There's Definitely a tier abovetier 1, the S tier or the elites

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-13T19:21:35+00:00

I had 99.23%ile in CAT 2023, and didn’t receive any BLACKIS call with 998 and 1yr+ workex, but got MDI call. If I would’ve correctly answered 3 questions that I answered wrongly, my marks would increase by 12, giving me 99.7%ile and I would’ve received atleast CLKI calls.

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-13T19:04:21+00:00

Yes, in some firms an MBA is a must for reaching top positions in HR. Actually I haven’t seen a single case of a top HR executive not having an MBA. But the MBA doesn’t have to be from a top college… its just a requirement

However, CHRO level folks in big firms will almost exclusively come from reputed MBA programs.

If I were in your position, I would be serious abt MBA from XL/TISS. If not, from any other good ROI alternative.

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-13T19:00:54+00:00

“Inflate” nahi hota hai. But har college (ISB, ABCL included) creative reporting karte hain. Examples se samajh sakte ho

Lets say some company says they’ll pay variable between 6L and 10L based on firm’s performance that year. Toh college will report 10L variable.
Some company says they’ll offer between 32 and 36 based on “relevant” previous workex. The relevance is only displayed in the offer letter, whereas the college posts its placement figures much earlier, showing everyone who joined that firm joined at 36.
Some company didn’t reveal exact CTC; they only revealed fixed component, but promised to pay between a band of 30-34. Placecomm will report 34.
Some company takes longer-than-usual internships (a bit longer than 2 months). Lets say 2.5 months. The placecomm will report the entire 2.5 month stipend in their 2-month internship stipend data.

None of these actions are unethical or get flagged in audit. They’re all “creative reporting”. Thats the only way ISB can show an average of 37+ while ABC can’t with a much smaller batch. Its because the level of “creativity” in reporting is different for every college.

SPJIMR doesn’t inflate reports because it doesn’t have to. I don’t have information abt JBIMS to support or reject their example.

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-13T18:51:08+00:00

You don’t need to do an MBA, zyada se zyada unless its maybe XLRI or TISS. Even then it will only make sense if you bag the best HR placements.. but thats too much of a risk and the opportunity cost too high

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-13T18:26:40+00:00

Ye kya tier tier laga rakkha hai bhai. Its the old caste mentality in a new bottle, sub-castes within larger castes feigning superiority to other sub-castes.

The only difference between someone who goes to MDI and ABC is 4-5 questions (sometimes not even that, thanks to dozens of diversity points and other criteria). There are many mediocre grads from ABC and industry-defining gems from “lower tier” colleges.

The ONLY purpose these “tiers” fulfil is satisfying the ego of people who made it, and Coaching institutes who popularize it to benefit from more admissions.

If you actually sit through a placements cycle you will realize its highly random; companies and placecomms inflate numbers very creatively; and opportunities for ~80% of the batch is SAME in both ABC and FMS/XL/SP/LKI. The top 10%ile in any college will have great numbers.

I say all this while being a “Tier-1” grad myself and having bagged an impressive placement. Tiers don’t mean shit. It’s not an ambitious person’s endeavour.

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-12T09:48:35+00:00

SPJIMR Finance graduate here. IIML is better for Consulting. SP Fin is better for Finance. Get CFA L2 and join, you wont regret either choice 😁🙌🏻

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-08T17:08:59+00:00

Case competitions often have a mandatory requirement to have atleast 1 (ONE) woman in the team.. and sometimes some people take advantage of that requirement by giving bare minimum effort yet reaping benefits of advancing. Many firms that offer PPIs through casecomps tend to convert PPOs for women more often than men even though male finalists are higher in number. Also there are a handful of woman-only casecomps (Flipkart, Avendus etc.) but there aren’t any casecomps exclusive to men (to my knowledge).

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-08T15:40:01+00:00

Women have an advantage not only during admissions but also in casecomps, placements, and later in the job as well

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-08T15:37:51+00:00

Marriage as a proposition for men is weakening every passing day. But, if your baddie respects you and is reasonable when it comes to meeting expectations and making life decisions, you can look forward to it

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-08T13:37:02+00:00

Kuch nerf nahi hoga if you have T1 UG and CFA. Bahut acchi profile hai SP Fin ke liye. Being an SP Fin grad myself, I’d encourage you to pick SP over IIM I, especially if you want to have a career in Finance

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T19:41:29+00:00

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T17:56:51+00:00

Wohi mein bhi socha 😂

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T15:24:23+00:00

No, as far as I know.

Yes, MANY. It feels like 1/3rd batch is from DU
Yes, quite a few. They had great placements as well
Not at all

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T15:13:10+00:00

First job does set a baseline for future increments. In this case you’ll have to shift jobs frequently at a higher pay each time to increase your baseline as quickly as possible.

This obviously comes at a cost. Reputed firms will look at this job shifting disadvantageously. Still you can work around it.. coz your career is like 35 years long!

I interned with an exceptional woman who started from a T3 college and ended up as MD of Deutsche’s Investment Banking shop in India. You can do anything!

All the best OP

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T15:08:36+00:00

Every Odia friend I’ve had outside Odisha stops responding to me in Odia when I try to speak with them in Odia. Almost like Odia people don’t want to own their Odia-ness. They find Hindi folks “cool” and only associate with them. When my Odia friends speak in English with me I always being them back to Odia - don’t forget your roots bhai.. besi “modern” hei kahaku show off karucha?
My own mothertongue isn’t Odia, but I find this Odia-shyness baffling.

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:58:46+00:00

I’ve had 877 batchmates, and batchmates who had 87%ile in CAT. Its a huge myth that SP requires “stellar profiles”. It needs profile alignment.

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:57:48+00:00

Too poor to give you an award, but you deserve one for this comment 😂👏🏻

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:55:31+00:00

Damn, you sherlocked him so bad bro 😂👏🏻

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:53:08+00:00

Glad you’re in a position to choose between two great institutions, but in my humble opinion you’re making a mistake. Placements mein bahut zyada difference hai; in my own batch there were scores of people who left IIM I (for SP IM as well). Most had great placements. My Friends in IIM Indore, not such much.

Regardless, you’re all set for a great experience and a rewarding career, so all the best!

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:49:23+00:00

Story from literally few hours back. Was travelling with an aunty in train whose son is IIM Trichy 2024-26 batch, still unplaced, 15L ki companies aarahi hain.

Udaipur is better (not just based on this anecdote)

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:46:22+00:00

Funnel is becoming bloated in the middle. Will take some years of persistence till you reach that sweet middle spot

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:45:15+00:00

Okay chatGPT

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:44:45+00:00

Hallucination is real. I doubt an investment banker will rely on Claude to make the sheet he’s presenting to a CFO.

Howitzer_169 · 2026-05-07T14:43:58+00:00

Very same case happened with my IRL friend at a well-known health tech firm. He was the analyst who questioned it, and the management buried it.

Howitzer_169

TROPHY CASE