At the IIM Bangalore GD and interview March 27, 2008
Posted by chitranshu in Career related stuff, IIM interviews.trackback
Finally, I had my last IIM interview today afternoon. It was IIM Bangalore, and being one of the ‘big’ ones, and considering that my A and C interviews were just okay, I was determined to do well. In the run-up to this day, I read interviews on Pagalguy, read stuff from Wikipedia which I thought could be useful, spoke to some friends to get their inputs, and generally fretted more than I had for any other interview so far.
I reached the centre about 20 minutes before time, and generally started speaking to some of the other candidates. When I came out to make a call, I saw the interviewers walk by, presumably after having their lunch. I noticed that one of them was the same professor who had interviewed me two years ago.
After some time, one of the other professors came down to our waiting room, and announced the names of candidates in his panel. Mine was the first name, which also meant that I was the first one to be interviewed in that panel. Anyway, that comes later. We walked behind that professor to the interview room, and when I entered, I found that the other professor in that panel was the one I had noticed downstairs, the one who had interviewed me before.
We were told to take our places according to the order, and were given the instructions – a case would be given, we would have 10 minutes to think and prepare our points, then 15 minutes to discuss, and then another 10 minutes to write a summary of the discussion and answer a couple of other questions. The case given to us was ’should the government set up more IITs and IIMs, or should it use that money for primary and secondary education?’ Some points on this issue which are commonly found in the media were given as part of the case.
The discussion was the worst I have seen so far. There were about 8 people in the group, and no one seemed to be willing to listen to the others, clearly define the problem, discuss solutions or move to a conclusion. Everyone was just trying to make their own points, even if that meant cross-talking and trying to shout others down. I made a couple of forays into the discussion, and my voice and tone are such that everyone stopped and listened (1-2 guys in the group actually came up to me after the discussion and said as much). I managed to make a couple of points in these forays, but I had some more as well. However, in the other attempted forays, I decided to stop after uttering a few words because everyone seemed to be lost in their own voices.
I understand that this was one topic where everyone had a lot to say, but the sad thing is that most of the stuff spoken was irrelevant, digressive, and generally spoken to hog the time. If people had bothered to listen to each others’ points, not repeat stuff, and actually try to come to some conclusion, it would have been better. A few people tried to get the discussion back on track, but in the face of aggression, everyone usually turns up their volume. After about 15 minutes, the professor asked us to stop, and asked me if I had anything to add. I was a little surprised, but I was careful not to repeat the mistake I made after the IIMC GD, and finished with a few points which I had noted on my paper but could not bring out in the discussion.
Along with the written summary, there were two other questions, on ‘who do you think was the most influential person in the 20th century, and why?’ and ‘what are your career goals and how does a PGP from IIMB fit into it?’ I answered them just in time, and then we were asked to go downstairs and wait.
I went down, had some water, spoke to some guys, and came back up in about 5 minutes. After some time, one of the professors came out and called me for the interview. From here on, I’ll refer to the professors as P1 (the one who had interviewed me before, and who came out to call me) and P2 (the one who came to call us for the GD). In the interview room, P1 was to my left and P2 to my right.
(After going in, wishing them and sitting down)
P2: So, is your name Chitranshu or Vijay?
Me: Sir, my name is Chitranshu. Vijay is my father’s name.
P2: But Mathur is a North Indian surname, right?
Me: Yes sir.
P2: So why do you write your name in this form, surname followed by name and father’s name?
Me: Sir, I always wrote my name as Chitranshu Mathur, but after my 10th standard exams, I got my certificate with this name, which was according to the convention in Maharashtra. So, it has stuck on all my official certificates since then.
P2: OK. So… (looking at my form) you have just started working, right?
Me: Yes sir, I took up this job after CAT, in December last year. Before that, I graduated in 2006, and was preparing for the UPSC civil service exams (spoke about those exams, the result I got recently, and that I appeared for CAT alongside and was now going through the interviews).
P2: And have you appeared for CAT earlier?
Me: Yes sir, I appeared once before, in my final year of college, that was CAT 2005. I got all 6 calls, went for the Ahmedabad and Bangalore interviews, and in fact, in the Bangalore interview, (smiling and looking at P1) Prof. Ganesh was one of my interviewers. In fact, at that time, I had told him that I would be appearing for the UPSC exams, which I have now. (P1 smiled and muttered something to P2, which sounded to me like ‘I told you I had seen him before’ or something)
P2: So what happened in those interviews?
Me: Sir, I did not convert the A and B calls, and I did not go for the other four interviews. In campus placements also, I sat for a few company interviews. From all this, I came to know where I stood, and I proceeded with my UPSC exam preparations.
P2: But why this fascination with the civil services? Is your father in the IAS? (looking at my form)
Me: No sir. (told about my own thought process and how I arrived at the decision, and that my father had the opposite role, of asking ‘why do you want to do this’, but once I had decided, he said I should do whatever I want, but not waste too much time. Finished off by saying that even now, I have two more attempts left and age on my side, but I do not want to appear again because I think I have put in whatever effort I could. People say ‘you should have gone to Delhi to prepare’ just like they say ‘go to Kota if you want to prepare for IIT-JEE’, but I didn’t want to do that)
P2: What were your subjects in the UPSC exams?
Me: Geography and political science.
P2: (with a look of surprise) Why… after studying engineering physics from IIT?
Me: (told about why social sciences are better for these exams, and my own interest in them. He countered by saying that he had heard that physics and maths was a good combination, but conceded that if I was interested in some other subjects, so be it)
Then, he changed track and asked…
P2: OK, so since you have majored in physics, tell me about string theory.
I mentioned that I had not studied string theory, and that I was anyway out of touch with physics, but he insisted, saying that I should be able to tell more than what a ‘layman’ like him knew. I said whatever I could, that it was a theory that the four fundamental forces of nature arise out of different vibrational modes of strings. He asked me to name the four fundamental forces, which I did correctly, but after some stuttering indecision. However, I could not tell more in detail about string theory or about its originator.
P2: (after about 2-3 minutes of grilling and only getting half-baked information with little confidence from me) OK, now about political science. (I waited with baited breath) You must be knowing that the Rajya Sabha elections happened over the weekend. So, how would you analyse the results and their impact on the ruling party? Give me your analysis, not what I read in the Times of India.
Me: (smiling) Sir, I too read about it only in the Times of India. (Gave my analysis of the results)
P2: OK, and what about Vilasrao Deshmukh? What effect would it have on him?
(I mentioned his decreasing influence, the Vidarbha crisis and the negative impact it had on his image. Finally, P2 just made the question more pointed…)
P2: So why is Deshmukh not being sacked?
Me: Sir, maybe they have no options.
P2: Oh, they have many options.
Me: Then maybe it’s because of his proximity to Sonia Gandhi.
P2: He is not being sacked because he belongs to a powerful community which they cannot afford to anger.
Me: (finally dawning upon me) Yes sir, he is the only Maratha leader they have.
P2: (with a dismissive look) OK, so what else… yes, geography! Which state in India has the longest coastline?
