My journey to XLRI wasn’t something I had mapped out from the beginning. It slowly unfolded over the years, shaped by decisions, setbacks, and moments of reflection.
My Unplanned Journey to an MBA:
When I started my CAT preparation journey, I didn’t have a strict routine or a master plan — just a strong will to try, fail, learn, and keep going. Here’s how it all unfolded — with all the ups, downs, and some unexpected fun along the way.
In 2022, I appeared for the IPMAT exam, hoping to get into IIM Indore through the direct entry route. But I missed the selection because I fell short in the Verbal Ability section. That one miss was tough to take. I still remember seeing the result and realizing how close I had come. I had dreamt of getting into IIM Indore for a long time, and this felt like the door had shut on that dream. But instead of letting it break me, I made a quiet promise to myself that I would come back stronger.
I graduated from IIT Tirupati in July 2024, but unlike most of my batchmates, I walked out without a job. It wasn’t due to a lack of effort — I had been applying, skilling up, and trying everything I could in a tough job market. Still, three months went by with no results. I had attempted CAT 2023 while preparing half-heartedly, scoring 96.45 percentile, but I couldn’t clear the DILR cutoff. Back then, CAT had been my Plan B. This time, though, with no placement and no backup plan, I knew I had to give it everything I had. Either I’d make it to a top B-school, or I’d have to start from scratch.
My MBA journey started in January 2024 and honestly, it was never part of the plan. I was preparing for CA exams while juggling my graduation studies. Graduation went well, but CA didn’t. That failure hit me hard. As someone who had always been a school topper, it felt like I had lost everything — my confidence, my direction, and my motivation. But one thing didn’t change - my family’s belief in me. When I couldn’t see a future, they reminded me to reflect and realign.
It was at the end of July or the beginning of August that I finally decided to attempt the CAT. Had internal exams lined up in mid-August, after which I would start my CAT Prep. I decided to do self-preparation and availed IMS mocks (SIMCATS) and purchased the CAT PYQ's book by ARIHANT. Starting the prep around August end / September, I solved CAT PYQs, IMS mocks (full length and sectionals) and searched on YT if I had a doubt in any topic.
By the time I graduated in June 2024, most of my friends had already found direction, securing jobs or getting into top universities, LinkedIn updates that seemed to scream “success.” I, on the other hand, was staring at a gap year I had chosen, hoping to turn things around with an MBA admit. It was hard not to compare. I also picked up an internship to account for the gap year, something to learn, something to experience, something to make sure I wasn’t completely disconnected from the world. But honestly, my heart was set on cracking CAT. Everything was planned. The path was clear.
My journey to XLRI wasn’t something I had mapped out from the beginning. It slowly unfolded over the years, shaped by decisions, setbacks, and moments of reflection.
My Unplanned Journey to an MBA:
When I started my CAT preparation journey, I didn’t have a strict routine or a master plan — just a strong will to try, fail, learn, and keep going. Here’s how it all unfolded — with all the ups, downs, and some unexpected fun along the way.
In 2022, I appeared for the IPMAT exam, hoping to get into IIM Indore through the direct entry route. But I missed the selection because I fell short in the Verbal Ability section. That one miss was tough to take. I still remember seeing the result and realizing how close I had come. I had dreamt of getting into IIM Indore for a long time, and this felt like the door had shut on that dream. But instead of letting it break me, I made a quiet promise to myself that I would come back stronger.
I graduated from IIT Tirupati in July 2024, but unlike most of my batchmates, I walked out without a job. It wasn’t due to a lack of effort — I had been applying, skilling up, and trying everything I could in a tough job market. Still, three months went by with no results. I had attempted CAT 2023 while preparing half-heartedly, scoring 96.45 percentile, but I couldn’t clear the DILR cutoff. Back then, CAT had been my Plan B. This time, though, with no placement and no backup plan, I knew I had to give it everything I had. Either I’d make it to a top B-school, or I’d have to start from scratch.
My MBA journey started in January 2024 and honestly, it was never part of the plan. I was preparing for CA exams while juggling my graduation studies. Graduation went well, but CA didn’t. That failure hit me hard. As someone who had always been a school topper, it felt like I had lost everything — my confidence, my direction, and my motivation. But one thing didn’t change - my family’s belief in me. When I couldn’t see a future, they reminded me to reflect and realign.
It was at the end of July or the beginning of August that I finally decided to attempt the CAT. Had internal exams lined up in mid-August, after which I would start my CAT Prep. I decided to do self-preparation and availed IMS mocks (SIMCATS) and purchased the CAT PYQ's book by ARIHANT. Starting the prep around August end / September, I solved CAT PYQs, IMS mocks (full length and sectionals) and searched on YT if I had a doubt in any topic.
By the time I graduated in June 2024, most of my friends had already found direction, securing jobs or getting into top universities, LinkedIn updates that seemed to scream “success.” I, on the other hand, was staring at a gap year I had chosen, hoping to turn things around with an MBA admit. It was hard not to compare. I also picked up an internship to account for the gap year, something to learn, something to experience, something to make sure I wasn’t completely disconnected from the world. But honestly, my heart was set on cracking CAT. Everything was planned. The path was clear.
