About a year and a half ago, I stood at a crossroads. With graduation approaching in June 2024, it was time to decide what came next—UPSC or an MBA. After days and nights of making pros and cons lists, researching, and reflecting, I finally chose to prepare for CAT.
I’ve always been an average student, so I began this journey with “average” expectations. I never aimed for IIM Ahmedabad or its likes. My goal was simple—a decent, mid-tier B-school to kickstart my corporate career.
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Like many aspirants, I enrolled at IMS CP Centre. I attended classes diligently, did all my homework, and stayed punctual.
Initially, I felt deeply inadequate. I didn’t come from a tier-1 college, had no stellar academics or impressive achievements. My résumé barely covered half a page. Surrounded by what felt like extraordinary peers, I felt… ordinary.
Still, I told myself, “Let’s just focus on CAT—GDPI can come later.” And that’s exactly what I did.
My friends and I created a WhatsApp group called “Mission 99%ile.” Deep down, I didn’t really believe I’d get there, but the name had a nice ring to it. ;)
The dreadful mock season
Then came mock season. My first IMS mock: a 67 percentile—with a zero in DILR. Yes, zero. No one else in my class had that. It was one of the lowest scores.
But I didn’t let it shake me. It was my first mock—I set my expectations accordingly.
Second mock: 94 percentile! Massive improvement.
Third mock: 77 percentile.
This inconsistency stayed with me throughout mock season. Some days I scored 95+ %ile, other days I dipped into the 50s. Despite completing the syllabus, practicing questions, and following all advice, my mock performances remained disappointing.
Nobody wants to get a percentile in the 70s a month before CAT, after a year of preparation. It was very demotivating.
A month before CAT, I changed everything.
I stopped taking new mocks. Instead, I focused entirely on analysing the previous ones. Deep, thorough analysis.
Strategy Breakdown
Strengths & Weakness - Analysis
Strength: VARC.
Weakness: DILR. It stayed a mystery till D-day.
Okay at: Quants – I managed arithmetic, algebra, and basic geometry.
Changes I made:
- In VARC, I increased attempts from 14 to 20 by segmenting the 40-minute paper into time blocks (30 + 10 mins, then 4 sections of ~7 mins each).
- In DILR, I focused on finding and solving just one easy set to clear the cutoff.
- In QA, I prioritized arithmetic → algebra → easy geometry.
VARC Strategy
Better at: RCs over VA.
Traps: Para-jumbles—time-consuming and low accuracy.
Changes I made:
- Focused on PYQs to identify patterns and boost confidence.
- Fast reading of RCs in 2–3 mins, then back to passage while answering.
- Limited time to ~ 1 to1.5 mins per question.
- Used Gejo Sir’s BEAST method for elimination.
- Attempted RCs before VA.
DILR Strategy
- Preferred shorter sets for clarity.
- Avoided unnecessarily tough coaching mocks.
- Practiced primarily from PYQs to build confidence.
QA Strategy
- My speed was low, but accuracy was high.
- Attempted 8–10 questions with near 100% accuracy.
- Divided the section into 4 parts of 10 minutes each to better manage time.
The Final Month
This phase is make or break. Preparation is only half the battle—mindset is the other half.
I focused on PYQs and “easy” mocks with timers to build time management skills & confidence. I stayed in close contact with my family and friends—my biggest pillars of strength.
The most important thing that kept me calm was knowing what was in my control and what wasn’t. I can’t control the outcome. I don’t know what’s going to happen on D-day. But, I can focus on giving my best and that is the most important thing. Whatever may be the outcome, I’ll be okay. It won’t be the end of the world.
The D-Day
Slot 1, 24th Nov 2024.
I couldn’t sleep. Woke up at 4 a.m., revised formulas, reached the center by 6:30 am. Among the nervous crowd, I strangely felt calm.
I meditated before logging in.
VARC went as planned—I attempted all 20 questions.
DILR felt amazing—solved the first set in 15 minutes!
