Recent studies have highlighted a growing trend in IIM admissions: non-engineering students now receive extra weightage under “academic diversity” during the CAT-based admission process.
Important Details on Diversity Benefits at IIMs
- Candidates with degrees such as BCom, BA Economics, BBA, BBS, etc., are increasingly prioritised.
- This is part of IIMs’ broader push toward academic and gender diversity.
- For example:
- IIM Kozhikode saw a 28.4% increase in non-engineer student admissions in its latest MBA batch.
- IIM Sambalpur nearly matched its intake of non-engineers with engineers.
- IIM Ahmedabad’s non-engineer share increased, with a 28.6% rise in the most recent cohort.
Why IIMs Are Giving These Bonus Points
- Academic Performance: Non-engineers (like BCom or BA grads) provide a “business mindset” and bring different perspectives, which IIMs value in their MBA classrooms.
- Selection Criteria: Some IIMs assign 5% weightage to academic diversity during stages like WAT (Writing Ability Test) and PI (Personal Interview).
- Scoring Mechanism: The “rating score” model used for selection gives slightly different scales based on academic background. For example, at IIM Ahmedabad, non-engineers may have different bachelor's percentile cutoffs than engineers.
Gender Diversity Also Plays a Role
- IIMs also award extra marks to female candidates as part of their “gender diversity factor.”
- Examples:
- IIM Calcutta: 2-point bonus for female candidates.
- IIM Kozhikode: 5-point bonus for women.
- These initiatives align with a broader trend: female enrolment in MBA programs is increasing at several IIMs.
What This Means for CAT Aspirants
- Non-engineers have a real admission advantage: Thanks to diversity bonuses, they don’t just compete on CAT score but on a more holistic profile.
- Engineers need to build a stronger profile: Since non-engineers are getting this extra weightage, engineers might need to offset it with higher CAT percentiles, better academics, or work experience.
- Focus on profile-building: For non-engineers, it's especially useful to highlight academic consistency (UG marks), diversity, and maturity during the WAT/PI process.
Follow KollegeApply for the latest updates on College Admissions, Courses, Exam Dates, Results, Scholarships, Career Guidance, Education News, and Policy Changes — everything you need to stay ahead in your education journey.
