How to Get Admission in IIM for Data Science?

The Indian Institutes of Management, commonly referred to as IIMs, are renowned educational and research institutions for management in India. Many individuals aspiring to pursue an MBA aspire to be admitted to an IIM, which leads to numerous inquiries regarding the admission process and how to gain entry. Gaining admission to an IIM involves a series of steps and substantial effort to succeed in the entrance examination and pass the interview rounds. The final decision on offering a seat is based on the candidate’s performance in these stages, as well as their academic and professional background. To secure a place at an IIM, certain stages must be successfully cleared before receiving a final offer of admission. In this blog, we will give you information on how to get admission in IIM for data science. 

Data Science Course at IIM 

This advanced program is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their careers by utilizing data analytics. Its aim is to equip participants with the necessary analytical mindset to disrupt, innovate, and expand their organization’s business strategies, resulting in improved return on investment (ROI).

The program is suitable for:

• Early-career professionals looking to enhance their skills and pursue a career in domains such as data analytics, product development, sales, marketing, and branding.
• Senior managers and leaders desire a comprehensive understanding of how analytics can be applied to formulate superior business strategies.
• Consultants seeking to leverage data analytics, insights, and strategic thinking to help their clients make meaningful connections.
• Entrepreneurs and business owners who are eager to drive customer-focused decision-making through practical data analytics strategies.

Also Read: Data Science Course

How to Get Admission in IIM for Data Science?

The Aspiring candidates who want to apply for data science courses at IIM can follow the simple steps mentioned below: 

Step 1 – Common Aptitude Test (CAT) 

The initial step involves taking the Common Aptitude Test (CAT) conducted by the IIMs (or the GMAT for international candidates). It is an entrance examination organized by the IIMs to assess candidates’ eligibility for their management programs. With intense competition, approximately 200,000 candidates attempt the CAT exam for around 5,000 available seats in the IIMs. To meet the IIM cutoff criteria, candidates must aim for strong performance in both the overall and sectional aspects of the exam.

Step 2 – PI/WAT and GD Round

Candidates who meet the specified criteria receive invitations for additional rounds, which may include Group Discussions (GD), Personal Interviews (PI), and Written Ability Tests (WAT). 

At IIMs, the PI stage typically involves interactions with IIM faculty members, occasionally supplemented by ex-faculty or alumni. This phase assesses a candidate’s various soft skills and interpersonal abilities, encompassing a range of topics from personal background to work and academic experiences. 

Additionally, IIMs administer the WAT to evaluate a candidate’s writing skills and comprehension of the given topic. It is worth noting that Group Discussions (GDs) are no longer a regular part of the IIM selection process, except for IIM Shillong, where GDs are conducted during the second stage of selection.

Step 3 – Final Round

The final round offers of admission for each category of candidates are determined solely based on the final aggregate score, considering various factors such as work experience, gender, school board, and more. Weightage is assigned to these factors during the evaluation process.

Also Read: How to Prepare for CAT?

Eligibility Criteria for IIM 

The eligibility criteria for IIMs align with the requirements for CAT. Nonetheless, it is important to consider the following additional points:

• Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% for general, EWS, and NC-OBC categories, or 45% for SC, ST, and PwD categories.
• Individuals in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply.
• To be eligible for the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds, candidates must meet the minimum cutoff scores and can anticipate receiving interview invitations.

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