Doon Business School MBA Review By Tushar Kumar

DBS is ranked outside the top 20 B-Schools in the country but is indeed one of the best in Dehradun. I also gave as many entrances, I could but failing to find required percentile for colleges like IIMs, XLRI, and others, had to be a part of DBS that had some soft corner for the students from Dehradun. I may have been favored above many but once I was in, I decided to bludgeon right from the word go. At DBS, we used to wait for every Thursday as it was like an off day from the lectures and we used to have many competitions on every Thursday. Thus, the academic here was not just limited to books. I hardly knew the limited companies in India and the importance of financial markets but at DBS, we had subjects on that and many case studies related to that. The best thing that happened at DBS was that I got placed in 3rd semester itself and things just kicked off from there on.

The program was such that students’ managerial skills were tested in each and every practical. We were given hypothetical situations and had to battle it out amongst ourselves. Students were more of innovating and experimenting as MBA program has such things in their curriculum. The books were too large to study them whole and even the professors said that one doesn’t have to eat words from the books as we did practical application of all the topics from the books. Thus, the students who are good enough can pass their semesters just by being attentive during the practical's and that will be more than enough.

In terms of education, they were highly educated but beyond that they had work experience in corporate sector and were instrumental in guiding us the scope of each sector in future. This is where a deep understanding was required and I used every bit of my time to ask them questions after questions and I should say this that I got all my answers. There’s no way in this world through which I can thank them but have infused one of the biggest learning in me from them and that is to remain patient.

Just as the third semester started and we were done with our summer internship, the companies started visiting the campus. The placement and training cell had conveyed our marks to our performances during the internships and we were directly called by the companies that showed interest in us. It was also the other way round as we could also ask for interview to any visiting companies. I was called by two noted companies and it was DBS that helped me retain my lost confidence and answer all the questions asked by my interviewers this time perfectly. I don’t know how impressed they were with me but my placement cell came with an offer letter from one of those companies to me and said congratulations. The contracts are signed between the individuals and the companies at the campus itself.

DBS doesn’t have as many outsiders and therefore the hostel rooms were quite limited. However, the room’s structure and facilities were much better than that of GEU. Hostellers can’t go out after 9 pm without consent and those crossing the borders without permission are suspended to enter the hostel for a week or two. The punishment wasn’t that harsh but guards and security cameras made sure that if you can take care of one department the other department will chase you and punish you for the same. At DBS, non-hostellers can’t enter the hostel premises at all.

There are ample things at the campus but I will begin with Gazebos. The student’s area was fantastic as there were two huts adjoining and had 8-10 benches in each. The cafeteria was nicely decorated but the only problem is that it was quite small. There was a conference room as students debates and discussions used to happen in that room. That room gave the feeling of a corporate board room. Amphitheatre was among the least favored because the seating area was small and students had to sit on the wall to attend the seminars conducted at the campus. The auditorium hall though made it up for that because it was quite big and one class can comfortably be seated in the auditorium at once. Needless to say, that the campus was Wi-Fi-enabled.

DBS hosts two cultural events every year and each semester felt better than the other. The college crowd was amazing and the meetings at the Gazebos still remain fresh in my memory. Many industrial stalwarts were invited and listening to their thoughts and stories made the life at DBS more than satisfactory.