MBA applications dip

The number of aspirants for the state entrance test for the management course (MBA-CET) has reduced this year by about five per cent.

The number of aspirants for the state entrance test for the management course (MBA-CET) has reduced this year by about five per cent.

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Following in the footsteps of the Common Admission Test (CAT) for the coveted Indian Institutes of Management, which last year saw a dip in applications for the first time in five years, the Maharashtra MBA-CET also has 1.05 lakh applications compared with 1.10 lakh applications last year. The state MBA-CET will be held on February 21.

“The dip is not that significant but it could be attributed to the current market trend where fewer people want to do MBAs because of the economic slowdown,” said S.K Mahajan, director, Directorate of Technical Education, Maharashtra.

The competitive test is the entry-level criteria for 299 colleges in the state including some of the more prominent business schools such as JBIMS and Wellinkars Institute of Management. The intake in all colleges is about 20,000 students. Apart from the entrance test, a group discussion and personal interview help finalise candidates.

While the slowdown and subsequent poor placements have dissuaded aspirants, experts feel it is the best time to do an MBA.

“The next two years are going to see a revival in the market and the students who enroll now will be the beneficiaries of the demand. But somehow in India, as even the CAT applications indicated, people see everything short term,” said Arks Srinivas from T.I.M.E, a coaching institute.

Students are ecstatic that their fight for that precious seat has reduced. “If less people have applied then the competition is less which is good and makes my life a little easier,” said Anuj Jalan, an MBA aspirant.

The MBA-CET had its own share of controversy when the directorate changed the eligibility criteria from 45 per cent to 50 per cent marks in Class 12 and stopped recognising distance education degrees. But widespread protests from students made them revert the criteria and make it applicable from the next year.