My CAT Journey

It all started two years back in the month of March, 2007. Gunjan, Rhea and I started our preparations for the ultimate goal -- becoming MBA. Although the decision affected our weekend fun but we were young and energetic enough to spend some extra time studying QA, DI and VA. We even managed to do some combined studies which mostly ended up into a fun session. By the end of May, we realized that it’s lot tougher that we thought it to be. Starting June, came up the Mock CATs. 1st mock was a special one. Ready to take on the world, we reached the center much before time. Those 2.5 hours looked long to us. But we ended up managing descent levels of concentration for the duration. Wednesday, results were out for the 1st mock, and it was pathetic. We realized that we are just small fishes in that bigger pond consisting of whales and sharks. But who cares, we continued to fight. Forms started pouring in and we as loyal consumers bought almost all of them. Somewhere back in the mind the thought of going onsite was always running but we (me and rhea) never got the opportunity. Gunjan got one, and that’s where his CAT journey ended. Much relaxed and contended, he skipped all the classes, mocks and for that matter CAT also (citing the reason that the center is far away). That was the time when we were joined by Gaurav Jain, one more CAT aspirant and a very good friend of ours. Three of us attended classes, mocks and study session at Barista together. Preparation was going smooth. In this whole journey I missed three more bright aspirants, Anu, Chatto and The Varun. In the end six of us appeared for CAT and other B School exams. For most of us (read Rhea, Gaurav, Anu and Me) the results were a mere disaster. Chatto and Varun managed Calls for NM and they were smart enough to convert it.

Mid January 2009 and I realized that this year is not going to buy me any happiness, I decided to dedicate myself completely to work. I single handedly managed the whole module and was not only praised my clients, namely Federico and Antonio, for that but also was awarded Appreciation certificate by Relationship director. But deep down somewhere I knew that I was destined to do something else. We reignited the fire in ourselves and joined the same coaching institute again. Similar story for preparations but better results this time in Mocks. I was excited.

November 16, 2009, I appeared for CAT 2008 at St Xaviers, Kolkata. Paper structure modified with 40 question in English and 25 each in QA and DI. Started off with QA then DI. Till now things went very fine. Then came the worst decision of my life. Instead of touching RC, which I was good at, I was lured by VA. Attempted lotsa questions and results show that I performed pathetically bad there. CAT 2008 ended shattering all my hopes of getting into IIMs. Then came JMET, SNAP, NM, XAT and FMS.

Results out, and got some calls. Don’t know where I am headed to, but one thing is for sure, I will and can not appear for B-School exams once more.