QA—disaster. 10 minutes in, no questions done. At 15 minutes, I had attempted only one. The paper seemed so easy but somehow I just couldn’t do any question. I tried to keep my hopes high. I just need to clear the cutoff, that’s it. I was shaking. But I kept calm and ended with 5 questions. Just 5. But it could’ve been worse.
Everyone outside seemed cheerful—especially about quant. I cried on the way home.
I braced myself for a low score—maybe 92–93 percentile. I started applying to colleges in that range. This became my new reality.
The Result Day
I opened the result and… 96.18 percentile!! All cutoffs cleared!!!
I couldn’t believe it. For someone who expected so little, this felt like everything.
VARC changed the game—it made up 55–60% of my total score.
Key Takeaways:
- PYQs > Mocks. Skip a mock if you must, but not PYQs.
- Analysis is key. Not just for mocks, but for your own performance.
- Be excellent in at least one section. Mine was VARC—98.84 percentile.
- Adaptability matters. Sticking rigidly to your plan can backfire. Adjust. Anything can happen on the D-Day. As circumstances changed, so did my strategy for quants to maximize the total output.
- Mindset wins. Stay calm even through the worst, and you’ll go farther than you think.
XAT Preparation
Started 20–25 days before. Focused on Decision Making and PYQs. No mocks.
I found DM as confusing as DILR, but practiced as much as I could.
XAT Day
I went in with no expectations. I was an average student. I got a decent score at CAT, I was satisfied. XAT was going to be just another experience for me. I had nothing to lose. The paper went well. I spent my first hour at VALR. I attempted nearly all questions. Then, I spent 45 mins at Decision Making and the remaining 1.25 hours for QADI. I was satisfied with my performance and expected a good score.
Result Day
I knew I was on the edge. I attempted merely 10 Q’s in Decision Making, there was a high chance that I might miss the cutoff. I was extremely nervous.
I opened the pdf.
And I got a 99.45%ile! But, I missed the cutoff for decision making by a slight margin.
I was devastated. I cried. I cried for days.
“Mission 99%ile” was technically complete, but felt pointless. I couldn’t even sit for XLRI’s interview.
GDPI Season
Looking back, I’m glad it happened. It taught me how much I underestimated myself. I could never even dream of a 99%ile but I got it! I chose to appreciate it and focus on what lay ahead.
Got shortlists from MDI Gurgaon, IIFT, CAP, and more.
Some interviews went well, others didn’t. But I learned from each one.
My best call was MDI Gurgaon. I was interested in its HRM program and after XLRI, it was my best bet. I gave my best. Prepared everything that I could. I decided not to give any Mock-GDs or interviews. I went straight in with a fresh mind.
GD went well—my first ever! Made 3–4 meaningful entries and concluded as a team.
Now comes the time for the interview. I felt nervous. I took a few deep breaths before I entered the room to calm myself down.
The interview was surprisingly different from others that I’d given. This felt more like a conversation—opinion-based, calm, and positive. Overall, it was a good experience. I was satisfied as I left the room.
The Wait
The wait for the results was even tougher than preparing for GDPI.
IIM CAP results came first—I converted IIM Kashipur, waitlisted for others. I was happy. So were my parents.
But I had given up on MDI Gurgaon. “It’s workex heavy,” people said. “How would a fresher with a 96 percentile make it?” And, I believed them.
Still, I held on to a small sliver of hope.
The Moment
After a long wait for results, here they were —MDI Gurgaon PGDM-HRM… CONVERTED!
I screamed with joy. It was one of the best days of my life.
Even now, it feels surreal. But it’s real. This is my next chapter.
I’m still as clueless as I was when I started this journey—but I now believe in myself. More than I ever did. And that’s everything.
Final Reflection
This journey had its highs and lows. I doubted myself constantly, yet I proved myself wrong every time.
We “average” students often downplay our dreams. We settle, thinking we’re not worthy. But we are. Each one of us brings something unique to the table.
Bad academics, gap years, poor communication—these aren’t our identities. They're just parts of the story. Not the whole.
We are worth so much more.
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