AIM Admissions

[icecube]

Howdy fellas,

I have seen various postings on Asian Institute of Mgmt but found a mix-n-match of good, bad and ridiculous notions regarding this institute therefore I decided to start a new thread exclusively on AIM. I am going to join MBA 05-07 batch this yr (in July) and I hope my experience helps you decide for or against applying for AIM for the next academic yr.

DISCALIMER: Everything contained below is from reading websites and personal interaction with AIM alumni so reader discretion is advisable.

RANKINGS
===========
You can check out the 'The Advice Pages' of mbainfo dot com for comprehensive rankings from multiple sources and spread over many years.

GMAT
========
The minimum GMAT they accept is 600. However, if AIM is the only international B-school one is applying to then one should appear for AIMAT (held in Nov) as it costs only Rs 2500 instead of more than 10K for GMAT. BTW my GMAT score was 700 with 6/6 on AWA.

ESSAYS
=========
In the application there are 14 essays...........yes F-O-U-R-T-E-E-N ................and just like a coin it has two sides.................. the positive being one gets ample opportunity to demonstrate ones experience (professional, academic and general life learnings) .........however the downside is being caught trying to juice up the essays (which happens often)............. they know you are not perfect...............therefore the key is to be honest......Always.

GD
=====
Until last year they had the standard IIM type GD with a current issue thrown in for group members to gladiate on. This year however they have consciously changed the pattern as I guess they are fed up with the fish market scene half way through most of GD. They asked us to enter the room and immediately made partners of two and told us to go out and come back after 5 minutes having known as much about each other. On coming back we were supposed to introduce our partners (much like a business presentation...the whole GD was being video recorded).

My partner happened to be a finance guy with superb work ex. The professor would stop us to say that he is not satisfied and asked partners to vouch for each other and then for himself or herself if he was the only one to be chosen ....basically why should AIM give him/her a chance..........at times egging me against my partner's work exp - that he doesn't really need to do an MBA (and trying to start a cock fight). It went on like this for an hour and half for the whole group........pretty stressful for some people. Basically they wanted to check group dynamics, negotiating and presentation skills. My interview was very relaxed with more of personal questions being put forward. However I heard that for others more of core work-ex related probing questions were being asked.

COST
=========
I have gone through other threads mentioning AIM and found various cost estimates........some even suggest that the cost is upwards of 20 lacs!!!...this is ridiculous................ To clear things please know that the cost of completing the MBA includes tuitions fee of USD 20,000 + dormitory + grub + spending money + air ticket (Rs. 26k return ticket ) + notebook pc (if one does not have) and this comes to a conservative aggregate estimate of Rs 13.5 lacs for the whole of two years. Over and above that the variable cost depends if one is a 'beer guzzler' or a 'milk maniac'. The sad story is that punjab-da-puttars will have to shell out an avg of 65 to 70 rupees for a litre of milk.wheras branded beer is measly Rs. 7 a bottle!!!............filling luggage with powdered milk is advisable while departing from India............while bud-holics can have a two-year long party.

Scholarships are few and far between so don't even rely on that unless you have a public sector or non-profit background.

FYI......1 Philippine Peso ~ 0.80 INR as of March 2005

PLACEMENTS
===============
Be ready for a wait of 3 to 6 months after completion to get placed (same scene in NUS, Nanyang, HKUST). AIM does have a career service dept. but works very different from IIMs...their main role is guidance to students looking for opportunities. Looking for a job at Singapore will cost you living expenses of around Rs 20K per month if staying in grp of 3 to 4.

There is no official info regarding the salary part but rough estimates are that Indian placements usually yield any where between 7 to 14 lacs per annum..........the upper limit mainly reserved for people with extensive experience in managerial capacity. Average placements in Singapore will yield around 4,000 Sing $ (~ 27 INR) per month so that would be around Rs 13 lacs per annum............living expense is appx. 2.5K Sing $. So one can save around 4 - 5 lacs a yr to repay back any loans. What i gather is that summer trainings don't yield much cash savings.........however ongoing campus projects can make one earn Rs 50K to 100k over the 2 yr period. These will be projects mainly from expats wanting to set up biz in Philippines, some from Indian cos looking for biz opportunities in that region others will be from consulting and finance firms............you know the works.


