SOIL Institute of Management Review By Harsh Bhatt

In the construct of my career, SOIL has played a major role. There were many alternative B-Schools I was looking for but without great numbers at the entrance and major other requirements, I wouldn't have got the admissions at the likes of SIBM, MDI, or others, and was a little sceptical before I indeed joined SOIL. Now when I look back now, I feel like tapping my back, because I joined SOIL. Many other students from my batch do have the same feeling because SOIL is different but effective in placements and providing modern learning. If there's ever a B-School that can keep the show going then it has to be SOIL. I had friends in almost all top B-Schools, but when we used to discuss the pattern followed among our Colleges, they were like we are way ahead. The things that they did or studied in third semester; we did that in the first. Only concern that I could have was that it became too hectic for an individual. Daily we had to come to the College; as otherwise, the workload would only increase because nothing could be ignored.

I will pair the academics of SOIL with IIMs. I know you might say what, but look; IIM teaches you for two years and teaches the same things that we did in one year. IIM students may have learned everything in detail, but we too acquired the same knowledge. I was quite happy with the academics that happened at SOIL, especially because it all ended in a year. I didn't have the energy left in me to continue it for another year. If there's a thing that can help you move on at the campus, it is academics and SOIL knows that, so that's why they have made academics their strongest point.

Faculties are never seen dropping their shoulders because to get the things done from students in a rapid motion isn't easy for them too. They played a dual role as they played the kind of role that any faculties for that matter play, and then they played the role of being our friends. There were no timing issues as we could even text them at 9-10 pm and it was certain that we would receive a reply from them. So, the faculty of SOIL has shown why they are so wonderfully versatile. So, the breakthrough thing of SOIL was their faculty for me.

I am very happy with the kind of placements that SOIL provided. Banks, Auto, and IT companies led the placements at SOIL. Many students were placed as some of them were already hired directly while many had placements through campus. The placement setting was fantastic as on odd days we saw IT, Auto, and other companies, but banks were regular as HDFC Bank hires maximum students from SOIL every year. The average package offered by SOIL was 8-9 lakhs and some students who had extraordinary skills found extraordinary jobs with packages double than the average placements.

Well, a little sad about the hostels because hostels are compulsory, if you want to invite students from other states. The reason why the maximum crowd of the College is from NCR is because the College doesn't provide any hostel facilities. The locality of the College is close to residential areas and it is easy to find flats around the College. Luckily, few outsiders joined SOIL, so the few students who came from distant places had to find a living space off-campus. Also, the area close to the College is expensive, but those who can afford the annual fees of SOIL can afford the boarding and lodging cost near SOIL.

The campus area is the bare minimum, but one will still be saluting the campus arrangement as it was damn good. There are five floors and each floor has something or the other. The conference hall, and the auditorium were on the first floor, and the second and third floor were for classes. The fourth floor had a recreation room which could easily accommodate over 100 students at a time. The top floor was a library which in a way was small, but we could access CME at any point as the library was fully automated. So, the building was excellent and the little parking area was good enough; there was enough space outside the College gate to park vehicles.

Some activities kept happening at the campus, but students themselves denied many activities as we were left with no time for ourselves while studying at SOIL. So, SOIL was all about learning and developing skills because the small crowd that we had at SOIL was so good that each student was friends with almost every other student at the College.