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IIM Waitlist Movement: Meaning & Past Trends
February 04 2025

IIM waitlist movement every year creates a ripple among students who have applied for admission to the IIMs. In this article, we cover the meaning and past trends of the waitlist movement.

We all know the euphoria of young aspirants tseekingadmissions in the IIMs. Students work round the clock throughout the year to meet CAT cut-offs to secure a seat in the MBA/PGDM programmes of these prestigious institutes. But not all of them are success in getting admission there. Some come very close to getting a seat but don’t because of the huge wait list. 

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Even though many students qualify for IIMs WAT-GD/PI round and clear it too, because their composite score for final selection is less than a few others, they miss the chance.

What is the IIM selection process?

Rigorous Selection Process: Getting into an IIM is highly competitive, and the selection process is designed to assess a candidate's well-roundedness.

Variations in Selection Process: While most IIMs include Group Discussions (GDs) in their selection process, some, like IIM Ahmedabad, have the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) or Written Ability Test (WAT) instead.

Two-Step Selection Process:

  1. Shortlisting Based on CAT Score:

    • Candidates are shortlisted based on their CAT exam scores.
    • This includes minimum cut-offs in sectional percentiles and the overall percentile rank.
  2. Shortlisted Candidates Go Through:

    • AWT/WAT/GD (depending on the IIM)
    • Personal Interview (PI)

Final Selection:

  • Final selection is based on the Final Composite Score (FCS) for each candidate.
  • FCS considers scores from all stages (CAT, AWT/WAT/GD, PI).
  • Separate shortlists are made for different categories (General, SC, ST, NC-OBC, PwD) based on the FCS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the IIM Waitlist Movement?

Every year, there is a lot of buzz among different student forums related to Ithe IM waitlist. So what is this waitlist movement? Let’s understand. 

Waitlist Movement

Every year, lakhs of students apply for admission to MBA programmes offered by the IIMs. Since the total number of seats of all 20 IIMs is about 4000, not everyone gets successful. Once the first list of selected candidates is announced, another batch of selected students arises in ting in case any student chooses to forgo their seat. The seat is then offered to the next best candidate. This list of students waiting for someone to give up their seat can be termed as a waitlist. 

  • IIM Waitlist: This list consists of candidates who didn't get selected initially but are considered if any admitted student decides to forgo their seat.
  • Waitlist Movement: This refers to the number of candidates who move up from the waitlist and get offered admission. The movement is unpredictable and depends on how many admitted students decline their offers.
  • Top IIM Waitlist Movement: Indeed, students often wait anxiously for waitlist movement at IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA), IIM Bangalore (IIMB), and IIM Calcutta (IIMC). These prestigious institutions are highly sought-after, and the waitlist might move less frequently compared to newer IIMs.
  • New & Emerging IIM Waitlist Movement: Recently, the waitlist movement in newer IIMs has gained attention. This could be due to various factors, such as:
    • Increased Competition: As IIMs gain popularity, competition for seats increases, leading to more waitlisted candidates.
    • Yield Rates: The percentage of admitted students who accept their offers might differ between new and established IIMs, affecting waitlist movement.

The waitlist movement in IIMs and a few top MBA colleges is category-dependent. For the general category, it is extremely stringent, while for the SC, ST, OBC and PwD categories there is some relaxation. 

IIM Lucknow does not release a waitlist. Instead they release the merit list. For a student to secure their position in the merit list, they need to qualify the minimum requirement which is 12 out of 40 in the PI round.

Highlights of PAST Trends of the IIM Waitlist

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are renowned for their rigorous selection process and prestigious MBA programs. One of the most anticipated stages of this process is the release of the waitlist. Many aspirants, who do not receive an immediate offer, hope for their position to move from "waitlisted" to "admitted" as other candidates decline offers. Understanding the trends in IIM waitlists from past years can help provide valuable insights into the movement patterns and factors influencing these changes. The table below shows the percentage of waitlist movement at various IIMs over the years based on reports and historical data:
 
 
IIM Average Waitlist Movement (%) Peak Waitlist Movement Period
IIM Ahmedabad 5-10% March-June
IIM Bangalore 10-15% April-May
IIM Calcutta 5-7% March-June
IIM Lucknow 20-25% May-June
IIM Indore 30-35% May-June
IIM Kozhikode 10-20% April-May
IIM Trichy 25-30% April-June
IIM Udaipur 40-50% May-June
IIM Ranchi 25-30% April-May
 

Trends in Movement by IIMs

Old IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta):

  • Lower Movement: These IIMs typically have small batch sizes, meaning fewer candidates on the waitlist. Waitlist movement here is relatively slower compared to newer IIMs, with only a small percentage of candidates being moved off the waitlist.

  • Competitive Nature: These IIMs tend to admit only the top candidates, so the movement is primarily seen for those who have exceptional academic records or additional achievements that were not initially considered.

Newer IIMs (Trichy, Udaipur, Ranchi):

  • Higher Movement: These IIMs often experience higher waitlist movement due to their larger batch sizes and more flexible seat allocations. The percentage of waitlisted candidates who eventually receive an admit is considerably higher compared to the older, more established IIMs.

  • More Flexibility: Newer IIMs focus on filling seats and improving diversity, which increases the chances for waitlisted candidates, especially those from reserved categories or underrepresented academic backgrounds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the IIM waitlist movement is a dynamic and multifaceted process. While there is always hope for waitlisted candidates, understanding the key factors and trends—such as the profile strength, category diversity, and specific IIM patterns—can help manage expectations. Historical data suggests that newer IIMs tend to have higher waitlist movement, with many candidates being moved to the final admit list during the months of April to June. Candidates should remain patient and prepare for other options, while keeping a close eye on IIM updates during this critical waitlist period.

Related Tags
CAT
IIM
IIM-B
IIM-C
Wiatlist
IIMA
IIMABC
Author
Anisha Mukhija

 

 

 

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