How JAGSoM Grew Applications by 50% and Improved Batch Profile by Finding “Rough Diamonds”

JAGSoM’s admission process that aims to “Find Rough Diamonds” seems to be delivering results as the B-School offers a Globally acclaimed Curriculum with Global Faculty on its rolls. After adopting significant changes in its admission policy last year, JAGSoM saw an unprecedented increase in aspirant interest with applications jumping by almost 70% and for Admissions 2024 also, JAGSoM expects the momentum to continue with higher applications

MBAUniverse.com News Desk | January 18, 2024

While most B-schools were struggling to grow their application numbers last year, JAGSoM stood out with its unique and differentiated admissions approach. Not only did it manage to grow its application numbers by a whopping 50%, it also improved the quality of the Batch. Indeed, JAGSoM’s admission strategy, internally known as “Finding the Rough Diamond”, is a strategy worth documenting.

But, before we review JAGSoM’s admission strategy, here is a quick overview of the institution, which has transformed itself in the last decade.

JAGSoM Bangalore Admission 2024 Open: Apply Now

JAGSoM’s Transformative Journey – Key milestones
Here are some key milestones in the transformative journey of JAGSoM since 2010…

• In 2010, BITS Alumni & Tech-entrepreneur Sanjay Padode took over as the Chairman of IFIM Business School, set up in 1995 by his Father late Shri VB Padode, founder of Dalal Street Journal (DSJ) Group.
• In 2018, IFIM Business School became the sixth B-school in India after ISB, TAPMI, IIM Calcutta, IMT Ghaziabad, and XLRI, to be AACSB Accredited.
• In the same year, Dr. Atish Chattopadhyay, former Director of IMT Ghaziabad, Dean of MICA, and Deputy Director at SPJIMR Mumbai joined IFIM Business School.
• On October 21, 2020, IFIM Business School Bangalore got rechristened as JAGSoM after globally respected management guru Padma Bhushan Dr. Jagdish Sheth.
• In 2020, QS Masters in Marketing Ranking 2021 ranked JAGSoM amongst the Top 100 such programs in the world. It continues to feature in this ranking for last three years.
• In February 2022, JAGSoM became one of the first B-schools in India to get Multi-Campus (Bangalore & Mumbai-Karjat) & Multi-Program (BBA, MBA, PGDM, PGDM Executive) Accreditation from AACSB International.
• JAGSoM is now firmly established as No. 2 Business School in Bangalore, second only to IIM Bangalore. JAGSoM was ranked 26^th All India by Business Today Rankings 2024 and ranked 11^th in India among top private business schools by MBAUniverse.com Rankings 2024.
• JAGSoM achieved successful completion of placements and internships for the graduating PGDM Batch of 2021-23. The school witnessed an all-time high in domestic and international compensation packages, with the highest package offered at INR 43 LPA CTC. Average Salary stood at Rs 13.30 lakhs per annum. Top recruiters included Wipro, SAP Labs, Schneider Electric, Hexaware and Federal Bank among others. JAGSoM has placed all its students for IIP 2024. Read more.

JAGSoM offers PGDM and MBA Programs
Across Bangalore and Mumbai Campuses, JAGSoM offers following programs:

Who is a “Rough Diamonds”?
Let’s come back to the JAGSoM’s admission strategy – ‘Identifying Rough Diamonds’. Identifying Rough Diamonds, which refer to those students who may not have very high CAT/XAT percentile but possess innate managerial talent, is a well thought out strategy at JAGSoM, as this quote from Prof. Jagdish Sheth, Chairman, JAGSoM, also Charles H. Kellstadt Chaired Professor Marketing, Emory University reveals, “If you take a rough diamond and polish it, a good diamond cutter creates ten to fifteen times its value. However, if you take a human being, mentor and nurture him or her, the value and is infinite. There is no resource as powerful as human resource.”

To identify the candidate who are excellent raw material for their cutting edge PGDM program, JAGSoM assesses the candidates’ innate potential and value-fit. Explaining the rationale, Dr Atish Chattopadhyay, Director, JAGSoM, said, “JAGSoM’s distinctive admissions process places a strong emphasis on determining the “Value Fit” of applicants. JAGSoM’s unique intervention in selecting the candidates whom we name as the rough diamonds, focuses more on the learnability, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and ability to work in a team in preference of just focusing on the marks obtained by the aspirants.”

“Identifying Rough Diamonds”
So how does JAGSoM identify these talented students who are otherwise ignored in a typical MBA admission process. Simply put, while admission process at most B-schools is focused on entrance test scores and past academic performance, which is often a function of exam coaching, those with innate abilities like creativity, innovation and people skills, are left behind. JAGSoM’s unique admission process selects candidates with good learnability skills, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and team-skills. JAGSoM applies following approach in the selection process:

1. JAGSoM Management Aptitude Test (JAGMAT): This test measures a candidate’s innate aptitude.
2. Group exercise (GE): A 30-minute group activity for gauging candidates’ propensity for finding solutions in a team – groups of six to eight.
3. Personal Interview 1 (with the shoulder batch): To determine whether the current students perceive the candidate fitting into the JAGSoM values.
4. Personal Interview 2: A personal interview by industry experts, alumni and faculty.

