Competitions

CAT Prep

Upskill

Placements

MBA Co'26

RTI Response

Rankings

Score Vs. %ile

Salaries

Campus Tour

30 July, 2018

4 minutes Read

From Corporate To Campus - The CAT Journey Of A Working Professional

CAT Study Planner

Let me take you through my journey to answer these questions.

It started with self-actualisation. The realization that I was doing something I was not passionate about. The realization that I could do more than what I had been doing. The feeling that I was not in the right place. The belief that the best was yet to come. With all these thoughts doing rounds in my mind, I made up my mind to take CAT. I brushed up most of the concepts in six months. By the end of May, I was confident and fully braced to take the mocks.

But was I really ready?

“Life is very unpredictable. In no time, it can turn upside down.”

I took the first mock and scored barely 80 percentile. It was a jolt for me. Before I could get over it, I suffered another blow when I scored only 40 marks in the second mock with an awful 1 mark in English and 3 marks in DILR. I was left shattered. Completely devastated. And I saw no ray of hope even after taking eight mocks. I was losing confidence and getting restless. I did not know where I was going wrong. I felt like giving up.

But as soon as I thought about continuing my job, I gave up on the idea of giving up. My job was sapping me emotionally. My growth was stagnant. My work was not giving me a strong feeling of satisfaction and fulfilment. Every single day at work was a struggle. Struggle to find something interesting and challenging. Probably this is what happens with most of the working professionals. We gain motivation through frustration. Our struggle at workplace galvanises us to work hard and get what we deserve. For most of us, CAT seems tough; but the job, tougher.

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

My tenacity kept me going. I managed to study 5-6 hours a day besides spending 9 hours in office. The pain of grappling with CAT questions was not even a cent of the dissatisfaction I was facing in my professional life. Yes, amidst looming hopelessness all around, I did not let my inner hope douse. In the last 2 months, I did not care about marks and percentile. I did not care about what others would think of me. All I cared about and focused on was learning from my mistakes in the previous mocks.

And when the D-day came, the fortune changed. I was calm and gave my best.

That evening, when I looked back into my journey, I felt contented. I lived up to the promises that I made to myself. I promised myself that I won't give up midway and would embrace whatever comes my way. And to that day, I was successful. I saw a complete turnaround in me as a person. What this pursuit made of me was truly satisfying. I felt it was all so damn worth it.

6AM to 11PM! Work and study! For days and for months!

I truly savoured that yearlong odyssey, a transformational journey of patience and persistence. Witnessed failure. Cried. Witnessed excellence. Smiled. Witnessed unwavering patience. Realised strength. The strength to endure. The strength to wait.

Thereafter, I walked with impunity because I had done all I could have done. No regrets.

Eventually, I converted IIM Trichy and now cherishing every single moment of it.

With CAT just 4 months away, many of you would be struggling to score well in mocks despite giving your best. But trust me, it’s completely okay. Everyone goes through this phase. That’s the beauty of this exam. It gets you through the highs, the lows and the blows. Eventually, it’s just a matter of hanging in there which most of us fail to do. So, don’t give up midway. Savour this journey, for this, is a transformational one.

May the Force Be With You.

Signing off,

Nikhil Jain

Comments

Md Danish zafar

Very inspiring story for CAT aspirants.

30 Jul 2018, 09.52 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Currently pursuing Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM) at IIM Trichy (Class of 2020). Passionate about teaching and obsessed with writing stories that go down deep into one's heart. Admires the serenity of nature and loves to uplift people.

Thanks :-)

31 Jul 2018, 01.00 AM |

Shubham Mehta

How did you increased your score in mocks? How did you handled that phase or feeling of consistently scoring low in mocks?? Any advice is higly appreciated.

31 Jul 2018, 09.26 AM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Hi Shresth, I feel mock scores can be increased if you analyse your strong areas and weak areas from previous mocks. From my experience last year, the following points might help you. - Go through some of the previous mocks - Analyse the topics that are majorly asked in each section - Find out your comfort level with each of them and if you find some dry area, practice that more. -Make sure you don't repeat the mistakes again and again. Learn a few things from each mock and capitalise on your learnings thereafter. -Maintain a notebook of important topics and questions which are asked frequently and revise them before taking mocks. Eventually it is the persistence that makes all the difference. Keep practicing. Keep learning. And trust me, mocks are not the true reflection of your potential CAT score. So, don't get bogged down by the mock scores. Just focus on learning more and more. In the long run, your effort will be paid off. As far as how I dealt with failure and pressure is concerned, I would say, it's not that I did not feel bad. I felt bad but I moved on. I had my own reasons to keep going. So, I just believed in the process and kept going. Hope this helps. All the best.

31 Jul 2018, 12.27 PM |

Hi Shresth,

I feel mock scores can be increased if you analyse your strong areas and weak areas from previous mocks.

From my experience last year, the following points might help you.

- Go through some of the previous mocks
- Analyse the topics that are majorly asked in each section
- Find out your comfort level with each of them and if you find some dry area, practice that more.
-Make sure you don't repeat the mistakes again and again. Learn a few things from each mock and capitalise on your learnings thereafter.
-Maintain a notebook of important topics and questions which are asked frequently and revise them before taking mocks.

