Journey to IIM Calcutta: From juggling internships across countries to navigating career disappointments, and finally acing CAT with a near-perfect percentile, fueled not by months of coaching but by free resources, a tight timeline, and a hunger to grow beyond limitations.
Preparing for the CAT requires more than just understanding concepts—it demands consistent practice, smart application, and the ability to spot traps under time pressure. To keep your prep exciting and razor-sharp, welcome to the Weekly CAT Prep Challenge! Every week, we’ll hand-pick questions from key Quant topics that test both your fundamentals and your problem-solving instincts.
I remember exactly where I was when I received that email: “We’re happy to invite you for an interview.”I was excited for about 5 minutes… then slightly panicked. After months of test prep, crafting essays, and obsessing over application deadlines, I now had one final obstacle: the MBA interview. And suddenly, I wasn’t sure where to start. So if you’re feeling the same way—excited, nervous, a little overwhelmed—you’re in good company. Here’s how I approached my MBA Interview Preparation from scratch, step by step, with a few lessons I picked up along the way.
Consulting has always been one of the most sought-after career paths for MBA aspirants. The lucrative pay packages and diverse project opportunities make it a top choice among MBA graduates. However, the path to a consulting role isn't equally open for everyone as top firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG (collectively known as MBB) tend to hire primarily from the top IIMs, famously referred to as BLACKI (IIM Bangalore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Kozhikode, Indore).
Here's a comprehensive comparison between the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, focusing on key aspects such as fees, placements, ROI, campus life, and specialization strengths. FMS Vs IIM Calcutta:
When I began preparing for the CAT, I wasn’t overly confident about the VARC section. Reading Comprehension (RC) often felt unpredictable and, at times, monotonous. Some days, I could follow the passages with ease; on others, I found myself zoning out mid-way and struggling to make sense of what I had just read.
Have you heard the phrase, “All roads lead to Rome?” Well, we got one - “Any career leads to product management.” The career path of a PM is not a linear one & career transition to Product Management isn't either. Anyone with curiosity and the right attitude can walk the road to PM.
Until a few years ago, the thought of studying at an IIM was a far-off dream for me. During my final year of BCom, while most of my peers were preparing for CAT, I was doing Excel certifications and applying to fellowships to build a good resume. I wasn’t confident in my ability to crack an entrance exam and get into a top MBA college. So, I was focused on getting a job and working my way up the corporate ladder solely based on practical skills and work experience.
Journey to IIM Calcutta: From juggling internships across countries to navigating career disappointments, and finally acing CAT with a near-perfect percentile, fueled not by months of coaching but by free resources, a tight timeline, and a hunger to grow beyond limitations.
Preparing for the CAT requires more than just understanding concepts—it demands consistent practice, smart application, and the ability to spot traps under time pressure. To keep your prep exciting and razor-sharp, welcome to the Weekly CAT Prep Challenge! Every week, we’ll hand-pick questions from key Quant topics that test both your fundamentals and your problem-solving instincts.
I remember exactly where I was when I received that email: “We’re happy to invite you for an interview.”I was excited for about 5 minutes… then slightly panicked. After months of test prep, crafting essays, and obsessing over application deadlines, I now had one final obstacle: the MBA interview. And suddenly, I wasn’t sure where to start. So if you’re feeling the same way—excited, nervous, a little overwhelmed—you’re in good company. Here’s how I approached my MBA Interview Preparation from scratch, step by step, with a few lessons I picked up along the way.
Consulting has always been one of the most sought-after career paths for MBA aspirants. The lucrative pay packages and diverse project opportunities make it a top choice among MBA graduates. However, the path to a consulting role isn't equally open for everyone as top firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG (collectively known as MBB) tend to hire primarily from the top IIMs, famously referred to as BLACKI (IIM Bangalore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Kozhikode, Indore).
Here's a comprehensive comparison between the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, focusing on key aspects such as fees, placements, ROI, campus life, and specialization strengths. FMS Vs IIM Calcutta:
When I began preparing for the CAT, I wasn’t overly confident about the VARC section. Reading Comprehension (RC) often felt unpredictable and, at times, monotonous. Some days, I could follow the passages with ease; on others, I found myself zoning out mid-way and struggling to make sense of what I had just read.
Have you heard the phrase, “All roads lead to Rome?” Well, we got one - “Any career leads to product management.” The career path of a PM is not a linear one & career transition to Product Management isn't either. Anyone with curiosity and the right attitude can walk the road to PM.
Until a few years ago, the thought of studying at an IIM was a far-off dream for me. During my final year of BCom, while most of my peers were preparing for CAT, I was doing Excel certifications and applying to fellowships to build a good resume. I wasn’t confident in my ability to crack an entrance exam and get into a top MBA college. So, I was focused on getting a job and working my way up the corporate ladder solely based on practical skills and work experience.
