In my second year at BITS Pilani, the thought of pursuing an MBA first crossed my mind — a bit like Suhas from 3 Idiots (minus the obsession with money). For me, it wasn’t about chasing a high-paying job. I had discovered something deeper: a genuine love for finance.
Getting into IIM Calcutta still feels surreal. If you had asked me in 2022 what I’d be doing a couple of years later, I would’ve confidently said “running a growing trading business.” Back then, that was the dream. But life had other plans.
May 2024. The air was thick with excitement, internships, and the comfort of college life. Most of my peers at IIM Indore, where I was pursuing the Integrated Programme in Management (IPM), were immersed in their internships and case competitions. But for me, the month marked something more profound. I had decided to take a shot at the Common Admission Test (CAT). The goal wasn’t just a score; it was to push myself, to see how far I could go, and perhaps, to see if I could walk through the gates of one of India’s most prestigious institutions.
Profile: 9/9/8, 2 years of work-ex, CAT score 98%
"Koi baat nahi, beta. Try harder next time." It hit me during the car ride home. I’d been hearing this same line from my dad for years. After my 10th boards (76%), after 12th (82%), and now, again after a disastrous CAT 2023 attempt. Sitting there with a 90.45%ile, far from what I needed for the colleges I dreamt of (because of my bad profile), I wasn’t just disappointed, I was terrified! Terrified that maybe I wasn’t good enough. That despite a yearlong preparation tenure, maybe this was the best I could do. The fear wasn't just of failure; it was of repeating a pattern of living up to a version of me that never quite delivered.
The sea had been my home, my identity, and my classroom. Over the years, I’ve sailed across the vast Atlantic to the shores of Africa, maneuvered oil carriers through the bustling ports of Dubai, and docked near the palm-laced harbors of the United States. From stormy midnights to sunrises over still waters — life at sea was nothing short of cinematic. But even amidst that vastness, there was always a quiet whisper in the back of my mind:
In 2024, after three rigorous years and over 240 mocks, I finally made it — I’m joining IIM Calcutta this year with a 99.81 percentile in CAT. This was my third attempt. The journey wasn’t linear, but every setback shaped the comeback.
Discover how the Faculty of Management at SRM Institute is redefining MBA education in India. In this video, we take you inside a classroom experience that goes beyond traditional lectures.
In my second year at BITS Pilani, the thought of pursuing an MBA first crossed my mind — a bit like Suhas from 3 Idiots (minus the obsession with money). For me, it wasn’t about chasing a high-paying job. I had discovered something deeper: a genuine love for finance.
Getting into IIM Calcutta still feels surreal. If you had asked me in 2022 what I’d be doing a couple of years later, I would’ve confidently said “running a growing trading business.” Back then, that was the dream. But life had other plans.
May 2024. The air was thick with excitement, internships, and the comfort of college life. Most of my peers at IIM Indore, where I was pursuing the Integrated Programme in Management (IPM), were immersed in their internships and case competitions. But for me, the month marked something more profound. I had decided to take a shot at the Common Admission Test (CAT). The goal wasn’t just a score; it was to push myself, to see how far I could go, and perhaps, to see if I could walk through the gates of one of India’s most prestigious institutions.
Profile: 9/9/8, 2 years of work-ex, CAT score 98%
"Koi baat nahi, beta. Try harder next time." It hit me during the car ride home. I’d been hearing this same line from my dad for years. After my 10th boards (76%), after 12th (82%), and now, again after a disastrous CAT 2023 attempt. Sitting there with a 90.45%ile, far from what I needed for the colleges I dreamt of (because of my bad profile), I wasn’t just disappointed, I was terrified! Terrified that maybe I wasn’t good enough. That despite a yearlong preparation tenure, maybe this was the best I could do. The fear wasn't just of failure; it was of repeating a pattern of living up to a version of me that never quite delivered.
The sea had been my home, my identity, and my classroom. Over the years, I’ve sailed across the vast Atlantic to the shores of Africa, maneuvered oil carriers through the bustling ports of Dubai, and docked near the palm-laced harbors of the United States. From stormy midnights to sunrises over still waters — life at sea was nothing short of cinematic. But even amidst that vastness, there was always a quiet whisper in the back of my mind:
In 2024, after three rigorous years and over 240 mocks, I finally made it — I’m joining IIM Calcutta this year with a 99.81 percentile in CAT. This was my third attempt. The journey wasn’t linear, but every setback shaped the comeback.
Discover how the Faculty of Management at SRM Institute is redefining MBA education in India. In this video, we take you inside a classroom experience that goes beyond traditional lectures.
