For Yash Gandhi (Currently a Student of IIM Lucknow), life has been full of vicissitudes. From fighting with Cerebral Palsy and Dyslexia to scoring 92.5 percentile in CAT-2019, Yash has shown immense grit and determination. He was also able to score 99.3 percentile in the Maharashtra-based management entrance exam MHT-CET. Yash completed his bachelors in accounting and Finance from Mumbai University, he used to commute through local trains to attend his coaching classes and college. Though Yash faces some difficulty in speaking, he didn’t let these conditions deter him from achieving his dream and inspire millions of students who aspire to join top MBA colleges. This extraordinary story of Yash Gandhi showcases the existence of the realm of possibilities when you are passionate about achieving your dreams. Let’s find out what were the challenges he faced while preparing and how he overcame them with sheer willpower.
Hi Yash, how has been your CAT preparation journey?
My CAT journey started in July 2018, I was encouraged by one of my professors to prepare for CAT as he saw some innovative skills in me and I started my CAT prep from that moment. There were ups downs throughout my preparation. Sometimes I was not able to score good marks in mocks owing two some difficulty in scoring marks in the quant section and I was willing to drop the idea of CAT altogether around December 2018 but the mentors at my coaching classes (Endeavour Career) motivated me and believed in me. So, I returned back to the preparation with more rigor and determination for the next 8-9 months before CAT-2019.
What were the sections you found difficult and how did you prepare for those sections?
According to my experience, I found the QA section the toughest of all the three since I have opted for accounting in 12th and had lost touch with mathematics subject, then it was DI LR which was difficult for me because I had challenges that make it difficult to deal with numbers. However, my mentors were very supportive and always helped me in the preparation of these sections. Friends helped me a lot in my preparation. VA-RC was not a problem for me.
What kept you motivated and inspired, as most of the time, aspirants get demotivated with low mock test scores?
One of the greatest factors in motivating me towards my goal was my family. I used to share my mock test scores with my family and whenever I used to feel low about my mock test marks my parents used to show conviction in my academic potential by reminding me of my past academic performances. I have a group of spiritual friends who also motivated me to achieve great things in life. I will always be grateful to my Guru, my friends, and my family for supporting me throughout.
What are the challenges you face due to dyslexia and how did you overcome those challenges?
During CAT preparation, Numbers and signs were difficult to deal with in DI-LR and QA. However, with the help of mentors and friends, I could surpass these difficulties and score good in all the sections.
How’s your journey at IIM Lucknow till now?
Although the journey is good, I do face difficulty in subjects like QAM-1 and QAM-2 which involve numbers extensively. Few classmates are extremely helpful to me and had helped me in QAM-1 and QAM-2.
Some advice you would like to give to future CAT aspirants?
One piece of advice that I would like to give that have a clear goal in your mind and you should never compromise with your goals. If you do these things you would definitely achieve success, I have seen and experienced this in my life. Initial mock scores are not the deciding factors those are the small hurdles that need to be surpassed. I had also scored 50 percentile in my mocks, However, on the D-day, I went on to score 92+ percentile. Never give up on your dreams, if you need help, ask your peers, your classmates, and teachers and you will surely sail through all the hardships.
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