Did not make it to IIMs? Don’t worry, it is not the end!

Common Admission Test (CAT), attempted by over 2 lakh candidates each year, is the first step for everyone to set onto their journeys to be leaders. It starts for everyone by the dream that sparkles in their eyes to get into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management, and like everybody else, my journey also started with this bright dream of getting into the holy trinity. So, this article follows how I secured my MBA seat.

Strive towards IIMs

The past few years have been a constant dilemma between work, preparation, and relaxation. Balancing every walk of life becomes really important to be able to enjoy that long, hard expedition. The first time I took the CAT, I didn't take it too seriously as I had just joined the Big 4s and was really getting to know the corporate world. But the second time, I gave it my all; and I converted a few baby IIMs as well. I also got shortlisted for an interview by IIT Bombay based on my profile despite the lower percentile.

COVID-19 Pandemic hit hard

That call and interview experience pre-covid got me so much more fired up to give a third shot at CAT. But the pandemic really got me off guard, being work from home becoming the new normal. It became disastrous for my prep combined with the new pattern. The exponential changes induced too much stress on me as a lot was at stake, and I knew, right after the exam, that I wouldn't make it.

The Journey Ahead

The next step was SOP, WAT, and PI. Before writing an SOP, ensure you have a list of points that you want to highlight, sort it in chronological order, and weave your story. Most of the time, a good SOP helps you drive your interview as it is the interviewer's guide to you. So ensure that you write things that are genuine, and are passionate about, and ready to take on any questions on them. For WAT, go through the basic case study strategies to know how to approach the questions, and practice writing them. Understand that the agenda of this practice is to gain insights into your thought process and how well you can articulate it.

Approach to PI

Coming to PI, preparing yourself and your surroundings are necessary especially when it is online. Have a few trial runs and think of how you can make do with a temporary setup to ensure that you have an uninterrupted interview. Again I can't emphasize enough practising; often I used to talk to myself and think of different answers that would reassure the interviewers that I am fit for this institution.

Also Read: Personal interview questions every MBA aspirant should know how to answer

Luck favours the brave

By now, you might have figured out that there are no SOPs in an IIM admission procedure. Before you expect the success-end, to the story of getting into the desired college, hold your horses... NO, I did not make it to IIMs. But the important question is - Do I regret the effort that went into it? No. But am I satisfied where I am? Definitely a big Yes! I am currently pursuing my MBA from SBM, NMIMS Mumbai. Luckily for me, the NMAT registrations were still open and I decided to give it my best; and to my surprise, I had done really well.

The Final Word

"Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.” This quote by Zig Ziglar kept me going. Don't regret any decision you have taken, nor too many opinions, because only you know what's the best option you have. This marks the end of my MBA expedition. Bon voyage to all the aspirants.

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Priyanka Mohan

NMIMS, Mumbai

She has completed her CSE engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology and has 3 years of work experience at PwC.