Guide to Pre-MBA Careers for Students

'Pre-MBA' refers to the time and activities preceding the due date for joining an MBA program. These may include pre-MBA courses, work experience, or internships that should prepare a student for an extremely demanding MBA curriculum.

It can further develop business skills, offer clarity for careers, act as a passport toward becoming a preferred candidate, offer networking opportunities, and boost confidence so that the students are well-prepared for their MBA journey.

Students planning to enroll in an MBA find that relevant experience and prior knowledge make a big difference during their study tenure. Pre-MBA opportunities in India are meant for the acquisition of foundational skills and insights that will facilitate students in their MBA courses. This guide will look at various pre-MBA opportunities and advantages, and how to apply for them.

Understanding Pre-MBA Opportunities

The Pre-MBA opportunity involves programs, training courses, or work that one can undergo in preparation for the stiff curriculum of an MBA. It encompasses several short-term courses, internship programs, and workshops on key business skills, leadership, and industry-based concepts. Through the programs, students would have a commanding knowledge of core business concepts as they join their respective MBA programs.

Pre-MBA Courses in India

India offers several Pre-MBA courses to provide students with the right set of skills and abilities.
Below are some of the Pre-MBA courses:

1. Bachelor of Engineering (B.E. or B.Tech).
2. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Management.
3. Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA).
4. Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com).
5. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).
6. Bachelor of Economics (B.Econ).
7. Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS).
8. Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

1. Bachelor of Engineering (B.E. or B.Tech)

• About: Professionals who work as engineers earn a lot of money which is the reason why most people pursue a four-year undergraduate program with the core of the program being the application of science as well as mathematics as a way of solving any engineering issues that can be applied for almost all the disciplines namely civil, mechanical electrical and computer engineering.
• Eligibility Criteria: Completion of 10+2 with Physics, chemistry, and mathematics with a minimum consolidating mark of 50-60 percent; more than, the minimum score in the entrance test of JEE Main or the equivalent test.
• Fee Range: INR 1,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 per year.
• Specializations: 1) Electrical Engineering.

2) Civil Engineering.

3) Mechanical Engineering.

4) Computer Science Engineering.

5) Electronics and Communication Engineering.

• Top 5 Colleges: 1) Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
  2) National Institutes of Technology (NITs).
  3) Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT).
  4) Delhi Technological University (DTU).
  5) Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani).

2. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Management

• About: This program deals with the Primary disciplines of Science as well as the Principles of management with special emphasis on areas like Marketing, Finance, and Human resources which lasts for three years.
• Eligibility Criteria: Completion of 10+2 in any stream with a minimum aggregate of 50-60 percent.
• Fee Range: INR 50,000 to INR 2,00,000 per year. 
• Specializations: 1) Human Resource Management.

2) Financial Management.

3) Marketing Management.

4) International Business.

5) Entrepreneurship.

• Top 5 Colleges: 1) Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune.
  2) St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.
  3) University of Mumbai.
  4) Christ University, Bangalore.
  5) Loyola College, Chennai.

3. Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA)

• About: The BCA course is an undergraduate three-year course in computer science and its applications. The course covers many subjects, such as programming languages, software development, database management, networking, and Web design. Thus, it will help the person who has passed this course to have a sound career which, within certain periods, will enable him or her to enter either the software industry or a higher study in the same field.
• Eligibility Criteria: The following are the minimum requirements for admission to the BCA program -
  
  1) You must have received 45–50% of your points in 10+2.
  
  2) There is a 5% relaxation if you belong to the reserved category.
  
  3) Some institutions require 10+2 maths coursework.
  
  4) The college determines the minimum age restriction as well. Generally speaking, 21 is the minimum age.
   
• Fee Range: Approximately INR 2 to 3 Lakhs. 
• Specializations: 1) Programming Languages (C++, JAVA, etc.).

2) Data Analytics.

3) AI and ML.

4) Cyber Security.

5) Cloud Computing.

• Top 5 Colleges: 1) Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR), Pune.
  2) Amity University, Noida.
  3) Christ University, Bangalore.
  4) St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
  5) Jai Hind College, Mumbai.

4. Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)

• About: B.Com is generally a three-year undergraduate course that covers all the various aspects of business and commerce. These include subjects such as accountancy, finance, economics, business law, taxation, management, and more. It is specifically meant to equip a student with the skills and knowledge necessary for dealing with careers concerning finance, accountancy, banking, business management, and other relevant areas. It even provides the base required for further studies like MBA and CA.
• Eligibility Criteria: While certain universities may have varying requirements, the following list includes some common qualifying standards for admission to B.Com programs -
  
  1) A recognized board must have awarded a diploma for class 12 or its equivalent to the candidates.
  
  2) Each college has a different minimum percentage required for admission to the B.Com program.
  
  3) Although applicants for admission to the B.Com program may come from any stream, those with a 10+2 Commerce degree will not be given preference over those from other streams.
  
  4) Some colleges hold entrance exams to admit B.Com. candidates. Admission is granted to candidates who pass the BCom Entrance Exams depending on the grades they receive.
• Fee Range: INR 20,000 to INR 65,000. 
• Specializations: 1) Economics.