Me: Sir, it’s Gujarat.
P2: (smiling) OK, so you know something at least. (turning to P1, who had been smiling all along, and occasionally broadening his smile when P2 cracked a joke on me 
)
P1: (looking at my form) OK, tell me something about your current job.
I spoke about my job, and from there, a discussion ensued, and somewhere in between, I mentioned Pagalguy. P1 asked what I knew about Pagalguy, and then P2 interrupted.
P2: So, why pagal? Are the owners of that site pagal or the people who go to that site?
Me: Sir, the users are given some ‘pagal’ rating when they register. I don’t know much about all that, but it’s useful. For example, I came to know that this question on ‘most influential person’ is being asked, by reading the discussions on Pagalguy.
P2: OK, and what have you written?… Gandhi. So, did you get this answer also from there?
Me: No sir (smiling). I read that some other people had also written that, but I sincerely feel it was Gandhi.
Then, I started speaking about Gandhi, his philosophies, the things he was criticised about, and yet, why he was still a great man.
P2: OK, tell me one thing. If you have seen that movie Munnabhai 2, there is that scene where Sanjay Dutt is slapped once, he turns his other cheek, he is slapped again, and then he retaliates, because Gandhi has not told him what to do after two slaps. So, was that what Gandhi said, that you tolerate upto a certain point and then retaliate?
Me: No sir, I think that movie reduced Gandhi to a caricature. (spoke more about his philosophy)
P2: But, Gandhi was the one who said that India should fight alongside Britain in World War II? Where did his non-violence go then?
I defended that, and somewhere in this discussion, I also mentioned Gandhi’s influence on Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. P2 disagreed, saying that that was just lip-service, and that Nelson Mandela had adopted violent tactics earlier. I said that as long as he changed in the end, that was good. And thus, the discussion went on, until I said that Gandhi was just a human and he should not be put on a pedestal. He agreed, and I extended that argument saying that no one should be put on a pedestal. For example, even Jesus Christ was just a great human with a certain philosophy.
P2: (interrupting) OK, now you are getting into dangerous territory. (collecting the papers in front of him) See, in front a group of people, you never know who might get offended by what. So, it’s best to stay away from such dangerous territory.
I nodded, and they both said, ‘ok, that’s all, thank you, and please send the next person in’.
I thanked them and left with a smile on my face. There had been moments when I was not too confident of what I was saying, and times when I said ‘I don’t know’, but on the whole, I got a good feeling. That was also because the interviewers had been smiling throughout. Sometimes, it was in a mocking way, and sometimes agreeing with me, but on the whole, it helped. And the latter half of the interview was really good, I felt. I don’t know how much impact the GD will have, though, on the final result.
So now, I am keeping my fingers crossed till the final results. That does not mean that I will not write anything till then, though.
![OMG ! [ Explore #1 ]](http://static.flickr.com/2631/4150305338_5dd4270c04_t.jpg "OMG ! [ Explore #1 ]")
hey sir……
due to some reasons..i m doing my B.E. from a ‘not so good college’ in indore in elex. n commn. deptt…..lets say if i work hard….n clear the cutoffs n get calls from IIMs…den will my graduation background continue tohaunt me in PIs too?????hoping for a reply……
@ Neha
If you clear the cut-offs and get calls from IIMs, the college you have graduated from will not matter. At least in the IIMB process, it is very clear that where you graduated from does not matter. Only your marks over there, and what you remember from whatever you have learnt in that course matters.
I’m not the one who generally comments on other’s outlook & perception ( probably in your case you did fairly well in your GD/PI’s..but they were boring :p) ), but since you write your blog’s so earnestly , i appreciate your efforts..
An IIM aspirant, i’m writing CAT for the first time this year…I’m doing it for fairly whacky reasons..intend to do something big for the rock music scene in India (which hint more towards obtaining entrepreneurial skills from the Institute)..
Do you think purely one track ambition ( and not so glorifying academic past) can help you crack the PI process(banking on the fact that i’ll somehow manage to crack the CAT itself) ..
@ Raul
Ahh.. a career in rock music. No wonder you find my interviews boring.
Well, having a one-track ambition is not a plus or minus point. It is how clear you are about it and how does the PGP from IIM fit in that matters. They might ask you, ‘why don’t you get into the scene now itself’. Be prepared to answer such questions.
As for entrepreneurial skills, I have read interviews (on PG) where they clearly said, ‘we don’t teach that here’.
A ‘not so glorifying’ academic record is always a minus point, no matter what your ambition. But you can’t do anything to change it now.
Just do well in the exam and be clear about what you say in the interview.
All the best.
sir,
one thing i noticed was dat u mentioned d fact very clearly that u teach in a mba coaching institute , quite frankly…..dont u think dis might not go down too well with the ppl taking ur interview…as these professor types are known to b against any kind of ‘extra’ coaching…and since u were a techer there , u obviously support extra tutions etc. …..(dis is wat i think dey wud think…..in my opinion evry one needs a bit of extra help to crack these exams…..)
@ Neha
I did mention it, but I made it very clear that I did it only because I wanted to do something part-time while preparing for the UPSC exams. In IIMA, they forced the issue further, so I also gave my opinion about the whole industry, which they agreed with. In IIMB, I clearly mentioned that I did not listen to those who said ‘go to Delhi and prepare for IAS’ or ‘go to Kota and prepare for IIT-JEE’, so I think I made my opinion on it clear enough.
Yet, if they choose not to look at the honesty and these opinions, but go by some prejudices, I can’t do anything about it.
hi chitranshu,
seems like you’ve done a realy good job at the interview … thrz something i’d like to know … I have completed my B.Tech in Electronics engg from a not-so-reputed NIT and am currently working as a s/w developer in an MNC … merely after 6 months in s/w I feel like I dont remember anything of what I had learnt in college. Nor did I have a very good CGPA in college
Do you think I still stand a chance at the interviews in case I manage to clear CAT wid a realy good percentile?
@ melancholytree
Well, I would suggest that you focus on CAT right now, and after getting calls, you can revise a few things from what you learnt in college.
In the end, though, it’s your attitude that matters, and how you handle the situation when you don’t know the answers.
Hello Sir…
My name is Arpit Sharma and Recently I am in last year of engineering. Now I am in the dielma whether to do management or IAS. Other bad news is I dont have any job in my pocket. Since you had prepared for both can you suggest me which road should I chose of??One thing I want to share is I had always desired to serve our government. So is it possible for anyone to enter government after doing management???Can you suggest me how should I opt?
Awaiting for your reply
Please help……
@ Arpit
I would suggest that you make your choice based on what you think you would really like to do. You can work for the government even after pursuing management. You can switch from one path to another whenever you want, but that switch will become harder as you grow older, especially if you don’t have strong reasons for it.
Hi,Nice vivid description.Dont think it was done to flatter u.I sincerely enjoyd it.I have a query.I m currently in my 3rd yr CSE at NIT-Trichy.