FOOD (very relevant for Indians)
===========================
99% of Philippinos are non-vegitarians mainly consisting of beef, pork, ham, chicken, hen, snakes .........their logic is if it moves you can eat it...............not to mention that non-veg is dirt cheap............so all those PETA enthusiasts be ready for tough times. Restaurants serving veg dishes are rare and massively expensive. Though the silver lining is that you will get an Indian dabba service with north indian food delivered at institute itself........... comes to ard Rs. 35 per meal (tastes like Indian jail food but far better than the yucky tasting Philippino stuff at AIM cafeteria........which incidentally is more expensive). Also there is a Haldiram/Bikaner type outlet near Makati in Manila that serves the general Indian stuff but at an avg of 5 - 10 times the price of the same thing available in India.

REASONS I CHOSE AIM
=======================
1. Apart from IIM-A this is the only b-school of that calibre (in S. Asia) that teaches its entire course in the case-based learning method (probably a legacy of long initial association with Harvard)........so you get the real life feel of the learnings all the time. Also, cross-geography learning teams (whom you spend the better part of day) helps reinforce the core global competencies of participants.

2. The professors are all from the corporate background (CEOs, CFOs, VPs, Board Directors, Sr Mgmt cadre.......etc etc)........this is a huge bonus as it changes the whole paradigm in which problems are discussed and solved.

3. There is a definite branding and reputation associated with AIM. Recent rankings may not tell the entire story as they are temporary and subjective.......class and character is more permanent....and that is something that I feel AIM definitely has.

4. Finally reference from friends already there helped me to take final leap of faith. Also, my elder bro (IIM-B 95 pass out) a senior mgmt professional with a multinational encouraged and recommended AIM.

MY BACKGROUND
===================
To put it short.......a weird mix ............a tech graduate with a computer science degree........totally unrelated work profile ...........worked for 3 yrs in customer relations division of a multinational. Worked in global teams for strategic initiatives as well as fire-fighting regular issues across operational units. Was the top most performer for the client for two consecutive yrs in different capacities. Have volunteered consistently with NGOs (past 8 yrs) like Blind School, Help Age India. Currently volunteering for an animal rights organization. Also, I am an avid quizzer and have taken part in multiple inter-college and corporate quizzes and won some of them too.

I realize this post is lengthy but I hope it helps and wish you luck in your quest for that perfect b-school admission.

--Au Revoir!
IceCube

[the_czar]

very enlightening post indeed

DISCALIMER: Everything contained below is from reading websites and personal interaction with AIM alumni so reader discretion is advisable.

good u mentioned

[mooz]

Highly informative post indeed.. thanks Icecube!!

[icecube]

Anytime Buddy!

-IceCube

[nagesha1978]

Hi ICE CUBE ,
how much importance they give to extra curricular activities while selecting a candidate
iam just curious about split % the like
acad's workex, extra curricular activities ,gmat score

will u let me know

thanks in advance

[mooz]

Heres my interview experience:

1) From the group of 6 persons you had in GD, please choose 3 persons whom you would like to see at AIM. Since you would like urself to be selected, take names of other 2 fellows.
.. Why did u choose them?
2) Do you see yourself leading the group of those 6 people (my GD group)? (grilled me on this)
3) Why do you think you have good leadership skills? (grilled me on this)
4) Can you tell me an instance when you led a group?
5) Can you tell me about your 3 big achievements?
6) Professional achievements.. ? Elaborate..
7) (I have merit cerficate in National mathematics olympiad) When did u write this exam? Tell me more about this exam.
How do you plan to finance your AIM MBA?
9) Any questions for us......

Hope it helps..

- Mooz

[icecube]

Originally Posted by nagesha1978

Hi ICE CUBE ,
how much importance they give to extra curricular activities while selecting a candidate
iam just curious about split % the like
acad's workex, extra curricular activities ,gmat score

will u let me know

thanks in advance

Nags,

I know that my original post was looooong .................but it does'nt mean that I am the decision maker at the board of admissions at AIM .....

...........well jokes apart...........you see for a prospective student (like me) it is very difficult to pin point what exactly weightage they give to each of these things you mentioned. If you read my post "Carefully" you will find the general requirements. However I still append my comments regarding your particular concerns......

ACADS:
They are definitely not looking for nuclear scientists or nobel wannabees!!!

