InsideIIM

MBA Aspirant

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A Fresher, A Gap Year And A Dream Convert Ft. Aashik Riza, IIM C'27

A Fresher, A Gap Year And A Dream Convert Ft. Aashik Riza, IIM C'27

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.

Aashik Riza
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From CA Failure To MBA Admit: My Story Of Reinvention

From CA Failure To MBA Admit: My Story Of Reinvention

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.

Muskan Bansal
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How I Scored 99.28%ile In CAT 2024 With 2 Months Prep | Journey To IIM Indore Ft. Aashray

How I Scored 99.28%ile In CAT 2024 With 2 Months Prep | Journey To IIM Indore Ft. Aashray

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.

Aashray Parikh
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From 89.6%ile in CAT To 99.65%ile in XAT Ft. Shauryadeep Lall, XLRI BM'27

From 89.6%ile in CAT To 99.65%ile in XAT Ft. Shauryadeep Lall, XLRI BM'27

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.

Shauryadeep Lall
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How I Chose Between ISB and IIM | Mariya Ali

How I Chose Between ISB and IIM | Mariya Ali

As far back as I can remember, I was a “gifted child” excelling in schoolwork, extracurriculars, and sports. I even skipped a grade in school just because my principal said, “She already knows everything in the curriculum; we have nothing else to teach her.”

Mariya Ali
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From Unilever To IIM Indore: My CAT Journey Ft. Jyotsinata Pathak, IIM I' 27

From Unilever To IIM Indore: My CAT Journey Ft. Jyotsinata Pathak, IIM I' 27

The Beginning: Of Dreams and Doubts They say every spark begins with a quiet decision, mine was made under buzzing fluorescent lights, amid hums of machines, and the steady rhythm of shift handovers. An electrical engineer by degree, I spent 3 intense, fulfilling years at Hindustan Unilever Limited. It wasn’t just a job; it was where I first learned the art of leadership, the grit behind production numbers, and the quiet pride in solving problems no one else dared to own. I led a team of 90 employees, handled night shifts, celebrated operational wins, and earned recognitions. But somewhere amidst the metrics, I heard a whisper — “Is this it?” That whisper turned into a calling. Not loud, not rebellious, but firm. It wasn’t dissatisfaction, it was hunger. A desire to grow beyond what I knew. I realized I wanted to understand brands, businesses, markets. But deciding to pivot wasn’t easy.

JYOTISNATA PATHAK
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