I still havent started my prep on a full-fledged scale,jus started workin out quants frm Arun Sharma.I wanted to know if I could complete the syllabus in 2 months(durin my hols-may and june).I m havin probs in DI.Can u suggest sum books for DI and verbal.I m plannin to go thru sum word list book.Thanks in advance.
@ Sriram
Well, I am not really aware of any ‘good books’ for DI as such. All i can suggest is, practice as many problems as u can, from past CAT papers and mock CATs of major coaching instis.
For VA, yes there are a few good books like Word Power etc, but in the last few years it has been more reasoning-oriented than vocab-oriented.
Hi Chitranshu,
im Siddharth, currently pursuing B.com(hns) from S.G.T.B KHALSA college (delhi university)- 1st yr.
im having a dielma that whether should i drop this year & give enterance test of BBS (bachelor of Business std) programme conduct by du.
which will be the best platform for Cat….Bcom (hns) or BBS
& should i start preparing for cat from 2nd year?
will it help some or the other way to get good percentile in cat?
@ Siddharth
I have no idea about the virtues of BBS vis-a-vis BCom (Hons). You should ask someone else.
As far as CAT is concerned, it’s your aptitude in maths and english that matters, not what you graduated in. At the interview stage, your graduation degree does not matter, only what you remember out of what you studied. And dropping a program after one year and enrolling for something else does not reflect well on you. So think before you make your decision.
Hi Chintranshu..
I”m DIvya and I’m doing my B.com Comp first year from a normal college in hyderabad. First of all, I really want to appreciate ur effort in creating this blog. Not many can do this.. Anyway, I just want to know about cat and how all stuff works here.. can u just brief me on that? pl..
@ Divya
Thanks. What exactly do you want to know? A lot of info about CAT and ‘how it works’ can be found everywhere nowadays. My blog is just for my interviews and other experiences and opinions.
Hi..
found your experience quite impressive… i gave my cat this year (i’m into my final sem)..n ended up getting a not enough 4 IIM percentile.., but i genuinely had only around 15 days of prep for CAT due to my semester xams..however, i did manage to get calls frm sp jain n others..i would like to know if joining it (in case i DO manage to convert it) would be a gud idea, or dropping a year n aiming for the elusive IIMs would.,as i have 4 jobs in hand …
n u chucked 4 IIMs??? that is truly brave of u…hats off…
that anonymous is called shwetha.. sorry, coz i’m not a member of wordpress..
Sorry.. I had been a little foolish asking that.. Anyway, I just want to know that if i start my coaching from this year, will i have a chance to crack cat? What r the other things that i need to lay emphasis on?
@ Shwetha
Well, it is true that there is a significant difference between the IIMs and the next-rung b-schools. However, you should drop a year only if you are confident that you can do much better in CAT next time. And you will also be working, so though the work-ex might help your profile, your being busy will also hinder your preparations.
@ Divya
It depends on your aptitude, your current level of preparation, and how exactly you prepare for CAT. Just going through 1-2 years of preparation without actually making a difference to the way you understand and solve problems will not help.
Dude, this has become more like a “counselling session” by you over here. Anyway, I think interview was good and knowing your record, B shouldnt be difficult. But I still hope that we are classmates again, preferably at A
All the best!
Hehe.. yeah I know! And yes, I hope we are classmates again, preferably at B!
@Chitranshu
Sir, I have just given my 12th board examinations with an expected aggregate of 68-70 % marks.
And i know that i wont get an admission in a highly rated college and therefore would have to study at a private college.
Can you please guide for my future course of action so that i can get admission to the iims, wen i finish my college…and please do elaborate about the demerits of getting such low score in the 12th boards.
I scored 82 % in my 10th boards.
I have been in top 50 regularly in Nation Cyber Olympiad, would that be an help?
Please do guide me .
Thanks
@ Mayur
I would suggest that right now, you focus on doing well in whatever stream you choose for graduation. Your 12th marks will be a disadvantage, but you can’t do anything about it now.
For CAT, just stay in touch with your school-level maths, and try to improve your understanding of those concepts. Also, read a lot.. that will help your verbal skills as well as general awareness.
Things like Cyber Olympiad etc can only be a small plus point in your profile. They cannot be an excuse for not-so-good academics. You should participate in extra-curricular activities only if you enjoy them, and not for any benefits it may provide in IIM admissions or wherever.
All the best. You have lots of time to think and act on all this, so chill and enjoy your time in college.
hi…
I wanted to ask that how much these extracurricular activies nd achievements in sports matter….. i mean a person wid gud acads (here i intend ‘not excellent’ but better than avg ) , but almost no participation or achievements in extras… how much effect will it have on selection…??
@ Ravi
It’s a competitive scenario. So, if there is someone with a better academic record and more extracurricular achievements than you, he/she will be preferred.
i just wanted to ask that i failed in mathematics in class 12 whereas my marks in class 10 were 80 while i managed to pass on the overall but my marks in eng. and all other subj.r gud above average whereas in graduation i m trying hard to get gud marks n i m getting gud marks also but i m pursuing ba after doing 12 from pcm so wud i b able to qualify for the iims or gud management colleges or wud it create problem its causing me such a trauma i wenever i rememeber it i think the world has ended for me plz reply
@ Anoushka
Do not think about something you cannot change. As you said, you are trying hard to get good marks in graduation, which is the best thing to do right now.
Pursuing a BA after science in 12th is not a bad thing per se. You are not rewarded or penalized for your choices, but only for how well you do in them. However, you should be able to convince the interviewers with a good reason for pursuing what you did.
As for the failure, you should be able to defend that also in a good way, i.e. not by giving any excuse or trying to escape from it, but maybe by highlighting how you took that failure in your stride and succeeded later.
And I know someone who has graduated from an IIM, but who failed in his class 10 exams once. So you see, there are examples to look up to everywhere.
hello sir
currently i am pursuing B.Tech in I.T from a not so good clg.i have bagged a job in lnt infotech .i am preparing fr cat and other nanagement exam also but i am not so good of getting a chance in any iim so sir wat u advice go for the job gain some wrk expierence and den cmbak fr cat or i shld try hardly in this year waiting fr ur reply
@ Som
It’s upto you to decide, based on your own analysis of your aptitude and preparation so far. Both paths have their own pros and cons. While work experience adds to your profile, it also gives you less time to prepare.
One option could be taking up the job and studying along with it, and after a few months, if you feel you want more time to study, then you can take a call on whether to continue with the job or not.
Also, if not the IIMs, you must be having some other colleges in mind as your targets, right? So if you sit at home and prepare and don’t get through, will you get the job that you are getting now? Take advice from your seniors, teachers, etc about all this.
I really enjoyed all of this conversation & ur IIM interview experiences………Thanks to Chitranshu Sir for making such a gud platform & his valuable guidance to all of us.
@ Rajan
Thanks. I am glad that you liked it. But please don’t call me Sir.
