It was 16th may 2017 and I was constantly checking the portal from my office throughout the day. It was around 4:30 pm in the evening when the page suddenly read, 'You have been provisionally selected for admission to Post Graduate Programme in Management at Indore Campus (PGP 2017-19 Batch) of IIM Indore’. Yes, it was my only old IIM call.
It was my second attempt of CAT. CAT 15 was a disaster for me with only 70 odd percentile (with weekend CAT classes). After CAT 15, I decided to take a break for one year as I started working in a reputed telecom company as a Graduate Engineer Trainee. But when the training was over, I was posted in a team which mainly works on programming (which I was never good at right from 1st year of my college). It was already mid-October when I decided that ‘programming was not my cup of tea’. Hardly a month left for CAT 16.
CAT 16 Struggle:
I was left with only a few textbooks at that time. I enrolled myself for a free test series. With no time to waste, I started preparing on my own for around 4 hours in the evening after coming from work and 1.5 hours in the morning before work. I spent around 10 days for each section and gave mocks during weekends (which I didn’t take seriously). On December 4th (CAT day), I gave my best shot. I had nothing to lose. Since I didn’t give mocks properly, my endurance was put to test. I got a decent 90 percentile. I was not expecting any call from any old IIM. But to my surprise, as my academics were pretty good I got an interview call from IIM Indore main and Mumbai campus (I got for IIM L ABM which I was not interested in and didn’t attend). It was last chance for this year. I enrolled myself for an online GDPI course and made the most from newspapers (3-4 newspapers that were available at work :p).
WAT-PI Day
My WAT-PI was very early in the mid-February. Had about 40 days of preparation. WAT was about Environmental pollution and steps for preventing it. In Personal Interview questions were from diverse topics geography, cricket, tennis, total quality management, principles of management, Networking (Modulations, routing, subnetting, DNS etc.), Politics and Budget. Had a good WAT and very okayish PI after which I left the thoughts of converting.
The Agony of being Waitlisted
With all old IIMs releasing their results on the last week of April, all non-converts were desperately waiting for Indore results. I found myself waitlisted. Luckily IIM Indore came up with waitlist numbers this time. It was 29. Based on past trends, it should convert. But it took almost 2 weeks to get it officially.
Finally converted on May 16th and joining Planet-I in a while. Even if you have only one month you can still make it. CAT coaching and test series does not work unless you do.
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About the Author:
R SOORYA
PGP 2017-19
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, INDORE.
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Comments
Tanmoy Dutta
Can you please say the candidates Full name.
27 May 2017, 07.53 AM
Nikunj Damani
Which category?
27 May 2017, 08.24 AM
+Read Replies (2)
Soorya Rajendiran
OBC
29 May 2017, 04.54 AM |
bhumika manwani
Even I am obc.. does being obc give us any kind of edge??
15 Jul 2017, 10.55 PM |
BIKASH RANJAN SAHOO
i am an MBA ASPIRANTS
thanks for motivation really feel happy,all the very best........
30 May 2017, 01.04 AM
vaibhav yadav
Can u please elaborate about your academics
30 May 2017, 01.45 AM
+Read Replies (1)
Soorya Rajendiran
10th 95 12th 96.5 BE 8.1 with no work ex when I applied for CAT
31 May 2017, 01.39 AM |
Dolna Ray
Academic profile?
30 May 2017, 02.51 AM
Shaifali Singhal
Which online GDPI courses do you consider/suggest for?
30 May 2017, 09.57 AM
+Read Replies (2)
Soorya Rajendiran
I dont think I can tell that in a public forum.Kindly PM me.
6 Jun 2017, 01.08 AM |
Meghana Trikovala
Hi I am looking for gdpi course to enroll. Could you please suggest me a institute for me.
7 Apr 2019, 10.51 AM |
Avneetpal singh Khosa
Management aspirant and engineer by profession
Can you please suggest some free test series which are available
31 May 2017, 10.40 AM
Meghana Betha
I am a b com graduate. I have consistently been performing well in my academics. I love taking initiatives, organizing things, and delegating work.
hey hello. I have a similar trend of good academics and 85% in cat. i am commerce background student. good WAT and average PI . any chances of me converting ?
7 Apr 2019, 12.54 PM
+Read Replies (1)
vikas yadav
I am MBA aspirant.
Same query but I am obc engineer male.
7 Apr 2019, 07.05 PM |