2) Accountancy.

3) Finance.

4) Marketing.

5) Banking Management.

• Top 5 Colleges: 1) Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce.
  2) RA Podar College of Commerce and Economics.
  3) St. Joseph College Bangalore.
  4) Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration.
  5) Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram.

5. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

• About: The Bachelor of Business Administration course is a 3-year undergraduate course that has a focused approach toward the development of managerial and leadership skills. The course covers various aspects of business studies, including management, marketing, finance, human resources, and operations. In this course, students will get a good platform in business principles and practices with which they could pursue successful careers in business management, entrepreneurship, or higher studies like an MBA.
• Eligibility Criteria: Should you wish to enroll in a BBA program, you must fulfill the following minimal requirements for eligibility -
  
  1) You need to have earned at least 50–60% of your possible points in your 10+2 exam from an accredited board.
  
  2) Applications for BBA admissions are accepted from candidates in all streams.
  
  3) You may apply while you wait for your class 12 results.
   
• Fee Range: INR 3 LPA to INR 10 LPA. 
• Specializations: 1) Finance.

2) Foreign Trade.

3) Information Technology.

4) Supply Chain Management.

5) Entrepreneurship.

• Top 5 Colleges: 1) Amity School of Business Noida.
  2) SRM Institute of Science and Technology.
  3) Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.
  4) Department of Management Studies, Christ University.
  5) Center for Management Studies, Jain University.

6. Bachelor of Economics (B.Econ)

• About: The 3-year program features an extensive study of economic Theories, Models, and Quantitative Economic Methods, positioning the student in the world of Economics, Finance, and Policy Impacts.
• Eligibility Criteria: 10+2 Completed at a minimum with a preferably commerce or mathematics background with a minimum aggregate of 50-60 percent.
• Fee Range: INR 30,000 to 1 Lakhs Per Year.
• Specializations: 1) Managerial economics.

2) Crime economics.

3) Industrial economics.

4) Contemporary economic issues.

5) Development economics.

• Top 5 Colleges: 1) Loyola College, Chennai.
  2) Presidency College, Kolkata.
  3) St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.
  4) Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi.
  5) Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University.

7. Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS)

• About: BMS is a three-year undergraduate course of studies, genuinely a training in management and organization. The broad areas of study will comprise the fundamental concepts of management, business policies and strategies, marketing, finance, and human resource management. It aims at adequately equipping students for management roles in different sectors and forms a sound foundation for a career in management and entrepreneurship or higher studies such as an MBA.
• Eligibility Criteria: 1) Candidates must have passed the 10+2 exam or an equivalent test from a board or university that is recognized.
  
  2) Applicants must meet the minimal cumulative GPA stipulated by the college to which they are applying.
  
  3) The majority of BMS colleges have a 50% minimum aggregate requirement to pursue a Bachelor of Management Studies.
  
  4) Certain subjects from the 10+2 are also required by some universities, thus the candidate must have studied them (if relevant).
• Fee Range: INR 2000 to INR 16 Lakh. 
• Specializations: 1) Digital Marketing.

2) Business Analytics.

3) Finance and Accounting.

4) IT.

5) Marketing management.

• Top 5 Colleges: 1) HR College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai.
  2) Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai.
  3) St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
  4) Jai Hind College, Mumbai.
  5) Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Delhi University.

8. Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration

• About: This was a 3-4-year undergraduate course that combined business studies with liberal arts; hence, its scope ranged between management, finance, marketing, and human resources.
• Eligibility Criteria: 10+2 in any stream with at least an aggregate of 50-60% completion.
• Fee Range: INR 50,000 to 2,50,000 per year. 
• Specializations: 1) Human Resource Management.

2) Finance.

3) Marketing.

4) International Business.

5) Entrepreneurship.

• Top 5 Colleges: 1) Symbiosis International University, Pune.
  2) St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
  3) Christ University, Bangalore.
  4) Loyola College, Chennai.
  5) Amity University, Noida.

How to get into an MBA?

• What is the process of getting admission into an MBA college?

In India, MBA admission is based on entrance exams. To move forward in the admission process, you have to clear the entrance exam. Many entrance exams are conducted at the state, national, and institutional levels. Some of the top entrance exams are CAT, XAT, MAT, KMAT, SNAP, TANCET and MAH CET. After clearing the exam, in the selection rounds, you have to appear generally comprised of a writing aptitude test (WAT), a group discussion (GD), and a personal interview (PI). However, many colleges from their MBA admission process have removed WAT.
Direct admission is also provided by some colleges depending upon merit. Therefore, you must have a strong academic profile to meet eligibility to secure a direct admission.

• What are the top entrance exams for an MBA in India?

In India, there are many entrance exams to get admission to MBA. Top colleges like IITs and IIMs consider CAT as the key exam. For MBA admission, you must appear in your desired college accepted exam. Some of the top entrance exams include CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, NMAT, KMAT, SNAP, IBSAT, APICET, TANCET, MAH CET, etc.

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