Thank you for such a wonderful article. This cleared many of my doubts and I am really feeling good. I congratulate you on your success.
sir,
i am pursuing B.E.(3rd year)with 75% agg. and in 10th class i also have 81% but in 12th class i have 56% only and also year gap after that so their is no chance for iim….my friends says for iims good acedemic is necessary…….so sir what i will do……prepair for cat or just go for job..
@ Vaibhav
I have heard of people who have got into IIMs with a not-so-good academic record. It’s just that it will be tougher for you. And there are also lots of other good b-schools you can look at. All the best.
thanks sir
hello sir,
i hav just started off with my 12th class now(pcmc as my subjects). i just wanted to know can i get into iim after 12th class. if no what further studies should i percieve nd then get into iim…….
hello sir,
i m studying in XIth class and i had been given science according to my pre boards result. I want to join IIM in future. what should i do for that after passing XII? Can i join IIM by taking science or i should take commerce? what should i do before going for IIM?
Plzzzzzzzzzz help me, i m in great confussion……….
well hello sir .right now am studyin mah BTech 2yr and very much lookin forward to write the CAT exam in 2009 . so could u plz actually guide me in a detailed manner like how to break it down and most important thing is that how should i study for that..i hav my college finishin at 1.30pm daily and after that am just free to do anythin. so i actually want this whole procedure stuff for preparation of CAT.it would be really helpful for me if i get to know how to study …so this makes one hell of aconfusion for me so plz help me in this regard..
@ Neha and Sudhanshu
You have a long way to go. Concentrate on your current studies now, and think about all this when you are halfway through graduation. And all graduates are allowed to appear for CAT and try to get into IIMs, be they arts, commerce or science students, engineers, doctors, lawyers, or whatever.
@ marx
There is no one fixed formula. I suggest that you start by taking a couple of mock tests to see where you stand, and then chalk out your own strategy. Revise your school level maths, and read a lot to improve your verbal skills.
Thanks a lot for providing cat aspirant such a platform so that they can lucidly clear their doubts .I am in 3nd year(IIIT- H) of my engineering and craves to crack cat .But i my very confused about the relevance of past academics and extra curricular in the admission criteria in iim .Since my percentage in 10th n 12th are 83 n 80 respectively n cgpa is 8 .suppose i work hard,crack cat, do well in interview .then what are my chances of converting the call with this academics background which is not so impressive….please help my
@ rohit singh
ur academic record is not that bad. in any case, u cannot change it now.
as u said, what u should focus on is to work hard, crack CAT, and do well in the interview. however, each of these steps is a very tough one, and u shud not take anything for granted.
just work hard and work smart.
all the best.
Hi Chitranshu,
I am very confused about the relevance of past academics and extra curricular in the admission criteria in iim .Since my percentage in 10th n 12th are 82 n 76 respectively in BE is 73.Caould you please advice me if I will get a good percentile then what will be the chance of getting a call from IIMB?
I have now 4 Years of Work Experience in the field of IT in BANKING Domain.
hi Chitranshu,
I am currently in B.tech 4th yr n m goin to give CAT dis year..Can u suggest me if i done have good vocab,then on which topics i can rely upon..is relying upon RC n english usage lyk Parajumbles,critical reasoning ll b ok….
n 1 thing more wat extra qualities shud hv…i hv nt read many novels.does dis have any affect on PI ?wat xtra shud i do besides my b.tch studies for interview?
ihave 10-90%(cbse)
12-74%(jharkhand board)
btech(8.56)
how will you rate my academic as iwant to get into an iim
u must have some serious patience, to answer all these questions from all these guys!!
hope wimwi is treating you great!
cheerios
@ Somdip, Archish, Suraj
You cannot change your previous academic performance. What you can change is what you do from now on. If you feel you are not aware of something, go and read about it. Not good at something – go and practice it.
“What are my chances IF i do well in CAT and the PI?” These are very big IFs. It is fiercely competitive and all depends on how well you do. There is no single answer to your questions.
@ Audi
As you can see, I do get frustrated at times. Life at WIMWI does not have anything to do with it, before you ask.
hi kd
i dont have good academic in engg how it wii effect the cat
i m studying in b com finals now 70% results in bcoms 50% in puc 55% in ssc if i do well in cat and gd and interview can i get seat in IIM bangalore
Hi Chitranshu,
I just completed my B.E and am working now.I had appeard for CAT last year .This year again I’m appearing for it but am not confident about doing well.
Just wanted to know whether appearing for CAT repeatedly any effect on the selection incase I do well in next years CAT.
I have heard that incase u get a call,they consider ur previous years score .Is it true?Please clarify if u can.
Thanks and all the best in life.
Hi,
I’ve scored 78% in class 12 with pcm
& 76% in class 10.
I m presently studying in a private college which is believed to be a very good college in my city..because of its excellence in education.
I’ve again opted for pcm in college but my score was 58% in 1st year….
Because of a few personal reasons i opted pcm in college..jus for granted but before not even thinking once…now i m not comfortable with it…Although my class interaction is very good…but score is not good on papers…
What corrections i can make now to maximize my score..?
Now I want IIM(s) at every cost..be it a necessity or anything…
what are the drawbacks that can prevent me from getting admission there in IIM ?
What should i do to improve my profile…?
I had already been dissappointed with my academic performance.
pls reply
Thank You
@ Pavin, Prasanna, Sonal
You cannot change your previous academic performance. And I cannot answer your specific questions on how you can improve it in future, as that is something you should know or your friends/teachers should be able to tell you. As for the IIMs, though there are cases every year of students with average/below average acads getting through because of exceptional performance in CAT, it is very rare, and you should not live under any illusions. All you can do is work hard, and work smart.
@ Vijay
No. Your previous CAT scores are not considered. However, they do know how many times you have written the exam earlier, and if you have just been sitting and preparing for CAT without working anywhere, it is a definite negative. Work-ex, however, is a plus point, especially if you have done well and can talk about it.
Hi
That anonymous is called Manisha !!!
i am pursuing B.tech (presently in 3rd year) from an affiliated institute of ip university…Delhi
I have participated in debates ,gds, dance competitions and dramatics but unfortunately couldn’t make it to the finals in either of the above mentioned.
so don’t have any achievement certificates .Is that going to make a difference in the PIs conducted by IIMs.
If so plz help me to tackle dis problem.
@ Manisha
well, in tht case, those achievements won’t really count for much. but u can talk abt them and how they hav helped u develop ur personality.
however, the first task wud be to do well at CAT and in ur college studies, coz the interviews tend to focus more on acads and work-ex than extra-currics.
hello sir,
I have done masters in physics from Calcutta university(2008) and wrote cat (2008).I wish to write it next year as from this year i have already known my mistakes.But if i do not get a proper job would it be advisable to sit at home and study?Does this 1 year gap will matter given I have already done my post graduation? upto graduation my marks are decent but at post grad it is only 54%?How shall it affect my chances for a top Indian B school?also i have fluctuation in academics.
@ avinanda
gaps in ur studies/career, and fluctuation in academics, both r not good things for ur profile.
Hi Chitranshu,
Thanks a lot for the effort u r putting in here to answer all the queries.
