IIM Indore | Class of 2027 | Dentist Turned MBA Aspirant
If someone had told me a year ago that I’d crack CAT and join an IIM, I probably would’ve smiled politely and gone back to my dental notes.
Hi, I’m Dr. Arushi Chandra — a dentist by training, and now (still getting used to saying this) an incoming MBA student at IIM Indore, Class of 2027.
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The “What Next?” Phase
March 2024. I had just wrapped up my BDS degree from ITS Centre for Dental Studies and Research, Ghaziabad, along with a slightly extended internship. By May, I found myself in the dreaded “what now?” zone.
I started preparing for the MDS entrance, but something felt off. I wasn’t excited. I wasn’t curious. I wasn’t growing.
Dental education gave me clinical skills, but I wanted more — to learn management, operations, finance, and leadership beyond the clinic walls. I wanted to expand my horizon and build something larger than myself.
That’s when the MBA seed was planted.
I Had No Roadmap
Honestly, I had no idea how to start. When I decided in July to take the CAT, I didn’t even fully understand the exam pattern. I spent days just decoding it.
Then I began studying in August. No coaching. Just mocks from TIME and pure self-study.
The nights were long — literally. Because of construction noise at home, I found focus only after midnight. I took mocks late at night and analyzed them in the early mornings. Many mocks went badly. But I kept going.
October brought another test. My mom needed eye surgery, and I had to manage hospital visits, meals, and household tasks. My CAT prep took a hit, but I returned to those late-night sessions, tired but determined.
Luck, Logic, and DILR
I won’t pretend it was all skill. During this journey, I realized my strength lay in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section. While cracking CAT depends partly on luck — the set you get, the day you face it — I was fortunate that day to get a favorable DILR set. That gave my overall percentile a much-needed boost.
The Long Walk After the Exam
You’d think that after CAT, I’d feel relief. But the moment I stepped out of that exam hall, I felt more lost than ever. One hurdle was over, but so much was left — interviews, waitlists, uncertainty.
It felt like a long, silent walk back home, carrying a hundred thoughts in my head and no idea what lay ahead.
Step by Step, Learning as I Go
I had no clue what would follow CAT. I figured it out as I lived it.
After the exam, I learned about scorecards, percentiles, and interview calls. I applied to colleges and awaited responses.
People advised coaching for mock interviews, GDs, and WATs. I almost considered it but decided to rely on my own preparation and not spend the in someone to teach me.
So, I prepared my answers, polished my story, and practiced WATs on my own.
The WAT Twist — Destiny or Design?
Surprisingly, nearly all my WAT topics were healthcare-related — AI in healthcare, innovation in public health, waste management. These are areas I know well and feel passionate about.
One topic was very technical, but I believe I handled it well.
Was it coincidence, preparation, or fate? I don’t know. But it played to my strengths, and I’m grateful.
Interviews — The Real Test
Interviews ranged from 10 to 20 minutes — some warm, some skeptical, some cold.
My best? IIM Ahmedabad — respectful and intellectually curious.
The toughest? IIM Indore and Kozhikode — sharp and dismissive. I was grilled, questioned if I belonged there, and barely given a chance to explain.
But I kept showing up. Persistence matters.
My Journey Through Setbacks
Before dentistry, I faced failures — multiple attempts at NEET, setbacks that left me with fear and uncertainty. This journey taught me resilience and adaptability, qualities I now bring to mastering management and leadership beyond my clinical background.
During months of preparation, I also battled PTSD — the trauma of failure, pressure from family, and doubts about my switch from healthcare to management. My mother struggled to understand why I was shifting careers.
Yet I stood firm, driven by a quiet pride and the knowledge that every setback was a setup for a comeback.
From “Any IIM Will Do” to Dreaming in Bold
When I began this journey, my mindset was simple — “Whichever IIM I get — baby, new — I’ll take it. I just want a foot in the door.”
There was no room for pride, just hope.
But somewhere along the way — after countless sleepless nights, self-doubt, and small wins — something shifted.
I stopped thinking like someone desperate to get in.
I started thinking like someone who belonged.
I began aiming higher — daring to picture myself in BLACKI. Not just in an IIM… but in the best of them.
That evolution — from “I’ll settle for anything” to “I’ll fight for the best” — was the most powerful change of all.
The Climax I Didn’t See Coming
I was waitlisted for both IIM Kozhikode and IIM Lucknow. I converted IIM Rohtak first, then Trichy, and even paid the fees, assuming it was my final stop. I was relieved but not happy.
I had received offers from all new and baby IIMs, but my heart still whispered, “just wait.”
And then — like a movie climax — came the IIM Indore convert.
No background music. No fireworks. Just quiet, stunned joy.
I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I just sat still.
The silence said it all: I did it.
My Advice (No Bookish Gyaan)
To anyone from a non-traditional background — dentists, doctors, arts students or any other non engineer stuck in doubt — here’s what I’ve learned:
• You don’t need all the answers on day one.
• You’ll figure it out — step by step, as you walk the path.
• Coaching isn’t essential if you stay honest with yourself.
• You don’t need to be perfect, just persistent.
• You don’t have to gallop like a horse in a straight line — just know your direction.
• If I can do it, anyone can.
And if you ever feel stuck, confused, or alone — reach out.
I’ll be the helping hand I wish I had.
