More than 110 organisations participated in Summer Placements 2008 at IIM Lucknow, making it one of the largest and most exciting recruitment exercises to be conducted across B-School campuses. Firms from across verticals demonstrated their confidence in the quality of students and reaffirmed their choice of IIM Lucknow as a preferred recruiting partner.

IIM Lucknow continued to attract the best organizations in the banking and financial sector and these companies offered a wide spectrum of roles across functions to the students. More than 32% students chose the financial sector as their preferred vertical. The major I-Banking/ PE firms in this sector included Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital, Baring Private Equity Partners, O3 Capital, 2i Capital, Seedfund, JP Morgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs. The long standing relationship with premier banks like Citigroup, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, RBS Group, American Express, ICICI bank and Axis Bank was further strengthened.

IIM Lucknow re-asserted its standing as a premier Consulting campus with participation from consulting giants like McKinsey & Co., The Boston Consulting Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hewitt Consulting, Frost & Sullivan and many other top consulting firms. Top general Management profiles from TAS and Aditya Birla Group further add to this impressive list.

As has been a trend in the past, placements in the field of sales and marketing attracted the best organizations in the world. Corporates such as HUL, P&G, Nokia, Diageo, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle, GlaxoSmithKline, Alshaya, Bharti Group, ITC, Marico, Asian Paints, Dabur, Colgate Palmolive, Cadbury and Reckitt Benckiser recruited students in large numbers to spearhead their marketing initiatives.

IIM Lucknow further strengthened its relationship with regular recruiters such as L&T, RPG, Futures First, IBM, Cognizant, Wipro and TCS while fostering new relationships with firms like Merrill Lynch, 2i Capital, Microsoft, IMACS, Diageo, Seedfund, Emergent Ventures and many others. The fact that a battery of firms was willing to forge new relationships with the institute in these troubled times stands testimony to the fact that there always is demand for quality managerial talent coming from the nation’s premier B-School.

Building over past trends, several IIM Lucknow students will be pursuing internships in locations like Singapore, London, Switzerland, United States and the Middle East. International locations were offered by McKinsey & Co., Aditya Birla Group, TAS, HUL, P&G, Cognizant, Diageo and Alshaya Group.

For the first time in its history, IIM Lucknow had a day dedicated for hosting entrepreneurial ventures. Based on strong student demand, this endeavor was IIM Lucknow’s initiative to celebrate the entrepreneurial talent present within our community. The day saw participation from more than 20 of the most exciting and progressive entrepreneurial ventures across verticals. These included firms launched by several of IIM Lucknow’s own alumni. Students greeted these firms with an enthusiastic response and many chose to intern with these firms over other lucrative offers.

Extremely delighted with the quality of students and their overall recruiting experience, here is what an executive from one of India’s top FMCG firm had to say about Summers at IIM Lucknow: “It was our pleasure to visit your campus and we are extremely delighted by the way (IIM Lucknow) ran the entire process. I must compliment the hardwork put in by you all in making it a seamless and mutually beneficial recruitment process.”

Detailed Break-Up of Placement figures

The Summer Placements at IIM Lucknow has beaten everyone’s expectations, and has been a huge success. The expectations of students were built on the basis of placement data from other premier B-schools this year, or the successful Summer & Final placement seasons at IIM Lucknow last year. With respect to either comparison, we firmly believe that this year’s Summer Placements at IIM Lucknow have been superior. This is in spite of the prevailing macro-economic scenario, re-affirming the consistent demand within the industry for talent from IIM Lucknow.

We hosted a total of 114 companies on campus, which is an increase of 15% over last year. This was in line with our strategy to invite more companies, as well as build diversity in terms of the sectors available for students to intern in. Companies from across industries reciprocated with great enthusiasm, as is evident from the number who recruited. This also resulted in new relationships established between the institute and more than 25 companies, who participated for the first time.

While several verticals & sectors including - Supply Chain Management & Operations, IT & Systems, Human Resources etc. see substantial representation in our process, the bulk of the offers as well as a majority of the student preferences was in the following 4 sectors this year.

Finance:-

32% of the batch will be interning in Finance roles within Investment banks, PE firms and other banking and financial services institutions. This represents an increase of 25 offers made by these organizations over last year.

Strategy & Consulting:-

An exciting trend is that 34% of students will have internships in Strategy & Consulting based roles within top consulting firms like McKinsey &Co., The Boston Consulting Group, PriceWaterhouse Coopers etc., as well as in conglomerates like the Tata Group, Aditya Birla Group and RPG. This was in line with the expectation of the students, who are rich on prior work-experience in terms of duration and quality. Thus, the number of students in the Strategy & Consulting function has seen a dramatic increase over last year’s number which was 27% of the batch.