My question is I have done my B.tech from a reputed institute(NIT Dgp) with 69% and my past acads are very poor with a mere 81% in 10th and horribly demoralizing 68% in 12th.I have 1.4 years of work-ex.Though I am confident enough that I can clear the cut-off of IIMs,provided i give my best ,my acads always haunt me.please clarify whether i can get a call from any iim or the institutes like imtG,mdi,nitie….etc(i.e. top 20 B schools)
@ Chitranshu
Ha Ha …dude i seriously empathize with you man!…the patience you exuberate in answering the same ghisi-piti queries is truly astonishing…These guys wont even go thru the earlier comments , leave aside visiting forums like PagalGuy dedicated explicitly for such queries, and you – the Saviour!! the Messiah!!! will be out there to answer all..
Jai Ho
in recession if i do not get proper job is’nt better to study for cat?because working in call centre, tech support won’t add value to my profile?I am masters in physics.I do not have any gap in my academic career upto post grad. but after that i am not being able to get one since the market scenario is very bad.
my acads so far have not been upto the mark….but as ur previous posts suggests that people with a not so good academic background have made it into the iim’s and any bad performance is not good for our profile……
the cat is also one of those few entrance exams which tests ur ability to the maximum…
if i bell the cat , then on what basis will i get a call from the iims (as in my cat score is counted as well as my previous academic performance is also counted and then a call is issued??? or is it the other way in which only my cat score is counted??)
another thing that is a cause of concern here is:
the market scenario is very bad and i came across an article in the newspaper saying that iims only want the best….based on this years selection, what are the chances of a person with a non-engineering background making it into the iims???
Hi Chitranshu!
I am a first year engineering student from pune. I managed to score
87% in 10th and 88% in 12th. I desperately want to crack CAT in my first attempt. And I am willing to do anything to achieve the purpose.
My question to you is. What should a first year engineering student do to crack CAT? What would you recommend me to do so as to start preparing for CAT from now onwards. I’ve been reading many novels of late. Will that help? And also what should I do to start preparing for maths?
Hi!I have a question that haunts me day and night.Isecured 90.2 in x and 76 in xii(science).I am doing my Bsc(Applied sc) from hansraj,DU.I am as well preparing for cat.Do i have any hope of achieving a mba degree from IIM overlooking my xii marks? PLEASE HELP ME!
An IIM aspirant, i’m writing CAT for the first time this year…I’m doing it for fairly whacky reasons..intend to do something big for the rock music scene in India (which hint more towards obtaining entrepreneurial skills from the Institute)..
Do you think purely one track ambition ( and not so glorifying academic past) can help you crack the PI process(banking on the fact that i’ll somehow manage to crack the CAT itself) ..
4. chitranshu – March 30, 2008
@ Raul
Ahh.. a career in rock music. No wonder you find my interviews boring.
Well, having a one-track ambition is not a plus or minus point. It is how clear you are about it and how does the PGP from IIM fit in that matters. They might ask you, ‘why don’t you get into the scene now itself’. Be prepared to answer such questions.
As for entrepreneurial skills, I have read interviews (on PG) where they clearly said, ‘we don’t teach that here’.
A ‘not so glorifying’ academic record is always a minus point, no matter what your ambition. But you can’t do anything to change it now.
Just do well in the exam and be clear about what you say in the interview.
All the best.
5. neha – March 30, 2008
sir,
one thing i noticed was dat u mentioned d fact very clearly that u teach in a mba coaching institute , quite frankly…..dont u think dis might not go down too well with the ppl taking ur interview…as these professor types are known to b against any kind of ‘extra’ coaching…and since u were a techer there , u obviously support extra tutions etc. …..(dis is wat i think dey wud think…..in my opinion evry one needs a bit of extra help to crack these exams…..)
6. chitranshu – March 30, 2008
@ Neha
I did mention it, but I made it very clear that I did it only because I wanted to do something part-time while preparing for the UPSC exams. In IIMA, they forced the issue further, so I also gave my opinion about the whole industry, which they agreed with. In IIMB, I clearly mentioned that I did not listen to those who said ‘go to Delhi and prepare for IAS’ or ‘go to Kota and prepare for IIT-JEE’, so I think I made my opinion on it clear enough.
Yet, if they choose not to look at the honesty and these opinions, but go by some prejudices, I can’t do anything about it.
7. Anonymous – March 31, 2008
hi chitranshu,
seems like you’ve done a realy good job at the interview … thrz something i’d like to know … I have completed my B.Tech in Electronics engg from a not-so-reputed NIT and am currently working as a s/w developer in an MNC … merely after 6 months in s/w I feel like I dont remember anything of what I had learnt in college. Nor did I have a very good CGPA in college
Do you think I still stand a chance at the interviews in case I manage to clear CAT wid a realy good percentile?
8. chitranshu – March 31, 2008
@ melancholytree
Well, I would suggest that you focus on CAT right now, and after getting calls, you can revise a few things from what you learnt in college.
In the end, though, it’s your attitude that matters, and how you handle the situation when you don’t know the answers.
9. Arpit Sharma – March 31, 2008
Hello Sir…
My name is Arpit Sharma and Recently I am in last year of engineering. Now I am in the dielma whether to do management or IAS. Other bad news is I dont have any job in my pocket. Since you had prepared for both can you suggest me which road should I chose of??One thing I want to share is I had always desired to serve our government. So is it possible for anyone to enter government after doing management???Can you suggest me how should I opt?
Awaiting for your reply
Please help……
10. chitranshu – April 1, 2008
@ Arpit
I would suggest that you make your choice based on what you think you would really like to do. You can work for the government even after pursuing management. You can switch from one path to another whenever you want, but that switch will become harder as you grow older, especially if you don’t have strong reasons for it.
11. Sriram.S – April 1, 2008
Hi,Nice vivid description.Dont think it was done to flatter u.I sincerely enjoyd it.I have a query.I m currently in my 3rd yr CSE at NIT-Trichy.
I still havent started my prep on a full-fledged scale,jus started workin out quants frm Arun Sharma.I wanted to know if I could complete the syllabus in 2 months(durin my hols-may and june).I m havin probs in DI.Can u suggest sum books for DI and verbal.I m plannin to go thru sum word list book.Thanks in advance.
12. chitranshu – April 1, 2008
@ Sriram
Well, I am not really aware of any ‘good books’ for DI as such. All i can suggest is, practice as many problems as u can, from past CAT papers and mock CATs of major coaching instis.
For VA, yes there are a few good books like Word Power etc, but in the last few years it has been more reasoning-oriented than vocab-oriented.
13. inferiors – April 2, 2008
Hi Chitranshu,
im Siddharth, currently pursuing B.com(hns) from S.G.T.B KHALSA college (delhi university)- 1st yr.
im having a dielma that whether should i drop this year & give enterance test of BBS (bachelor of Business std) programme conduct by du.
which will be the best platform for Cat….Bcom (hns) or BBS
& should i start preparing for cat from 2nd year?
will it help some or the other way to get good percentile in cat?