This strategy used for last few years has seen positive outcomes, and JAGSoM says it will continue to strengthen this process. To validate, MBAUniverse.com asked for more details about CAT/XAT Cut Offs used for JAGSoM’s admission 2024 process. Even though JAGSoM can afford higher Cut Offs, it has kept them low to avoid missing out on ‘rough diamonds.’

JAGSoM Bangalore Admission 2024 Open: Apply Now

JAGSoM’s Admission 2024 Cut Off

JAGSoM also informed us that JAGMAT is mandatory test for all applicants of PGDM or MBA program.

Why JAGMAT?
According to JAGSoM, its entrance exam JAGMAT is an intrinsic part of candidate discovery process. Like MICAT of MICA, JAGMAT is an exam that constructed in such a way that it can capture the aspirant’s innate aptitude and ability. Scores obtained in JAGMAT acts as a catalyst for managerial potential, but also a deciding factor for award of scholarships.

Big Jump in Applications
In a remarkable development, JAGSoM witnessed an impressive 50% increase in the number of candidates applying for admission in 2023 compared to the preceding year. The statistics indicate a substantial surge, with the application count soaring from 1672 in 2022 to a notable 2510 in 2023. Notably, states such as West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Karnataka have recorded substantially higher application numbers, showcasing an expanding outreach. Additionally, the applicant pool exhibits diversity, with applications received. As JAGSoM gears up for the admissions season in 2024, it expects the growth trend to continue.

JAGSoM’s Unique Admission Process Shaped a Dynamic 2023-25 Batch
JAGSoM’s distinctive approach to admissions has culminated in the formation of a vibrant and diverse PGDM 2023-25 batch, embodying rich academic and cultural representation. The gender distribution within the batch stands at 60% male and 40% female, emphasizing a balanced and inclusive learning environment.

What sets this batch apart is its diverse academic background, with 80% of students hailing from varied disciplines such as Dental Surgery, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Pharmacy, Journalism & Mass Communication, and Law, among others. Additionally, 20% of the cohort brings engineering expertise, contributing to a multifaceted learning experience. Geographically, the batch is a true reflection of India’s diversity, with students representing 24 different states. Furthermore, 30% of the batch brings valuable corporate work experience, adding a practical dimension to the academic journey. This blend of professional insights and diverse academic foundations positions the PGDM 2023-25 batch as a dynamic and well-rounded cohort ready to navigate the challenges of the business world.

JAGSoM Program USPs for Batch 2024-26
So, what are the key initiatives that students applying for JAGSoM’s Admisions 2024 can look upto? Here a few unique ones.

• Role Defined ‘Career Tracks: This is an intervention that prepare a student to match their aspiration with opportunity. It prepares students for a ‘Role’ in terms of their career goals based on one’s strength. This is different from traditional B-Schools which prepare students for ‘function’ (Marketing, Finance etc) and NOT ‘roles’.
• Industry Internship Program (IIP): While a typical ‘Summer Internship’ for most B-schools fall between the first and the second year, JAGSoM’s IIP is held at the end of the program in the sixth term, after the student has done their core courses, elective courses required for their Major, and importantly have prepared for a ‘specific career role’ over the fourth and fifth term. Hence, JAGSoM IIP is a long 16 weeks initiative, held between November-February, just before the program ends. This gives students a big edge in Final Placements with 60% PPO!
• Pathway Program with Global B-schools:  JAGSoM offers pathway programs with leading B-Schools like State University of New York, University of Texas Arlington, and Georgia State University in USA. In Europe, JAGSoM has pathway programs with KEDGE Business School, Renne Business School in France and with HSLU at Switzerland. Students of the MBA program at JAGSoM can study one year in India in USA or Europe. The programs in USA are STEM certified enabling graduates to work for three years initially post the completion of the program.
• PGDM in Entrepreneurship: The newly launched PGDM in Entrepreneurship is ideal for those having an idea and want to pursue their dream as an entrepreneur and those in family businesses. The program allows participants to have access to One-to-One Mentoring Support from successful start-up founders and access to Venture Capital. The program provides a structured pathway for students to work on their start-up ideas. The unique feature of the program is JAGSoM’s belief in the venture – taking a stake in those being selected by providing seed – funding.
• After reading this article it will be clear to you how JAGSoM grew its applications by 50% and improved batch profile by finding “Rough Diamonds”. The Admission Process for JAGSoM’s 2024-26 batch is currently open. Read more and Apply Now.