The CAT is finally out of the bag. Some of you might be jumping with joy while some of you will be cursing all those online score predictors. To the latter bunch, this is for you guys.
CAT, the mother of all exams is a stupendous exam, with almost 2,00,000 test takers appearing for it every freaking year. The exam gives you a boarding pass to flight IIM. It is designed to check your concepts of mathematics, your reading skills, you data comprehending abilities. More than the knowledge of concepts, I believe it is a calm and composed frame of mind that helps your boat sail through easily.
With CAT ’17 done and dusted, it’s time to move on. As an aspirant, you would have been closely following all the development irrespective of whether or not you appeared for the exam. A few marks here and there can create a world of difference. To give your best shot, it is imperative that you plan your preparation in a good way. To help you do the same, I have come up with a series of articles to enable you to start your CAT prep on the right track. The first article of the series can be found here and the second one here.
So you really worked hard and yet nothing happened? You gave your best shot and yet you could manage only 85%ile? Or worse you had reached close to 99 but have not received the calls you wanted? Trust me; you are not alone in this. CAT is a fiercely competitive exam, and thousands of students are exactly in the same position that you find yourself in. You broadly have two options from here: To let go of your IIM dream or to return with even more force and give it one more shot. In case you are thinking of giving up, read this article to find out why IIMs are worth at least one more try.
Let’s get straight to the point. You want to get into an IIM. Based on my experience of both taking the CAT and training students for it, here’s what I would recommend you start with:
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up”
So it’s done. The CAT is finally out of the bag. If you are one of those who has the calls you aimed for, stop right away. This post is not for you. To the contrary, if you are dejected and disappointed, continue reading. Not clearing CAT in this attempt may not be such a bad thing after all. Each year thousands of aspirants experience what you are feeling right now, and just like them, you broadly have two options: To let go of your CAT/IIM dream or to make up your mind and slog for one more year.
You are almost there. So close that you can actually feel you are at the b-school. Nothing can go wrong now, can it? How can it go wrong? You have scored enough to get an interview call. You just have to go there and be yourself. It's easier said than done. You are ahead of the curve. Don't you want to keep it that way? Do you know why out of 20,000 calls only 6,000 students get into a b-school? Because of this stage. Because of GD-PIs-WATs. Here's where everyone falters.