14. chitranshu – April 3, 2008
@ Siddharth
I have no idea about the virtues of BBS vis-a-vis BCom (Hons). You should ask someone else.
As far as CAT is concerned, it’s your aptitude in maths and english that matters, not what you graduated in. At the interview stage, your graduation degree does not matter, only what you remember out of what you studied. And dropping a program after one year and enrolling for something else does not reflect well on you. So think before you make your decision.
15. Divya – April 3, 2008
Hi Chintranshu..
I”m DIvya and I’m doing my B.com Comp first year from a normal college in hyderabad. First of all, I really want to appreciate ur effort in creating this blog. Not many can do this.. Anyway, I just want to know about cat and how all stuff works here.. can u just brief me on that? pl..
16. chitranshu – April 4, 2008
@ Divya
Thanks. What exactly do you want to know? A lot of info about CAT and ‘how it works’ can be found everywhere nowadays. My blog is just for my interviews and other experiences and opinions.
17. Anonymous – April 4, 2008
Hi..
found your experience quite impressive… i gave my cat this year (i’m into my final sem)..n ended up getting a not enough 4 IIM percentile.., but i genuinely had only around 15 days of prep for CAT due to my semester xams..however, i did manage to get calls frm sp jain n others..i would like to know if joining it (in case i DO manage to convert it) would be a gud idea, or dropping a year n aiming for the elusive IIMs would.,as i have 4 jobs in hand …
n u chucked 4 IIMs??? that is truly brave of u…hats off…
18. Anonymous – April 4, 2008
that anonymous is called shwetha.. sorry, coz i’m not a member of wordpress..
19. Divya – April 4, 2008
Sorry.. I had been a little foolish asking that.. Anyway, I just want to know that if i start my coaching from this year, will i have a chance to crack cat? What r the other things that i need to lay emphasis on?
20. chitranshu – April 5, 2008
@ Shwetha
Well, it is true that there is a significant difference between the IIMs and the next-rung b-schools. However, you should drop a year only if you are confident that you can do much better in CAT next time. And you will also be working, so though the work-ex might help your profile, your being busy will also hinder your preparations.
@ Divya
It depends on your aptitude, your current level of preparation, and how exactly you prepare for CAT. Just going through 1-2 years of preparation without actually making a difference to the way you understand and solve problems will not help.
21. Mayank – April 5, 2008
Dude, this has become more like a “counselling session” by you over here. Anyway, I think interview was good and knowing your record, B shouldnt be difficult. But I still hope that we are classmates again, preferably at A
All the best!
22. chitranshu – April 6, 2008
Hehe.. yeah I know! And yes, I hope we are classmates again, preferably at B!
23. Mayur Sharma – April 7, 2008
@Chitranshu
Sir, I have just given my 12th board examinations with an expected aggregate of 68-70 % marks.
And i know that i wont get an admission in a highly rated college and therefore would have to study at a private college.
Can you please guide for my future course of action so that i can get admission to the iims, wen i finish my college…and please do elaborate about the demerits of getting such low score in the 12th boards.
I scored 82 % in my 10th boards.
I have been in top 50 regularly in Nation Cyber Olympiad, would that be an help?
Please do guide me .
Thanks
24. chitranshu – April 7, 2008
@ Mayur
I would suggest that right now, you focus on doing well in whatever stream you choose for graduation. Your 12th marks will be a disadvantage, but you can’t do anything about it now.
For CAT, just stay in touch with your school-level maths, and try to improve your understanding of those concepts. Also, read a lot.. that will help your verbal skills as well as general awareness.
Things like Cyber Olympiad etc can only be a small plus point in your profile. They cannot be an excuse for not-so-good academics. You should participate in extra-curricular activities only if you enjoy them, and not for any benefits it may provide in IIM admissions or wherever.
All the best. You have lots of time to think and act on all this, so chill and enjoy your time in college.
25. ravi – April 11, 2008
hi…
I wanted to ask that how much these extracurricular activies nd achievements in sports matter….. i mean a person wid gud acads (here i intend ‘not excellent’ but better than avg ) , but almost no participation or achievements in extras… how much effect will it have on selection…??
26. chitranshu – April 11, 2008
@ Ravi
It’s a competitive scenario. So, if there is someone with a better academic record and more extracurricular achievements than you, he/she will be preferred.
27. anoushka – April 12, 2008
i just wanted to ask that i failed in mathematics in class 12 whereas my marks in class 10 were 80 while i managed to pass on the overall but my marks in eng. and all other subj.r gud above average whereas in graduation i m trying hard to get gud marks n i m getting gud marks also but i m pursuing ba after doing 12 from pcm so wud i b able to qualify for the iims or gud management colleges or wud it create problem its causing me such a trauma i wenever i rememeber it i think the world has ended for me plz reply
28. chitranshu – April 12, 2008
@ Anoushka
Do not think about something you cannot change. As you said, you are trying hard to get good marks in graduation, which is the best thing to do right now.
Pursuing a BA after science in 12th is not a bad thing per se. You are not rewarded or penalized for your choices, but only for how well you do in them. However, you should be able to convince the interviewers with a good reason for pursuing what you did.
As for the failure, you should be able to defend that also in a good way, i.e. not by giving any excuse or trying to escape from it, but maybe by highlighting how you took that failure in your stride and succeeded later.
And I know someone who has graduated from an IIM, but who failed in his class 10 exams once. So you see, there are examples to look up to everywhere.
29. som – April 17, 2008
hello sir
currently i am pursuing B.Tech in I.T from a not so good clg.i have bagged a job in lnt infotech .i am preparing fr cat and other nanagement exam also but i am not so good of getting a chance in any iim so sir wat u advice go for the job gain some wrk expierence and den cmbak fr cat or i shld try hardly in this year waiting fr ur reply
30. chitranshu – April 17, 2008
@ Som
It’s upto you to decide, based on your own analysis of your aptitude and preparation so far. Both paths have their own pros and cons. While work experience adds to your profile, it also gives you less time to prepare.
One option could be taking up the job and studying along with it, and after a few months, if you feel you want more time to study, then you can take a call on whether to continue with the job or not.
Also, if not the IIMs, you must be having some other colleges in mind as your targets, right? So if you sit at home and prepare and don’t get through, will you get the job that you are getting now? Take advice from your seniors, teachers, etc about all this.
31. Rajan Kr Makhija – April 17, 2008
I really enjoyed all of this conversation & ur IIM interview experiences………Thanks to Chitranshu Sir for making such a gud platform & his valuable guidance to all of us.
32. chitranshu – April 17, 2008
@ Rajan
Thanks. I am glad that you liked it. But please don’t call me Sir.
33. Niteesh. – April 23, 2008
Thank you for such a wonderful article. This cleared many of my doubts and I am really feeling good. I congratulate you on your success.
34. vaibhav – April 29, 2008
sir,
i am pursuing B.E.(3rd year)with 75% agg. and in 10th class i also have 81% but in 12th class i have 56% only and also year gap after that so their is no chance for iim….my friends says for iims good acedemic is necessary…….so sir what i will do……prepair for cat or just go for job..
