IIML - Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow

SJMSOM at IIT B was founded in 1995, making it a relatively newer institution. But for a couple of years now, it has been making headlines because of some really outstanding profiles that were provided. Its core competencies are operations and supply chain management. There is no doubt that IIT B is the best choice if you want to work as a product manager. IIT B also has a beautiful campus with excellent facilities.

Additionally, it would give you the opportunity to take part in MOOD-I, the most significant cultural festival in all of Asia, which is held at IIT Bombay. With the well-known tech fests, there is another opportunity for you to participate. Furthermore, there are benefits to living in Mumbai. For guest lectures, the majority of the industry experts live nearby and are easily reachable. 

IIM Lucknow was founded in 1984, so it has 11 batches more alumni than IIT B, resulting in approximately 3300 more alumni (considering 300 students per batch on average). It is also the fourth oldest IIM, following A, B, and C. You will gain a lot more industry experience, which will assist you in deciding what you truly want to do. In addition, IIM L offers better opportunities in Sales & Marketing, Consultancy, and BFSI than SJMSOM. Furthermore, you will be networking with a large number of students from all over the country and forming lifelong friendships. Furthermore, the IIM tag for a managerial position has an advantage over the IIT tag, which is still developing.

It would be fine if you went to IIM L, SJMSOM, or any other B school a few years later. When you switch from the first company you get after your placements, the new recruiters will be more interested in your work than in the college you attended. And the impact of your college's name gradually fades. What remains are the lessons you've learned and the memories you've made over the last two years. 

When discussing a business school, the most common topics of conversation are diversity, peer learning, case competitions, learning culture, and placements.

Both FMS and IIM Lucknow have very different admissions criteria. Lucknow promotes academic diversity and places a high value on interview scores, whereas FMS places a greater emphasis on percentile.

Typically, classes in business schools last until five o'clock. If you stay on campus, you have the option of sleeping until 8 p.m. and then attending a club/committee event at 9 p.m. When you have in-house fields, you can relieve stress by playing football or cricket at night. You have the chance to run your own business at IIML thanks to their student-run enterprises on campus.

When it comes to faculty, case competitions, and academic curriculum, both brands are massive, and there are numerous opportunities. Additionally, since ROI is the topic of most discussion, FMS succeeds in this area if cost is a genuine concern.

You should definitely attend IIM Lucknow rather than FMS Delhi. IIM is a brand, a distinguishing mark that will stay with you for the rest of your life. You never give up the IIM tag for FMS, no matter how much it costs.

The FMS campus has a dingy canteen the size of a bungalow, women dressed in glittery clothing roaming around, and plenty of heat and dust. There are also no hostels. You must take a PG if you go there. Food will be provided by the PG and nearby vendors.

In terms of finances, IIML fees are not comparable to Harvard fees. If you have given money to coaching institutes, you can certainly afford IIML. You may need to take out a loan, but you can certainly afford it.

Anyway, back to culture and way of life. In comparison to FMS, IIMs are king-size. Acres of land, well-kept cultivated greenery, a clean campus, and tasty mess food. Any IIM mess is better than most engineering colleges' mess, and Lucknow's Mess is delicious. The sports complex includes a large swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam bath, large courts, and other amenities. Every two months, there will be massive student festivals where you can interact with students from other IIMs. You'll get a free membership to a nearby club where you can wine and dine. The student exchange program with Europe at IIM Lucknow is fantastic. You have the opportunity to study alongside international students and make friends from all over the world.

During the IIM Lucknow summer placements for the 2022-24 batch, 570 job offers were made and over 185 recruiters visited the campus. Aside from that, the highest and average stipends offered during summer placements at IIM Lucknow for the 2022-24 batch were INR 3.5 lakh per month and INR 1.41 lakh per month, respectively.