What should I ask current students at IIM Kashipur or other Baby IIMs before committing?

Before committing to IIM Kashipur or any Baby IIM, ask current students and recent alumni specific data-driven questions covering placement reality, academic quality, campus life, and long-term career outcomes. Aim for 5-8 candid conversations that reveal ground-truth beyond official marketing.

Critical questions to ask

1. Placement reality

• "What was your median classmate's placement package?"
• "How many in your batch took 'family business' as placement?"
• "What percentage was unplaced at graduation vs end of calendar year?"
• "Which recruiters consistently visited vs promised but didn't show?"
• "What were the bottom quartile placements (if any)?"

2. Specific recruiter engagement

• "Did top consulting firms (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) actually visit?"
• "How many offers from MBB firms vs claimed visits?"
• "What was the average compensation at [specific firm]?"
• "Are placement stats published in detail or aggregated?"

3. Academic quality

• "How rigorous is the curriculum?"
• "Are faculty responsive and capable?"
• "What's the gap between course content and industry relevance?"
• "How useful were specific electives you took?"
• "Do students actually learn versus just pass courses?"

4. Campus life and infrastructure

• "Hostel and mess quality?"
• "Library and technology resources?"
• "Campus location logistics and transportation?"
• "Safety and social environment?"
• "Mental health support during intense periods?"

5. Alumni network strength

• "How active is the alumni network?"
• "Do you actually get referrals or mentorship from alumni?"
• "Which cities have strongest alumni chapters?"
• "Has any alum helped you post-graduation?"

6. Career trajectory post-graduation

• "Where are you now and what's your compensation?" (requires trust)
• "How many job switches have you made?"
• "Are you stuck or progressing?"
• "What's your honest advice?"

7. Regret factor

• "If you could redo the decision, would you choose this college again?"
• "What would you have done differently during your time there?"
• "Are your batch peers happy 3-5 years out?"

8. Specific program experiences

• "How did the specialization program differ from core PGP?"
• "Is [specific elective/program] worth taking?"
• "What clubs and activities helped your career?"
• "Which professors made the most impact?"

9. Practical logistics

• "Cost of living at the campus city?"
• "Total fees + living expenses for 2 years?"
• "Any hidden costs or fee increases?"
• "Scholarship availability and process?"

10. Career support from placement cell

• "How effective was the placement cell?"
• "Did you get interview preparation support?"
• "Are there mock interviews with industry professionals?"
• "Post-graduation career support?"

How to find current students and alumni

1. LinkedIn search

• Filter by college name and graduation year
• Target 2022-2024 graduates (recent)
• Send polite DMs with specific questions
• Expect 20-30% response rate

2. Official alumni chapters

• Visit alumni chapter websites
• Attend chapter events as aspirant (many are open)
• Request mentor introductions

3. Reddit and forums

• r/MBAIndia, r/CATpreparation, ask specifically about this college
• Pagalguy college-specific forums
• College-specific Facebook groups

4. Direct contact through college

• Request student ambassador contacts from admission office
• Ask placement cell for alumni introductions

5. Networking events

• College open houses
• MBA fairs and exhibitions
• Industry events where alumni speak

Conversation best practices

1. 01Be specific with questions (not generic "is it good?")
2. 02Respect alumni time (30-minute max)
3. 03Ask for honest feedback, not marketing speak
4. 04Take notes during conversations
5. 05Compare insights across multiple alumni
6. 06Thank them and offer to help in future

Red flags in alumni responses

1. 01Defensive answers about placement numbers
2. 02Reluctance to discuss bottom-quartile outcomes
3. 03Overly positive without acknowledging challenges
4. 04Refusing to share compensation range
5. 05Generic "it depends on individual" answers
6. 06Discouraging comparison with other colleges

Green flags in alumni responses

1. 01Honest acknowledgment of strengths and weaknesses
2. 02Specific data points and numbers
3. 03Differentiation between top and median outcomes
4. 04Willingness to discuss their own pay progression
5. 05Constructive advice for improving outcomes
6. 06Comparison with other colleges they considered

Decision framework after conversations

Green path (take the admit)

• Median placement aligns with your expectations
• Strong alumni consistently positive about experience
• Clear advantages over your alternatives
• Financial math works

Yellow path (reconsider carefully)

• Mixed feedback from alumni
• Placement closer to lower end of expectations
• Alternatives exist but marginal differences
• Financial stress likely

Red path (skip)

• Alumni consistently discourage
• Placement significantly below claims
• Better alternatives available
• Financial math doesn't work

For Baby IIMs specifically

• Compare Kashipur with Ranchi, Rohtak, Udaipur, Trichy
• Rank by alumni satisfaction and actual outcomes
• Avoid if alternatives exist

Don't commit Rs 15-20L based on marketing alone. Invest 5-10 hours in alumni conversations before deciding. The information value is enormous compared to time invested.

---

Where to go next

For the full picture on New Iims, see the dedicated college page: New Iims review. Or check your overall fit across 58+ Indian MBAs using the free eligibility checker (2 minutes).

Related questions

• What does a realistic career trajectory from a Baby IIM look like over 5-10 years?
• How does IIM Udaipur's DEM (Digital Enterprise Management) program compare to regular PGP?
• What career paths do IIM Sambalpur graduates actually end up in after 3-5 years?