35. chitranshu – April 29, 2008
@ Vaibhav
I have heard of people who have got into IIMs with a not-so-good academic record. It’s just that it will be tougher for you. And there are also lots of other good b-schools you can look at. All the best.
36. vaibhav – April 30, 2008
thanks sir
37. neeha – May 18, 2008
hello sir,
i hav just started off with my 12th class now(pcmc as my subjects). i just wanted to know can i get into iim after 12th class. if no what further studies should i percieve nd then get into iim…….
38. Sudhanshu Choudhary – May 25, 2008
hello sir,
i m studying in XIth class and i had been given science according to my pre boards result. I want to join IIM in future. what should i do for that after passing XII? Can i join IIM by taking science or i should take commerce? what should i do before going for IIM?
Plzzzzzzzzzz help me, i m in great confussion……….
39. marx reddy – June 3, 2008
well hello sir .right now am studyin mah BTech 2yr and very much lookin forward to write the CAT exam in 2009 . so could u plz actually guide me in a detailed manner like how to break it down and most important thing is that how should i study for that..i hav my college finishin at 1.30pm daily and after that am just free to do anythin. so i actually want this whole procedure stuff for preparation of CAT.it would be really helpful for me if i get to know how to study …so this makes one hell of aconfusion for me so plz help me in this regard..
40. chitranshu – June 18, 2008
@ Neha and Sudhanshu
You have a long way to go. Concentrate on your current studies now, and think about all this when you are halfway through graduation. And all graduates are allowed to appear for CAT and try to get into IIMs, be they arts, commerce or science students, engineers, doctors, lawyers, or whatever.
@ marx
There is no one fixed formula. I suggest that you start by taking a couple of mock tests to see where you stand, and then chalk out your own strategy. Revise your school level maths, and read a lot to improve your verbal skills.
41. rohit singh – June 26, 2008
Thanks a lot for providing cat aspirant such a platform so that they can lucidly clear their doubts .I am in 3nd year(IIIT- H) of my engineering and craves to crack cat .But i my very confused about the relevance of past academics and extra curricular in the admission criteria in iim .Since my percentage in 10th n 12th are 83 n 80 respectively n cgpa is 8 .suppose i work hard,crack cat, do well in interview .then what are my chances of converting the call with this academics background which is not so impressive….please help my
42. chitranshu – June 28, 2008
@ rohit singh
ur academic record is not that bad. in any case, u cannot change it now.
as u said, what u should focus on is to work hard, crack CAT, and do well in the interview. however, each of these steps is a very tough one, and u shud not take anything for granted.
just work hard and work smart.
all the best.
43. SOMDIP SINHA – June 30, 2008
Hi Chitranshu,
I am very confused about the relevance of past academics and extra curricular in the admission criteria in iim .Since my percentage in 10th n 12th are 82 n 76 respectively in BE is 73.Caould you please advice me if I will get a good percentile then what will be the chance of getting a call from IIMB?
I have now 4 Years of Work Experience in the field of IT in BANKING Domain.
44. archish gupta – July 2, 2008
hi Chitranshu,
I am currently in B.tech 4th yr n m goin to give CAT dis year..Can u suggest me if i done have good vocab,then on which topics i can rely upon..is relying upon RC n english usage lyk Parajumbles,critical reasoning ll b ok….
n 1 thing more wat extra qualities shud hv…i hv nt read many novels.does dis have any affect on PI ?wat xtra shud i do besides my b.tch studies for interview?
45. suraj bhagat – July 5, 2008
ihave 10-90%(cbse)
12-74%(jharkhand board)
btech(8.56)
how will you rate my academic as iwant to get into an iim
46. audi – July 6, 2008
u must have some serious patience, to answer all these questions from all these guys!!
hope wimwi is treating you great!
cheerios
47. chitranshu – July 7, 2008
@ Somdip, Archish, Suraj
You cannot change your previous academic performance. What you can change is what you do from now on. If you feel you are not aware of something, go and read about it. Not good at something – go and practice it.
“What are my chances IF i do well in CAT and the PI?” These are very big IFs. It is fiercely competitive and all depends on how well you do. There is no single answer to your questions.
@ Audi
As you can see, I do get frustrated at times. Life at WIMWI does not have anything to do with it, before you ask.
48. Anonymous – July 17, 2008
hi kd
49. pavin – July 17, 2008
i dont have good academic in engg how it wii effect the cat
50. Prasanna Upadhya – August 6, 2008
i m studying in b com finals now 70% results in bcoms 50% in puc 55% in ssc if i do well in cat and gd and interview can i get seat in IIM bangalore
51. vijay – August 24, 2008
Hi Chitranshu,
I just completed my B.E and am working now.I had appeard for CAT last year .This year again I’m appearing for it but am not confident about doing well.
Just wanted to know whether appearing for CAT repeatedly any effect on the selection incase I do well in next years CAT.
I have heard that incase u get a call,they consider ur previous years score .Is it true?Please clarify if u can.
Thanks and all the best in life.
52. Sonal – September 13, 2008
Hi,
I’ve scored 78% in class 12 with pcm
& 76% in class 10.
I m presently studying in a private college which is believed to be a very good college in my city..because of its excellence in education.
I’ve again opted for pcm in college but my score was 58% in 1st year….
Because of a few personal reasons i opted pcm in college..jus for granted but before not even thinking once…now i m not comfortable with it…Although my class interaction is very good…but score is not good on papers…
What corrections i can make now to maximize my score..?
Now I want IIM(s) at every cost..be it a necessity or anything…
what are the drawbacks that can prevent me from getting admission there in IIM ?
What should i do to improve my profile…?
I had already been dissappointed with my academic performance.
pls reply
Thank You
53. chitranshu – September 24, 2008
@ Pavin, Prasanna, Sonal
You cannot change your previous academic performance. And I cannot answer your specific questions on how you can improve it in future, as that is something you should know or your friends/teachers should be able to tell you. As for the IIMs, though there are cases every year of students with average/below average acads getting through because of exceptional performance in CAT, it is very rare, and you should not live under any illusions. All you can do is work hard, and work smart.
@ Vijay
No. Your previous CAT scores are not considered. However, they do know how many times you have written the exam earlier, and if you have just been sitting and preparing for CAT without working anywhere, it is a definite negative. Work-ex, however, is a plus point, especially if you have done well and can talk about it.
54. Manisha C – October 12, 2008
Hi
That anonymous is called Manisha !!!
i am pursuing B.tech (presently in 3rd year) from an affiliated institute of ip university…Delhi
I have participated in debates ,gds, dance competitions and dramatics but unfortunately couldn’t make it to the finals in either of the above mentioned.
so don’t have any achievement certificates .Is that going to make a difference in the PIs conducted by IIMs.
If so plz help me to tackle dis problem.
55. chitranshu – October 14, 2008
@ Manisha
well, in tht case, those achievements won’t really count for much. but u can talk abt them and how they hav helped u develop ur personality.
however, the first task wud be to do well at CAT and in ur college studies, coz the interviews tend to focus more on acads and work-ex than extra-currics.
