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MBA Admission Process at Top Colleges: What Candidates Must Know

Staff Writer: Sweata Maiti

Last Updated: November 3, 2025, 02:20:00 PM IST

Synopsis: A detailed overview of the admission and selection procedures followed by leading MBA colleges in India reveals that applicants must clear a competitive entrance exam followed by assessments like Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). Institutions also consider past academic performance, work experience, and diversity factors.

The Aspiring MBA candidates aiming for premier business schools must navigate a multi-stage selection process. The standard procedure begins with an entrance examination and is followed by evaluation rounds such as WAT, GD and PI.

Step 1: Eligibility & Entrance Exam
Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university and meet any specified minimum percentage criteria. The first major hurdle is clearing a national or state-level management entrance test accepted by the institution.

Step 2: Shortlisting & Assessment Rounds
Based on entrance exam scores, institutions publish shortlists. These shortlisted candidates then undergo a combination of Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). These rounds assess analytical thinking, communication skills, leadership potential, and career clarity.

Step 3: Final Selection
The final merit list is typically determined by a weighted score comprising entrance test results, performance in WAT/GD/PI, past academic records (10th, 12th, graduation), work experience if applicable, and institutional diversity norms.

Additional Notes:

Some institutes may have direct admission tracks for candidates with exemplary credentials or extensive work experience, though this is less common among top-tier schools.
Since there is no unified national counselling process for MBA admissions, applicants often need to apply individually to each institute.
Applicants are advised to check each institution’s specific criteria, deadlines, permissible entrance exams, and application procedures in advance.

This structured yet competitive pathway demands timely preparation, awareness of each institution’s requirements, and strong performance across multiple stages. Prospective students are encouraged to start early, plan applications across several institutes, and allocate adequate time for both test preparation and the subsequent assessment rounds.