What I Did After CAT While Waiting For WATPI Calls - Bhavya S., SPJIMR' 25

2) Brushed Up on Current Affairs

It's not just about knowing the facts with respect to what's going on in the world; you have to have an opinion on everything as well. Stay informed, and develop a nuanced understanding. This will help enrich your GDs and WATs and also provide substance to your answers during personal interviews.

3) Revisited Undergraduate Subjects

You have to figure out what it is likely that they will ask based on your undergraduate background - from what topics and what questions. In my case, as someone with a design background, focusing on communication subjects and the Craft Cluster Initiative project, which combined social service with design thinking, proved invaluable. (This was especially because I actively expressed an interest in marketing in all my PIs.)

4) Documented My Achievements

Cataloging your achievements, positions of responsibilities, and extracurricular activities will provide a rich roster of talking points. Whether asked directly or seamlessly integrated into your other answers, these achievements can add depth and credibility to your profile & candidature.

5) Crafted the Answers for all PI hygiene questions

Certain questions are inevitable, like "Tell me about yourself", "Why do you want to pursue an MBA?", "What are your strengths?", & "What are your weaknesses?"

6) Engaged in Mock PIs

Lots of them. This is to practice your answers and polish your communication skills. It also helps with nerves during the real thing. I enrolled in a PI guidance course for this (I joined InsideIIM's WAT-PI program). You can never have too much practice with mock interviews.

7) Revisited Application Forms

You have to be thorough with everything about yourself, especially points the interviewer will already know about you from your form, and can cross-question you about. This is especially true for anything that can be targeted in your profile during the PI, such as any poor academic score or even a gap year - if you have a justification for these, you have to be prepared with these as well.

The post-CAT period is not just a waiting game; it's a strategic intermission where your actions have the potential to significantly impact your admissions outcome. I believe that diversifying your preparation, refining your responses, and practising with mock interviews can truly help you make the best of this brief break. After all, CAT was only part of the journey; it is now time for the next leg.

All the best!

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Note From Editor:

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Bhavya Sharma is a student of the PGDM Marketing 2023-2025 batch at SPJIMR Mumbai. She pursued fashion from NIFT Hyderabad, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) degree. She has a keen interest in art, and her work has been recognized on numerous occasions with achievements that include national and Asia-wide art and design competitions.