56. Avinanda dutta – January 2, 2009
hello sir,
I have done masters in physics from Calcutta university(2008) and wrote cat (2008).I wish to write it next year as from this year i have already known my mistakes.But if i do not get a proper job would it be advisable to sit at home and study?Does this 1 year gap will matter given I have already done my post graduation? upto graduation my marks are decent but at post grad it is only 54%?How shall it affect my chances for a top Indian B school?also i have fluctuation in academics.
57. chitranshu – February 2, 2009
@ avinanda
gaps in ur studies/career, and fluctuation in academics, both r not good things for ur profile.
58. amrita – February 12, 2009
Hi Chitranshu,
Thanks a lot for the effort u r putting in here to answer all the queries.
My question is I have done my B.tech from a reputed institute(NIT Dgp) with 69% and my past acads are very poor with a mere 81% in 10th and horribly demoralizing 68% in 12th.I have 1.4 years of work-ex.Though I am confident enough that I can clear the cut-off of IIMs,provided i give my best ,my acads always haunt me.please clarify whether i can get a call from any iim or the institutes like imtG,mdi,nitie….etc(i.e. top 20 B schools)
59. raul – February 19, 2009
@ Chitranshu
Ha Ha …dude i seriously empathize with you man!…the patience you exuberate in answering the same ghisi-piti queries is truly astonishing…These guys wont even go thru the earlier comments , leave aside visiting forums like PagalGuy dedicated explicitly for such queries, and you – the Saviour!! the Messiah!!! will be out there to answer all..
Jai Ho
60. Avinanda dutta – March 4, 2009
in recession if i do not get proper job is’nt better to study for cat?because working in call centre, tech support won’t add value to my profile?I am masters in physics.I do not have any gap in my academic career upto post grad. but after that i am not being able to get one since the market scenario is very bad.
61. prashant – March 23, 2009
my acads so far have not been upto the mark….but as ur previous posts suggests that people with a not so good academic background have made it into the iim’s and any bad performance is not good for our profile……
the cat is also one of those few entrance exams which tests ur ability to the maximum…
if i bell the cat , then on what basis will i get a call from the iims (as in my cat score is counted as well as my previous academic performance is also counted and then a call is issued??? or is it the other way in which only my cat score is counted??)
another thing that is a cause of concern here is:
the market scenario is very bad and i came across an article in the newspaper saying that iims only want the best….based on this years selection, what are the chances of a person with a non-engineering background making it into the iims???
62. Rutul – March 27, 2009
Hi Chitranshu!
I am a first year engineering student from pune. I managed to score
87% in 10th and 88% in 12th. I desperately want to crack CAT in my first attempt. And I am willing to do anything to achieve the purpose.
My question to you is. What should a first year engineering student do to crack CAT? What would you recommend me to do so as to start preparing for CAT from now onwards. I’ve been reading many novels of late. Will that help? And also what should I do to start preparing for maths?
63. Siddharth – May 29, 2009
Hi!I have a question that haunts me day and night.Isecured 90.2 in x and 76 in xii(science).I am doing my Bsc(Applied sc) from hansraj,DU.I am as well preparing for cat.Do i have any hope of achieving a mba degree from IIM overlooking my xii marks? PLEASE HELP ME
Hi,
here i m POKAR HARDIK frm AHMEDABAD.
HAVING READ YOUR INTERVIEW ,I M IMPRESSED.
I have just completed 12th sci frm guj board with 96.35 % merit .After greduate i want 2 join IIMs n i want 2 know about the CAT .
CAN U HELP ME IN THIS WAY…?
i was more than happy to see ur regular reply to the same querries,even i want to ask the same ques
i have 81% in 10th
75% in 12th
then had cleared jee two times
right now in iit kharagpur with a cg of 7.6
if i go for cat is this backgroun enough to help me or like its more of negative sort as i have not good percentages and gpas.
sir i can’t change the past ,but ur ans can boost my confidence and can show me rwality
thanx for all the replys
Hi Chitranshu!
This is Sukanya from Chennai. I scored 88% in 10th ,90% in 12th and 76% in my engineering. I’m currently with Infosys and i’m planning to give CAT a shot this year…i have decided to join an institue for coaching..now i’m confused if i should take up the crash courses now or join a long term course next year n then give CAT…will the crash courses be sufficient if i’m aiming for a high percentile in CAT? Please help. And as you see i’ve scored less marks in my graduation…are there chances for me still?
Hi,
This is Ramya from Bangalore. I scored 88.88% in 10th, but i have scored 69.33% in 12th if i consider the marks obtained in languages as well as PCMB ,i have 67.25% if consider PCMB marks, i have 77.66% if i consider PCM marks. Now i am confused, about which % of marks in 12th will iims consider.So please tell which marks among the combination */PCM or PCMB or PCMB along with language marks */will be considered for the selection process in iims.
Hi Chitranshu!!!
Congrats that u r an IIM alumni.I want to go to IIM-A,B or C.This is my only dream.I am giving my details,please tel me the chances of me getting into IIM’s.
10th-73%
12th-67%
B.tech(private institute)-71.2%
Please reply soon,because this is what that is hindering my CONFIDENCE,as I am working very hard & leaving no stone unturned.
But only THIS thing is making me to loose confidence oftenly.
I want to make my dream true.
PLEASE HELP
HEY I GOT 80%IN 10TH BOARDS N 7O% IN 12TH ALSO I FLUNKD MY MATHS EXAM UNEXPECTEDLY IN 12TH N I FV 2 GAP YEARS …..DOU THINK I HV A SLIGHTEST CHANCE OF ME GETTING INTO N A GRADE SCHOOL IF I DO EXCEPTIONALY WELL IN GD AND CAT PLEASE REPLY …
Hi Chitranshu!
This is Praveen kumar from Lucknow. I have completed B.Sc in (Bio) group with 57% marks in this year 09. Before this i did X and XII From U.P BOARD with 65% and 80.4% marks.i’m currently preparing for CAT 2010 and.I have join CAREER LAUNCHER coaching in Mahanager brangh.
But i am something bother after taking this decision for CAT bcoz of my Bio group .I can hard work with my study ,But tell me ,can i crack CAT or not and what should we do for improving our skills till me some best tips sir “I want to make my dream true at any rate” .PLEASE HELP ME
i m wating your reply Sir
Hi Chitranshu!
This is Praveen kumar from Lucknow. I have completed B.Sc in (Bio) group with 57% marks in this year 09. Before this i did X and XII From U.P BOARD with 65% and 80.4% marks.I am currently preparing for CAT 2010 and.I have join CAREER LAUNCHER coaching in Mahanager brangh.
But i am something bother after taking this decision for CAT bcoz of my Bio group .I can hard work with my study ,But tell me ,can i crack CAT or not and what should we do for improving our skills tell me some best tips sir “I want to make my dream true at any rate” .PLEASE HELP ME
i m wating your reply Sir