Just a year ago, I had barely heard of CAT, let alone understood what it took to crack it and get into the top B-schools of the country. As a final-year student pursuing a 5-year BA-LLB from NUJS, Kolkata, my career path seemed predictable: joining a corporate law firm or starting practice as an advocate in litigation.
The Beginning: Beyond a Degree, I Wanted Direction
"थक कर न बैठ, ऐ मंज़िल के मुसाफ़िर, मंज़िल भी मिलेगी और मिलने का मज़ा भी आएगा।" I was walking into the CAT '24 exam center after 2 failed attempts, knowing that I would have 4 years of work experience by the time colleges start their session in 2025. This had to be my final attempt, and I had to make it count.
It was August 2024 when I finally made up my mind to commit seriously to CAT preparation. During my undergrad at IIT Bhubaneswar, I had always been passionate about innovation, as evidenced by my publications in reputed international journals and high-end conferences. A PhD had always been my most sought-after option. However, I soon realized that I wanted to drive larger changes, work closely with people, network, and scale up something of my own. That’s when I understood that gaining a techno-commercial acumen was what I truly sought. From that point, there was no turning back.
I won’t go too far back. My story begins when I completed my graduation in 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most people in UP, I also started preparing for government exams. But honestly, I never felt truly motivated or passionate about it.
Hi, I’m Ashish Kumawat, a mechanical engineer from MNIT Jaipur and former Deputy Manager at ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Ltd., where I worked in critical plant utility operations with shift duties and led multiple efficiency improvement projects.
"It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela
What does it take to go from failing a subject in Class 12 to converting a call from IIM Ahmedabad, India’s most coveted B-school? For Amogh Agarwal, the answer lay in relentless self-improvement and razor-sharp clarity. A graduate from Graphic Era University with no IIT/NIT tag, Amogh’s story is one of three CAT attempts, a GMAT detour, and an unshakeable belief in the dream of ABCL-FMS or nothing. In this candid conversation, he opens up about the lessons, the struggles, and the mindset that helped him go from self-doubt to a CAT 99.99 percentile and an IIM Ahmedabad convert.
Just a year ago, I had barely heard of CAT, let alone understood what it took to crack it and get into the top B-schools of the country. As a final-year student pursuing a 5-year BA-LLB from NUJS, Kolkata, my career path seemed predictable: joining a corporate law firm or starting practice as an advocate in litigation.
The Beginning: Beyond a Degree, I Wanted Direction
"थक कर न बैठ, ऐ मंज़िल के मुसाफ़िर, मंज़िल भी मिलेगी और मिलने का मज़ा भी आएगा।" I was walking into the CAT '24 exam center after 2 failed attempts, knowing that I would have 4 years of work experience by the time colleges start their session in 2025. This had to be my final attempt, and I had to make it count.
It was August 2024 when I finally made up my mind to commit seriously to CAT preparation. During my undergrad at IIT Bhubaneswar, I had always been passionate about innovation, as evidenced by my publications in reputed international journals and high-end conferences. A PhD had always been my most sought-after option. However, I soon realized that I wanted to drive larger changes, work closely with people, network, and scale up something of my own. That’s when I understood that gaining a techno-commercial acumen was what I truly sought. From that point, there was no turning back.
I won’t go too far back. My story begins when I completed my graduation in 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like most people in UP, I also started preparing for government exams. But honestly, I never felt truly motivated or passionate about it.
Hi, I’m Ashish Kumawat, a mechanical engineer from MNIT Jaipur and former Deputy Manager at ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Ltd., where I worked in critical plant utility operations with shift duties and led multiple efficiency improvement projects.
"It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela
What does it take to go from failing a subject in Class 12 to converting a call from IIM Ahmedabad, India’s most coveted B-school? For Amogh Agarwal, the answer lay in relentless self-improvement and razor-sharp clarity. A graduate from Graphic Era University with no IIT/NIT tag, Amogh’s story is one of three CAT attempts, a GMAT detour, and an unshakeable belief in the dream of ABCL-FMS or nothing. In this candid conversation, he opens up about the lessons, the struggles, and the mindset that helped him go from self-doubt to a CAT 99.99 percentile and an IIM Ahmedabad convert.
