In my second year at BITS Pilani, the thought of pursuing an MBA first crossed my mind — a bit like Suhas from 3 Idiots (minus the obsession with money). For me, it wasn’t about chasing a high-paying job. I had discovered something deeper: a genuine love for finance.
Despite BITS’ famously lenient 0% attendance policy, I found myself attending every finance lecture out of sheer interest. Whether it was learning about equity valuation, cash flow modeling, or the psychology of financial markets, I was hooked. This finance minor at BITS was truly an outstanding experience.
That passion lit a fire. I knew I wanted to pursue an MBA. But the road ahead, as I would soon find out, was anything but straightforward.
Free CAT Mocks 2025: Daily Sectionals!
My CAT Prep Journey: From Confusion to Clarity
I started my CAT prep with the Arun Sharma Quant books. Being an engineer, quant seemed to be easy part- but the speed, ughh:(
At first, it was overwhelming. Every time I stumbled on a lenghty (would not say tricky xp) question, I star-marked it, came back to it later, and gradually built my personal compendium of shortcuts and tricks in my notes. This process was slow, but the feedback loop was strong.
Then came VARC, my Achilles’ heel, needed special attention. I enrolled in Career Launcher’s VARC 1000, which helped me align my RC and VA approach with Gejo Sir's tricks. I also made it a habit to read newspaper editorials daily, along with 'Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis'— it not only improved my vocabulary but also made dense editorials easier to digest.
For DILR, I can say that this was fun. I relied heavily on sectionals and mocks — especially from Cracku and CL. I treated each set like a puzzle, enjoying the challenge, and learning from failures more than from correct answers.
Mindset Matters: Surviving the Emotional Roller Coaster
I’ll be honest — the prep wasn’t smooth. Some mocks crushed my confidence. I questioned myself, especially on days when VARC pulled my percentile down despite solid DILR and Quant scores. On those days, I journaled. I even spoke to a lot of seniors who reminded me that success isn’t linear.
I learned to focus on effort, not outcome. Slowly, I found my rhythm.
D-Day: The CAT 2024 Exam
I was in Slot 1, and I walked in nervously but prepared, all to know that now there are 5 sets in DILR. The paper felt easier than last year — Quant and DILR were manageable. But VARC? It got me again.
I walked out unsure of what to expect.
When results dropped — 99.55 percentile — I was over the happy, "BUT" the excitement quickly faded when reality hit: as a GEM fresher, I wasn’t eligible for calls from IIM ABC's
My Best Shot: ISB’s PGP-YL
With the top IIMs ruled out, my focus shifted to a program that matched my ambitions — the Indian School of Business’s PGP-YL program, aimed at young leaders, and launching its founding batch.
This was my shot.
The Interview That Felt Like a Film Scene
My ISB interview was scheduled at Taj Land’s End in Bandstand, Mumbai — right next to Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic home, Mannat. As luck would have it, I had written “watching Bollywood films” as a hobby in my application.
Halfway through the interview, one of the panelists smiled and asked,
“So, after this, are you heading to Mannat for a picture in your suit?”
We all laughed, and I replied,
“Absolutely. Got to make the most of the setting, right?”
Despite the light moment, the interview itself was deep and challenging. They asked me about my leadership experiences, my failures, and my goals. I drew from my time at BITS — managing technical teams, interning at JPMC, EY and McGill University, explained why ISB was the ideal launchpad for my vision.
Lessons I’ll Always Carry
The journey wasn’t easy. There were sleepless nights, crushed hopes (like no ABC calls), and moments of self-doubt. But what kept me going was the clarity of purpose — to build something meaningful, grounded in both analytical and emotional intelligence.
If I could do it again, I’d:
Focus less on percentile-chasing, more on learning
Trust my instincts, even when results don’t immediately show it
The Mannat Moment
True to my word, after the interview, I walked across the street in my crisp suit, stood in front of Mannat, and clicked a photo — not just for social media, but as a reminder: every journey, no matter how uncertain, has its red carpet moment.
From being a finance geek in a no-attendance classroom to standing in front of Shah Rukh Khan’s house with an ISB interview under my belt — this journey taught me that success isn't just about where you reach, but who you become along the way.
- Kavin Aggarwal
BITS Pilani '25, ISB Hyderabad '27
