Preparing for the MBA has not merely been an academic journey; it has been a series of transformative learning experiences. I was never a particularly patient person, but this journey has taught me the value of patience, time management, and a host of other essential skills.
Life has truly come full circle—from dreaming of IIT during my engineering days to finally making it to VGSoM, IIT Kharagpur. This journey has been full of ups and downs, doubts and decisions, pain and patience—but above all, it’s been a journey of not giving up.
The beginning of my MBA journey dates back to when I was in Class VIII. Back then, I was an average student, and none of my family members, even in my extended circle, had ever pursued an MBA from a premier business school.
Let me be honest—I wasn’t always sure I’d make it.
Exactly a year ago, I found myself staring at a screen full of rejections — I had not converted a single IIM call. It was heartbreaking, humbling, and, in many ways, a wake-up call. That moment could have broken my spirit, but instead, it became the starting point of a comeback I’ll never forget. Today, I’m proud to share that I have converted IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and FMS Delhi — every top B-school I aspired to get into.
My journey to B-School has been a gradual one. I first attempted CAT in 2022 and scored a 79 percentile. Fast forward to today, I’m grateful to be joining SPJIMR’s PGDM batch of 2025–27. Before sharing more about my story, here is a bit about me. I have an 8/8/8 academic profile and come with two years of work experience. I completed my high school education through the Cambridge Board (A-Levels) and went on to pursue a B.Sc. in Economics, Mathematics, and Statistics. Post graduation, I have been working full-time while preparing for CAT alongside. My preparation has been self-driven throughout, and I was able to achieve my goal in my second focused attempt.
My path to IIM Ahmedabad wasn't a straight line. It was a rollercoaster of setbacks, self-doubt, and ultimately, triumph. This is my story.
Completing my B.Com (Hons) in 2023, I took up a full-time job, believing I could manage CFA Level 2 preparation, CAT exam, and work simultaneously. However, juggling all three soon became overwhelming. After nearly two years of balancing these challenges, I made a crucial decision in November 2023 to quit my job and focus solely on cracking CAT and clearing CFA Level 2. This article shares my journey of how I achieved a 99.8 percentile in CAT 2024 and secured admission to IIM Calcutta despite the two-year gap and the demanding preparation for CFA.
Preparing for the MBA has not merely been an academic journey; it has been a series of transformative learning experiences. I was never a particularly patient person, but this journey has taught me the value of patience, time management, and a host of other essential skills.
Life has truly come full circle—from dreaming of IIT during my engineering days to finally making it to VGSoM, IIT Kharagpur. This journey has been full of ups and downs, doubts and decisions, pain and patience—but above all, it’s been a journey of not giving up.
The beginning of my MBA journey dates back to when I was in Class VIII. Back then, I was an average student, and none of my family members, even in my extended circle, had ever pursued an MBA from a premier business school.
Let me be honest—I wasn’t always sure I’d make it.
Exactly a year ago, I found myself staring at a screen full of rejections — I had not converted a single IIM call. It was heartbreaking, humbling, and, in many ways, a wake-up call. That moment could have broken my spirit, but instead, it became the starting point of a comeback I’ll never forget. Today, I’m proud to share that I have converted IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and FMS Delhi — every top B-school I aspired to get into.
My journey to B-School has been a gradual one. I first attempted CAT in 2022 and scored a 79 percentile. Fast forward to today, I’m grateful to be joining SPJIMR’s PGDM batch of 2025–27. Before sharing more about my story, here is a bit about me. I have an 8/8/8 academic profile and come with two years of work experience. I completed my high school education through the Cambridge Board (A-Levels) and went on to pursue a B.Sc. in Economics, Mathematics, and Statistics. Post graduation, I have been working full-time while preparing for CAT alongside. My preparation has been self-driven throughout, and I was able to achieve my goal in my second focused attempt.
My path to IIM Ahmedabad wasn't a straight line. It was a rollercoaster of setbacks, self-doubt, and ultimately, triumph. This is my story.
Completing my B.Com (Hons) in 2023, I took up a full-time job, believing I could manage CFA Level 2 preparation, CAT exam, and work simultaneously. However, juggling all three soon became overwhelming. After nearly two years of balancing these challenges, I made a crucial decision in November 2023 to quit my job and focus solely on cracking CAT and clearing CFA Level 2. This article shares my journey of how I achieved a 99.8 percentile in CAT 2024 and secured admission to IIM Calcutta despite the two-year gap and the demanding preparation for CFA.
