CAT To IIM Nagpur: Conquering With A Full-Time Job, Ball By Ball

Embarking on the journey to secure admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) is no small feat. For me, the path to IIM Nagpur was a demanding one, fraught with personal loss and a job that, despite being enjoyable, extended to up to 10-12 hours, including weekends. I knew that the journey ahead wouldn't be easy. However, fueled by determination and a singular focus on my goal of earning an MBA from a top-tier business school, I pressed on.

To create the necessary balance, I transitioned to working from home, allowing me to align my professional responsibilities with my rigorous study schedule. At this time, nothing took precedence over my preparation for the MBA entrance exams. The commitment to my goal was evident in my approach, where I dedicated myself to the task at hand, making the most of every available moment.

My preparation strategy involved taking around 60 mock exams, each followed by a meticulous analysis, as well as solving as many questions as possible during office breaks. However, there were instances when my packed schedule made it challenging to find even an hour for study over a span of 10-15 days. During such times, when my scores seemed to plummet, and my job demanded more of my time, the temptation to either quit the job or abandon my preparation altogether was palpable. In fact, I had even written my resignation email left to send for only a click away. I just knew what I had dreamt of doing was possible, that I could pull it off despite a full-time job. To tackle this situation, I drew inspiration from the world of cricket, adopting the mantra of "going ball by ball"; This approach meant focusing entirely on the task at hand, be it work or study, allowing me to extract the maximum from every situation.

Finally, the dedication I poured into my CAT preparation eventually paid off. Securing admission into IIM Nagpur marked the realization of a dream. I still remember the moment I reached the campus, with my parents standing by my side, and it made every night that I studied despite being too exhausted; all the social gatherings I missed, and all the personal battles I fought were worth it. However, as they say, getting admission into a B-school is just the beginning of a long journey. It's like you have reached the base camp of Mount Everest, and you're yet to scale a whole mountain to reach the top. As I stepped onto the campus of IIM Nagpur, the dreamlike feeling was accompanied by the realization that the MBA journey ahead would be nothing short of challenging. Confident in my abilities, I couldn't help but feel a sense of skepticism about whether I would adapt to the rigors of the challenging first year of MBA. Once again, the cricket-inspired mantra, "go ball by ball"; came to my rescue. Focusing on the task at hand and taking things one step at a time, I immersed myself in the challenges of the MBA curriculum.

As I reflect on my journey to IIM Nagpur, I am reminded that success often lies in the ability to navigate challenges with a focused and resilient mindset. Whether facing personal loss, demanding professional commitments, or the rigors of an MBA program, the key is to take
each moment as it comes—going ball by ball, task by task. In doing so, I not only secured
admission to a prestigious institution but also gained a valuable life lesson that extends
beyond the realm of academia.

Hrithik is a PGP1 student at IIM Nagpur and an executive member of the Corporate Relations & Placement Committee. He worked as a Big Data Developer in a multinational IT company for 22 months before joining IIM Nagpur. In his free time, he loves to travel and watch cricket.