WORKEX:
I guess being a school of that stature they really are not looking for a particular type of work ex.........in fact they would welcome and encourage student diversity. Min of 2 yrs is what they mention........but some guys with 8+ yrs of work ex have applied and gotten through. If workex is on the lower side then clear demonstration of leadership capability, working in teams (preferably cross-geography ones) and tangible contribution to the project one is involved with are some of the parameters they would look for.......and hazard that the same is applicable in b-schools everywhere..........asia, us, europe.........you know....

ECA:
Hmmm................unable to quantify exactly............. but to say the least is.....that it is very important. I have listed the essay questions below in a separate post.........you will get a fair idea what they are looking for..........majority of questions relate to ECA stuff....so there you go........mooz will be able shed some more light. Wotsay mooz?

GMAT:
Can't exactly say what the lowest was........but I know someone from last year who got in at 640....some even less ..........but no less than 600 is what I hear. If possible the best thing is to appear for the AIMAT organised by AIM in India (costs Rs. 2.5k). It is GMAT pattern but in written format.........and thus some would say a shade easier.

Hope this answers your concern,

BTW give us a little info regarding your background...........everything cant be one way?

-IceCube

[icecube]

AIM Essay Questions (No word limit):
------------------------------------------------------
1. Describe a major extra-curricular activity in college that you feel is very important to you. Explain why you consider it so.

2. Describe a major community activity that you feel is very important to you. Explain why you consider it so.

3. What recognition (distinctions, awards, honours, etc.) have you received in your academic, extra-curricular, business, community and other activities? Which among these do you value the most? Why?

4. Aside from this organization and the last two organizations that you had worked for, what other work experience do you believe will help you during your studies at AIM?

5. Describe your interests and hobbies.

6. Evaluate yourself as a person, discussing in order of importance, the personal characteristics you feel are your weaknesses.

7. Describe what you believe your three most substantial accomplishments are and why you believe them to be such.

8. Describe a situation (in family, school, business, community, etc.) where you felt you had some responsibility. Describe how this situation developed you and what you have learned from the experience.

9. As briefly and explicitly as possible describe why you would want to attend the MBA program.

10. Having decided to attend the MBA programme what steps have you taken to prepare yourself for the course?

11. Other than what you have already written what do you feel will strengthen your application for admission?

12. What are your plans after graduating from AIM?

13. Rank in order of importance, the reasons for choosing AIM:

14. Do you have any impairment or illness which might affect your academic progress or which would necessitate special housing arrangements? If yes, please elaborate.

-IceCube

[icecube]

BTW just FYI,

I received an e-mail inquiry regarding tution fee structure from an AIM confirm candidate........this was my reply.

================================================== ====
Coming to your query regarding fee structure.........you are right the yearly tution fee is is USD 12,000 each yr but few know that there is a grant-in-aid for certain south asian countries and that includes India. This gives all Indian admits a koool discount of USD 2,000 per annum coming to a total discount of USD 4,000 (for 2 yrs). So the net payment towards tutions will come to USD 20,000.

One does'nt need to pay the entire program fee at one go........the rough break up of all the expenses will be 6.5 to 7 lac for each yr.........so be ready with that amt at the beginning of July each year. If one wishes then there is an installment scheme from AIM itself where the program fee (of USD10,000 each yr) can be broken up into 10 installments of USD 1,033 (paying jul through feb for both yrs). So one would pay USD 330 more per year for an installment linked payment.

There is also a modular payment method where one can pay USD 5,539 and 4,724 (total ~USD 10, 263) in July and November respectively in the first year. The second yr is same except that the 10K is broken into 3 equal parts instead of two.

The above estimate is what the last years students paid and should be the case this year too. I have spoken to the AIM office and was told that the fees structure will most probably not change ..........but was asked to wait for the information packet for all the final details.
================================================== ====

P.S.
However, the best source of all info still happens to be Dilip Kewat, Admissions Coordi @ Mumbai............call him or drop a mail to him.............he is pretty helpful.

-IceCube

[mooz]

Originally Posted by icecube

ECA:
Hmmm................unable to quantify exactly............. but to say the least is.....that it is very important. I have listed the essay questions below in a separate post.........you will get a fair idea what they are looking for..........majority of questions relate to ECA stuff....so there you go........mooz will be able shed some more light. Wotsay mooz?

-IceCube

ECA: Yes. These guys put lot of emphasis on ECA.. particularly for junta with less work ex (<= 3 yrs job ex). They would like you to discuss an instance where you led a group or exhibited leadership/team skills. During my interview, they grilled me lot on this..
Hope it helps. Plz revert if any more queries..

- Mooz