Now that the moment of truth has is behind you, all that you had been working and planning for, is stored in a computer server. This is the time when one’s mind is full of exhilaration and self-doubt at the same time. There would be frustration too, at the questions you could have solved but didn’t. There would also a sense of void, when the crescendo drops when the frenzy quietens and all is silent. It is all very natural, my friend, but like many of everyday time-killers, this won’t lead us to anything.
Here’s what you can try to fill up your time and mind space with, after the holy-of-holies is over:
- Relax. The time to ponder over multiple mock tests, notes, formulae, that everyday struggle to improve the score by every single mark- it’s all behind you. Go out and reconnect with your social life, watch a movie, eat good food, catch up on sleep. If you get into a coveted b-school, trust me, these things would take a back seat!
- Prepare for the upcoming group discussion/interview rounds. CAT is but one hurdle in your path to your coveted business degree. GD/PIs are closer than you believe; before it is time, you would be facing them. On top of that, they aren’t best prepared ‘solo’, the way the main exam was. So, it is advisable to join a workshop for practising GDs and face some mock PIs. Unless you go out and speak in a practice GD, you wouldn’t know where do you stand. You might believe that you are good at speaking, but more practice would only give you more confidence.
- Stay in touch with newspapers and current affairs. They would play a crucial role in building up arguments for GDs and written ability tests. In fact, PIs may also feature questions from important events happening around, or ask for your opinion on them.
- The big competitive exams are all like T20 matches; you might hit on some days, miss on others. There are other management entrance exams coming, the most important ones being XAT, TISSNET, SNAP, MAT, etc. for those who think they have fared badly in CAT, these exams are your tickets to other good management institutes. Even for those who are happy with their performance, it is advisable to keep preparing for the other exams of one’s choice, as one can never be too sure.
- Prepare for your upcoming life in the b-school. Update your resume, chalk out rough life plans post that, plan a specialisation, etc. Yes, much of it would be moulded by your first-hand experiences during the course itself, but it doesn’t hurt to be in touch with those with better knowledge and more experience in the field.
- If you think you wouldn’t be able to make it this year, don’t lose heart. Plan your next course of action. Start/ continue your job; if nothing, it makes you learn more about life and its unexpected twists and turns. You could also plan for next year’s CAT, if you think your preparation wasn’t up to the mark. You could also quit working and focus on CAT full-time, but that is not always advisable. You could use this time to figure out where do you stand in life, and what should the next direction be.