Marketing:-

90 students have opted for marketing internships within global powerhouses like HUL, P&G, Diageo, Nokia, Johnson & Johnson, Asian Paints, Cadbury, Nestle etc. IIM Lucknow enjoys the participation of more firms from this domain than any other campus, owing to a strong culture that exists here, a fact that was reinforced this year as well.

Click here to view the Answer Key 

Over 2.5 lakh students, including 50,000 from the Delhi region, are vying for around 1800 seats in the elite Indian Institutes of Management this year. The students appeared for the Common Admission Test (CAT)which was held in 23 cities acros s the country on Sunday.

This year CAT had 90 questions across 3 sections, with Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation having 25 questions each and the Verbal Ability having 40 questions.  ”The paper was definitely easier than previous year,” said well known author of CAT books Arun Sharma.

According to Mumbai-based CAT trainer Munira Lokhandwala, “Data Interpretation was considerably tougher than last year, while Quant was as tough. English was easier.” Munira attempted 85 questions, the 5 unattempted questions being from DI.

This time Verbal was quite heavy in terms of number of questions and DI was a bit difficult compared to last year. Quant had a lot of easy ones for picking. With 40 questions in Verbal the paper was skewed towards studenst with high reading speed.

Anyone who did 10+ questions in quant , 8+ in DI and 12+ in verbal should easily clear individual cutoffs assuming 80% accuracy.

Overall anyone with more than 25 correct answers should be looking for an IIM call provided they clear the individual cutoffs. 

    CAT’08 Cut-offs For atleast one IIM call: QA:30-32 LRDI:28-30 EU:46-48 Overall cut-off:100+  

Pour in your views/counter-views about the attempts, cut offs, solutions, difficulty level etc.

What are your reasons for wanting to study in the United States?

Which universities will meet your needs?

Will you need financial assistance?

Find out application and financial aid deadlines. This will affect when you take the standardized tests required for admission since test results must reach admissions offices no later than these deadlines. The tests should be taken in advance of submitting university application forms.

Register to take standardized tests if required by the universities to which you are applying.

Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to approximately 10 to 20 institutions.

12 MONTHS PRIOR to enrollment, complete the following (months indicated are estimates, based on fall enrollment):

AUGUST
Contact universities for application and financial aid forms and catalogs.
Obtain test registration forms to take the TOEFL and SAT I and SAT II, if necessary.

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER
Continue narrowing down your choice of schools. While some students apply to more, 5 to 10 well-researched choices are sufficient.
Request an official transcript from your school.
Request letters of recommendation from your teachers.
Submit completed application forms (for admission as well as financial aid).
Double check that transcripts and references have been sent.
Take the necessary admissions tests.

JANUARY – APRIL
University application deadlines must be met; note that these are for regular admission — early admission deadlines will be sooner.

APRIL – JUNE
Letters of acceptance or rejection arrive. Decide which university to attend, notify the admissions office of your decision, complete and return any forms they require.
Send letters of regret to those universities you turn down.
Organize finances: arrange to transfer funds to a U.S. bank; make sure you have funds for travel and expenses on arrival.
Finalize arrangements for housing and medical insurance with your university.

JUNE – AUGUST

Use information from your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to fill out the SEVIS Form I-901 and pay the $100 required SEVIS fee (see SEVIS information for description of SEVIS form and fee).
Upon receipt of your I-20 and SEVIS I-901 payment receipt, apply to your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a visa. This should be as far in advance of your departure date as possible (see “Visas”).

Make travel arrangements.
Contact the International Student Office at your university with details of your arrival plans, and confirm details of any orientation for new students held by the university.
Requesting Application Materials

Because of the work, and the costs, involved in putting together a good application, most students limit their applications to between four and seven colleges. However, you can request information from as many universities as you like, keeping in mind any postage costs you may have to pay. You may have a clear idea of exactly which schools you will be applying to and request information only from those. Or you may prefer to request information from between 10 and 20 schools that you believe meet your needs, and then narrow down your list once you have read through the catalogs, application forms, and other information you receive.

If you have access to the Internet, you will find that many U.S. universities also put their college catalogs onto their websites, and some have even stopped printing paper copies. Many also have on-line application forms that can be completed on the computer and sent back to the university electronically, or the forms can be downloaded and printed. If there is an on-line application, you should use it. This is the quickest method for submitting your application. If you can download the application, appropriate parts of the catalog, and other information from a college’s website, you will not need to contact the school directly. Also, college websites increasingly offer other features, such as video tours of their campuses.

