IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta boast fee structures within the range of 23 to 25 lakhs.
Diverse Admission Criteria
While the outlined details encompass distinct phases of IIM admission, it's crucial to note that each of the 20 IIMs maintains its unique admission criteria. These criteria encompass requisite CAT exam cut-offs, weightages assigned to varying components during shortlisting and final admission stages. Comprehensive insights into the IIM admission criteria are available for further exploration.
07.
IIM Selection Process Nuances
Following shortlisting based on CAT scores and additional parameters, the IIMs initiate their final selection phase. During this process, the significance of CAT scores is diminished, with increased emphasis on PI-WAT, academics, work experience, and other factors. It's important to recognize that excelling in CAT alone doesn't guarantee acceptance into top IIMs, as final selection hinges on multifaceted considerations. Detailed understanding of the IIM selection process is accessible for reference.
Beyond IIMs: Top Non-IIMs Admissions
CAT scores are widely accepted beyond IIMs, encompassing esteemed institutions like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and XIM Bhubaneswar. These institutions evaluate candidates based on diverse national and state-level MBA entrance exams, reflecting a broader spectrum of admission avenues.