Eventually it is the persistence that makes all the difference. Keep practicing. Keep learning.

And trust me, mocks are not the true reflection of your potential CAT score. So, don't get bogged down by the mock scores. Just focus on learning more and more. In the long run, your effort will be paid off.

As far as how I dealt with failure and pressure is concerned, I would say, it's not that I did not feel bad. I felt bad but I moved on. I had my own reasons to keep going. So, I just believed in the process and kept going.

Hope this helps.

All the best.

Hima Bindu Naidu

Beautiful and inspiring! :)

31 Jul 2018, 11.52 AM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thanks :-)

31 Jul 2018, 01.05 PM |

Jayant Kumar

Hi Nikhil, How you managed your job work and CAT preparation. Please help me in finding the best balance between ghe two.

31 Jul 2018, 08.51 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Hi Jayant, This is very subjective question because my answer would depend on your work schedule. So better if we take it offline. I request you to let me know about your work schedule. You may write a mail to me at nikhiljain911@gmail.com

2 Aug 2018, 03.43 AM |

Somnath Mallick

This is a very genuine and inspiring story of yours. I am overwhelmed with joy when I saw you converted yourself to IIM student. This is gonna be a great motivation for the ones who want to do something and does something else and unable to live up to their dreams for some or other reason. All the best for ur future...and keep up the good work..

31 Jul 2018, 09.00 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thank you Somnath :-) All the very best to you too :-)

2 Aug 2018, 11.54 AM |

Vishal Kumar

I working with Accenture

This is what we call it "growing through life" not just "going through life". Welcome done Nikhil ..

31 Jul 2018, 10.15 PM

+Read Replies (2)

Vishal Kumar

I working with Accenture

*Well done Nikhil...

31 Jul 2018, 10.19 PM |

Nikhil Jain

Thanks Vishal :-)

2 Aug 2018, 03.43 AM |

Amit Tiwari

Well wisher

I don't remember the last time I read something as good as this. They make me think deep about everything. My words won't be enough.”

31 Jul 2018, 10.24 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Happy to know that my words made you introspect. Have a great time ahead :-)

2 Aug 2018, 03.44 AM |

Harsh Upadhyay

It's great to read such an off beat experience. Corporate to Campus. Each and every line of this article is imbued with the efforts you made while sailing through this unusual phase so far. Have a great journey ahead.

2 Aug 2018, 09.25 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thank you very much Harsh :-)

2 Aug 2018, 10.58 PM |

Kapil Awasthi

Inspiring. Beautifully articulated.

2 Aug 2018, 09.49 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thanks!

2 Aug 2018, 10.58 PM |

Bhawna Badoniya

Dnt know

Really inspiring nikhil... it needs highly a Will power and very strong determination.... Catch all ur dreams...

2 Aug 2018, 10.34 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thanks Bhawna :-)

2 Aug 2018, 10.59 PM |

Shibangi Tripathy

Mirror image of what actually happens during CAT journey. Those frustration those bounce back. Beautifully written.

2 Aug 2018, 11.13 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Yeah, this actually happens.

3 Aug 2018, 06.43 PM |

Srajan Choubey

Counselor, Social Activist, Civil Engineer, Yoga Teacher.

One of the best line I read "when the going gets tough, the tough gets going". Keep inspiring people as always brother. Will you? May the force be with you

2 Aug 2018, 11.20 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Always. Just to clear the air, that particular quote is not written by me. It is taken from internet.

3 Aug 2018, 07.09 PM |

Amrita Parashar

A creative and dynamic person. An avid reader, a dreamer witg risk takin ability

its sooo good.. I am experiencing the same these days highs and lows But I think I am in a much more comfortable situation given I am not in any corporate job. Thank you sir for such piece of mind.

2 Aug 2018, 11.47 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

All the very best Amrita. Keep going.

3 Aug 2018, 07.09 PM |

sapna tanwar

Always impressed with ur words ☺️

3 Aug 2018, 06.07 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thanks :-)

3 Aug 2018, 07.10 PM |

Kshitij Chittar

IIM trichy first year student. Entrepreneur in food processing industry. Finance enthusiast.

Definitely the best article that I read today.. well done Nikhil.

4 Aug 2018, 08.43 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Feels great to know this :-)

4 Aug 2018, 09.04 PM |

Ritiz Pandey

I am pursuing MBA from IIM Raipur.

Nice one. Keep on inspiring.

6 Aug 2018, 09.56 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thanks!

7 Aug 2018, 11.59 AM |

Syam Prasad

Nice man!!

9 Aug 2018, 03.16 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thanks brother :-)

10 Aug 2018, 12.06 AM |

Malini Rajashekaran

😊

Too good

11 Aug 2018, 03.36 PM

+Read Replies (1)

Nikhil Jain

Thank you :-)

11 Aug 2018, 07.58 PM |

advait sathe

Could completely relate with your journey Nikhil. And it's indeed motivating me to get going with my CAT 2020 Preparation. And Congrats for your selection Buddy. Best Wishes.

25 Jul 2020, 09.17 AM