If you do not have access to the Internet and need printed copies of application materials and catalogs, contact each university by writing a letter or by sending a fax or e-mail request separately to each school. Include the information detailed in the section below, “What to Include,” in your written request. Or, you may prefer to submit a preliminary application form instead; contact your nearest EducationUSA information and advising center for copies of these forms.

Due to the cost of mailing to other countries, you may receive a shortened version of course listings, and you may be asked to pay if you require the entire catalog. Check to see if your information or advising center has copies of catalogs you need. If you do not receive, or cannot find, all the information you require, write or e-mail again to the international undergraduate admissions office and ask the specific questions you wish to have answered.

E-mail is an easy way to obtain an application and other materials, and U.S. universities are usually quick to respond. However, sometimes you may need to make a telephone call to follow up on a particular item. In that case, send a fax or e-mail ahead of time, telling the appropriate person that you will be telephoning, when you will call, and what you wish to discuss.

When to Send Your Inquiry

Send your first inquiry approximately 12 months before you plan to enroll. Give yourself sufficient time for possible delays in international mailings, especially if you are posting applications or requesting information in November or December when the high volume of holiday mail will often double the length of time mail takes to reach its destination.

Where to Send Your Inquiry

Address your requests for information to the Office of International Undergraduate Admissions. Be brief but clear in your request. Be sure to include the full zip (postal) code for the institution on the envelope to ensure that your letter reaches its destination as quickly as possible. You may also send these inquiries by e-mail.

What to Include

• name, address, age, and nationality (always be consistent in the spelling of your name and address);
• your secondary school diploma or examination results that you have obtained or that you will obtain;
• any postsecondary study you have undertaken (if applicable);
• the degree and subject you would like to major in (if known), and the proposed starting date;
• how you expect to finance your studies — if you need financial assistance from the university, inquire about the possibilities;
• results of TOEFL, SAT, and any other admissions tests, if already taken.

U.S. Visa and Immigration-Related Information

We are delighted that you are interested in studying in the United States, and we hope that you will be able to do so. Here is some information about student and other types of visas that we hope you will find useful as you plan for your academic program. Important questions about visas:

1. What is a Visa?

A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of entry and request permission from the U.S. immigration officer to enter the United States. It does not guarantee entry into the U.S. For more information about the definition of a visa, as well as policies and procedures regarding visas, please visit Destination USA.

2. What type of visa do I need to become an academic student in the United States?

Most non-U.S. citizens who wish to study in the United States will seek an F-1 (non-immigrant) student visa, but there are other visa types that are sometimes authorized for those who study in the U.S. Here is a short description of the different visa types that involve study:

F-1, or Student Visa: This visa is the most common for those who wish to engage in academic studies in the United States. It is for people who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university or to study English at a university or intensive English language institute.

J-1, or Exchange Visitor: This visa is for people who will be participating in an exchange visitor program in the U.S. The “J” visa is for educational and cultural exchange programs.
M-1, or Student Visa: This visa is for those who will be engaged in non-academic or vocational study or training at an institution in the U.S.

3. Applying for a Visa – Key Points to Keep in Mind

In order to apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, you must first have a SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)-generated document (either an I-20 or DS-2019) issued by a U.S. college or university or Department of State-designated sponsor organization. You will be required to submit this form when you apply for a visa. The U.S. academic institution or program sponsor will provide you with the appropriate SEVIS-generated form only when you have been academically admitted to the institution or accepted as a participant in an exchange program. The institution or program sponsor will also send you additional information about applying for the appropriate visa, as well as other guidance about beginning your academic program in the United States.

Once you have all the required documentation, you may apply for the visa, even if you do not intend to begin your program of study for several months. It is best to apply early for the visa to make sure that there is sufficient time for visa processing.

Planning Ahead for the Visa Process, Not Just Your Academic Admission

One of the most important things you can do to ensure that you will be able to arrive in time for the start of your educational program in the United States is to plan well in advance, not only for the academic portion of your U.S. program, but also for the visa process. This means you will need to request and receive the appropriate visa-qualifying document (either an I-20 or DS-2019) from the U.S. institution or program sponsor well in advance of your planned departure to the United States. You will also need to make an appointment for your visa interview. Please consult the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you to find out how long it may take to get an appointment.

Applying for a Visa – Key Points to Keep in Mind

Among the things you’ll need to do is pay the SEVIS fee, pay the visa processing fee (the procedure will differ from one U.S. Embassy/Consulate to another, so visit the website of the U.S. Embassy, and make an appointment for the visa interview (again, procedures will differ, so visit the website of the U.S. Embassy). You should also make sure you have all the documentation you will need when you go for the interview, including the visa-qualifying document (I-20 or DS-2019), financial support documents, proof of payment of the SEVIS and visa fees, and a completed visa application form. Ensure that you complete the visa application correctly by following the Department of State website procedures carefully.

