Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies MBA Review By Mustaq Shah

Symbiosis is like an Akshay Kumar film that creates hype and also lives up to that expectation as well. Students from all over the country want to be a part of Symbiosis but it’s not that simple. I took a year’s break after my graduation to prepare for the entrances. CAT I appeared just for the sake of it by my target was always Symbiosis. SIBM was my first choice and SCMHRD the next but the required percentile I couldn’t meet and had to satisfy myself with SIMS. I didn’t know at the beginning that college has a reservation quota or rather the college is dedicated for Defense personnel kids. It was only after I entered the campus I saw that board at the college that it is dedicated to Defense Personnel and their Dependents is the only Symbiosis Institute that is built in tandem with Ministry of Defense. In short SIMS has a range of facilities that are truly good and as a student at SIMS; you can get your routines done interruption free.

The MBA program that SIMS offers is industry oriented. SIMS is a great option if you want real exposure as live projects and industrial visit from the second semester itself started. By the end of third semester if you have had a great internship, you will have a job in hand. This is how the academics were at SIMS. The air-conditioned classrooms never let the long lectures get boring. The newly introduced tools and digital blackboards in the classroom made learning more curious. It was a nice start to the day as the lectures started as early as 8am in the morning and lasted till 4 on regular days. However, if we had a long break in-between it may extend up to 6 or 7 as well.

Not just the studies but interpersonal skills were identified as the faculty were part of the committee where students skills were gauged. The industrial network of the faculty members is great and once you are in their good books they will help you with an internship program at your desired industry. The faculty was quite helpful and know the means through which they brought out the best in us. The way they pushed us to the limit is helping me in my current job as the fierce competition in industry has no place for complacency is what I learned from my faculty members at SIMS.

Though I passed out a few years back the placement during our time were unimaginable. Average package offered was Rs. 9 LPA. Top or the loyal recruiters of SIMS over the years have been Citi Bank, DCB Bank, and Deloitte among others. The roles that we got in the industries we were placed include manager, or marketing analyst. I did MBA in finance and operations and therefore my preferred bet was brokerage firms. CITI Bank is one of the oldest in the business and was lucky to get placed with them in my city Hyderabad. Almost everybody got the desired placements as there were nearly 100 companies that showed faith in SIMS students. From big names to start-ups there were various companies and placement record at SIMS is 100% for past many years.

The college has a hostel in its amenities list. There are separate boys and girls hostels and both has more or less the same facilities. The rooms are spacious and were allotted on 2-3-4 sharing basis. I didn’t stay at the hostel so don’t know much about hostel life. The students did bragged that we had so and so and there was a party at the hostel but all I know there are strict rules in place. The food obviously has to be good as it’s the Ministry of Defense who looks after the quality of food being served.

The college is small in area not so small just comparing it with some of the other colleges like Christ and IIMS. The facilities though are no less as air-conditioned and comfortable classrooms, high standard labs and library. The campus area and the greenery surrounding it. One notable thing I would like to mention is that in our days there was nothing nearby the college but now from food courts to multiplex there are almost everything in college vicinity. From transportation point of view as well, you get auto, buses and ola-uber taxi services is available in minutes from booking. The campus has a canteen and a midnight canteen that is opened till morning. Hence, there’s no such facility that you don’t have at SIMS campus.

Army kids are disciplined if you any such ideas please forget as I have seen them or rather lived with them and they are the biggest brats you will ever find. Mostly North Indian students occupied the campus and from a city like Hyderabad we were just 2 students. The college events and Conundrum that is a flagship event of SIMS was one of the toughest competitions that I have faced or seen thus far. The SIU cricket tournament in which all the colleges that falls under Symbiosis University participated. The award function, the farewell program and every year SIMS also celebrate the International Yoga day were the hallmark of campus life at SIMS.