GMAT v/s CAT

GMAT v/s CAT

The decision to take a GMAT or the CAT is a very important one has it can not only open a lot of doors of opportunity but also save a lot of time and money. The CAT exam was initially introduced as an entrance exam for the IIM institutions but over the years this popularity has also faded with a lot of colleges/universities now preferring the GMAT scores over the CAT.

While CAT is mostly accepted by IIMs, GMAT is accepted by 138 B Schools in India.

GMAT is accepted by top MBA programs that don’t require an applicant to have work experience: IMT Ghaziabad, Narsi Munji, IIM Kozikote, ISB, Great Lakes

GMAT is also the premier option for top MBA programs such as ISB, IIM PGPX, MDI, XLRI and many more that require students to have work experience

The no. of B-schools accepting GMAT scores is higher than any other test being accepted in India. This means that any of the students applying to colleges through GMAT across the nation has more no. of Leading B-schools to chose from than someone taking any other competitive MBA aptitude test.

Indian B-Schools prefer GMAT over CAT because:-

GMAT	CAT
1. It tests the complete mental ability of the students and not just their theoretical power.	It focuses only on the book knowledge and not the practical one. It tests only a limited mental ability.
2.The GMAT has an Analytical Writing Ability (AWA).	Writing skills are not tested in the CAT.
3.In the GMAT, about 30% of questions in the Verbal Ability section are of Critical Reasoning.	Critical Reasoning (CR)has not been a significant area in the CAT in recent years
4.In GMAT, the emphasis is not only on the functional aspects of grammar rules, but also on contextual meaning and usage. There are specific error types that are looked at in the GMAT and familiarity with those types will be very handy.	Critical Reasoning (CR)has not been a significant area in the CAT in recent years

The reasons of a student in India opting to take GMAT over CAT exam:-

GMAT	CAT
1.This test also comprises of a written section that test the writing skills and also helps in depicting the student’s flow of thoughts and his ability to effectively express himself.	The CAT exam has no such writing section and it tests only the objective and grammatical knowledge of the person.
2.Accepted not only by IIMs but also top colleges like ISB, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), XLRI, Birla Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), Faculty of Management studies (FMS), Great Lakes Institute of Management and many more.	Accepted by only IIMs and handful of other colleges.
3.Have a choice to apply to the top schools in India (including the top 1%) and the best colleges from around the world	Valid and limited only to India and is applicable to only few other colleges except IIMs.
4.More than 60% GMAT Takers get into the leading B-schools.	Only 2% CAT takers get into IIMs
5.The Score is valid for5 yrs.	The score is valid only for a year.
6.The test happens all year around (i.e.- The GMAT test takes place every month and a person can take this exam more than once in a year if he has not attained his targeted score. However, The GMAT exam can only be taken 5 times in a year by an individual).	It comes only once a year (so if you don’t get a good score then you have to wait for one whole year to take the test and re-apply to colleges.)
7.For every score there is a great B-school. This is one test which is accepted by multiple colleges in India (no need to take a separate test for MAT or XAT and other college’s specific exams.) and abroad.	Good B-Schools only accept students who have ranked at 90th percentile or above.
8.Requires 2-4 months of prep.	Requires almost a year’s preparation, some students also take two years to prepare.

University of Bologna

Studying in Italy

In many ways, Italy’s University of Bologna paved the way for the university system we have today.

·         It was the first higher education institution of its kind in the developed world, dating back to 1088, and it was there that the word 'university' was coined.

·         In more recent times, it has been integral to the development of standardized university education across Europe, providing the initial inspiration and the setting for the Bologna Process, which aims to develops common higher education systems across Europe.

·         There are 89 universities in Italy, along with a number of polytechnics and other academies that form part of the higher education sector.

·         There are around 32,000 foreign students in Italy, including those on exchange programmes and independent students.

Entry and visa regulations

EU students do not need a visa to study in Italy.

·         EU students do, however, need to apply for a residence permit by registering with the local police within three months of arrival.

·         Students apply to Italian universities via the Italian consulate in their home country. They should contact their university of choice in the first case to find out about entry requirements and application deadlines before submitting the application. Cut-off dates vary but it is likely students will need to have their applications in between January and April for normal academic year programmes.

Funding your study

At state universities, fees are about £680-£800 per year for EU students. Fees vary depending on the institution and there is also a means-tested element, which weights fees depending on a student’s parental income.

·         Unlike many other European countries, scholarships and student loans/grants are available to EU students on the same basis as Italian students, although eligibility is usually merit-based or means-tested and all students aren’t necessarily able to access financial assistance. More information on this can be found at the DSU office (although the site is mostly in Italian). Many university websites also have some information about financial aid on their sites.

·         EU students can work (full time) in Italy without any additional permission, however with youth employment at such high levels due to Italy’s faltering economy, jobs are unlikely to be easy to come by, particularly for those without Italian language skills.

Accommodation

Universities in Italy do not commonly have halls of residence, but they do usually offer an accommodation finding service that can help students find shared rooms or apartments for a lower cost that on the private market.

Italy is one of the more expensive countries in the EU in terms of living expenses and the north of the country is pricier than the south. Some typical costs in Italy (GBP, March 2015) include:

·         Apartment rent & meals: £400 - £450 per month

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