Key Information about Visas and Entering the United States

There are two additional bits of information that are useful to know. The first is that the U.S. Embassy/Consulate cannot issue a visa more than 120 days before the actual start of the program in the United States. However, visa applicants are encouraged to apply for their visa as soon as they are prepared to do so. Thus, if the college or university to which you have been admitted states on the I-20 or DS-2019 that the program will start on September 1, a visa cannot be issued before June 1. Second, even if you have been issued a visa to enter the United States, you will not be allowed to enter the country more than 30 days before the start of your program, if you are an initial entry student. Returning students do not have this requirement. Using the earlier example, if the program of study starts on September 1, you will not be permitted to enter the United States until August 1 or later.

4. Where can I find more information about the visa application process in my country?

Most of the procedures and requirements for applying for the various types of student visas, as well as for the Exchange Visitor visa are standardized and are described at the websites behind the “learn more” links provided above. Some procedures vary from country to country, for example, how to pay the visa application processing fee and how to make an appointment for an interview. For details on applying for a Student or Exchange Visitor visa in the country in which you are located, please visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you.

5. What is SEVIS?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), administered by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is an Internet-based system that maintains data on foreign students and exchange visitors before and during their stay in the United States. For more information about the SEVIS program, visit the ICE website.

In order to enroll students from other nations, U.S. colleges and universities must be approved by the School Certification Branch of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Most U.S. institutions of higher education have received this approval.

6. What happens when I arrive in the U.S.?

Arriving & Studying in the U.S. - Immigration Related Information

U.S. immigration law governs the entry of all visitors to the United States, including students and exchange visitors. It details what they are authorized to do during their stay in the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the agency responsible for ensuring that these visitors comply with U.S. law and regulations. When you arrive in the United States, you, too, will come under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security, and one of the three units within DHS responsible for non-U.S. citizens: the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection; the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau.

On your plane to the U.S. or when you arrive in the U.S., you will receive a Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record). Please safeguard this form; it contains the official record of your stay in the United States. For more information about arriving in the U.S., see, “Arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry — What a Student can Expect,” or, “Arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry — What an Exchange Visitor can Expect,” on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.

To obtain answers to questions you may have regarding your stay in the United States (for example, travel outside the United States, employment, and much more) visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. After you arrive in the U.S., you may wish to direct your questions to the office at your educational institution that is responsible for services to international students. This office should be able to provide you with the answer(s) you need or refer you to a person or office that can.

What to Do When You Arrive at the College or University in the U.S.

Once you arrive on campus, you should report immediately to the office that is responsible for assisting international students and scholars. It may be called the Office of International Services, the Office of International Education, the International Programs Office, or some other similar name. Whatever the name, however, that office can help you with any questions or concerns you may have about immigration rules and regulations. Moreover, that office must report your arrival within the SEVIS system. If this report is not submitted, you may be considered to be in violation of your status in the United States, so be sure to make the international student office one of your first stops on campus.

We hope that this information has been helpful to you, and we wish you good luck as you prepare your plan to study in the United States.

These web pages will be of use to those who want to pursue their studies in the US

Click here for higher education accreditation

Click here for education USA

Click here for GRE

Click herefor MBA

Click here for GRE

Click here for VISA

Click here for US Visa policy and how to get a VISA

Click here for Department of Homeland Security - Form I-901 Application

Click here for Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions

Click here for Student and Exchange Visitor Program

Click herefor Student and Exchange Visitor Program Approved Schools

Click here for US immigration and customs enforcement

Click here for US Citizenship and immigration

CAT-2008 will be conducted on November 16 and results will be declared on January 9, 2009

Scores of the Common Entrance Test (CAT) conducted by Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs) will now be available through SMS and email.

“Getting CAT scores through SMS and email is an option introduced by us to decrease the pressure on our website where the results are available online”, Head of the IIM-Ahmedabad examination committee Satish Deodhar said on Thursday.

“When the CAT results are announced, lakhs of candidates log on to the IIM website to know the results. This puts a lot of load on the website,” Deodhar said.

“So, we have decided to introduce the service that would allow the candidates to know their scores by sending an SMS or putting up a request through email. We have mentioned these options in this year’s CAT information bulletin itself,” he said.

“We will be sending the scores through post, which will be considered the most authentic document,”

Deodhar said.
Last year over two lakh students had appeared for CAT examinations.

Deodhar said they had tried out the SMS service last year and had received good response and that’s why it has been officially introduced from this year.