Retaking CAT is looked upon as a very arduous task that only a select few can venture into, with relative ease. As CAT 2020 approaches, the default question along the lines of “I took CAT last year and flunked. Is it prudent to attempt this year?” are skyrocketing. Equally high are the questions on “Is it even a wise decision to pursue an MBA amidst the current situation we all find ourselves in?”
This is a good time to get certain things straight before jumping the gun and making impulsive decisions.
How do things change with COVID-19 in the picture?
Nothing seems to have changed. The notification about the examination came out, and the D-day has been announced. Registrations have started. There are going to be some factors which are beyond our control. But, there is no point worrying about them.
The exam is on 29 November 2020, as per the announcement, and we have hardly 100 days to go. CAT is going to be CAT even this year. You would rather buckle up and double down on your CAT 2020 preparation rather than worrying about too many things that are unnecessary anyway.
And most importantly, do not forget to register well before the eleventh hour approaches.
“I am skeptical about doing an MBA in 2021 because of the turbulence in economy.”
If you are going to start your MBA in 2021, and it is a two-year program, you will be graduating in 2023. This is ample time for the economy to bounce back.
Moreover, there are going to be economic uncertainties almost all the years in some form or the other. That should not force you to shy away from pursuing an MBA.
There is not much to lose and pretty much everything to gain by starting your MBA a year earlier than not. So shed your dilemma on CAT 2020 and CAT 2021, and start preparing.
“I am retaking CAT for the fifth time this year. There is the fear of failure, compounded by the pandemic and uncertainties.”
Retaking CAT is not inherently bad. Cracking CAT the first time is a dream for many, but not everybody achieves it. And it is not a shame to retake the examination. Having said that, the key questions you need to ask yourself are:
- Was my last attempt a miss that a few tweaks this time over can fix?
- Am I in the right mind space to give it all in the following days and give my best shot towards cracking CAT this time?
Once the answers to these questions are clear, you must be in a better position to make the wise decision.
Very often, being one step removed from the process helps in getting things right. Your best strategy might be to stop thinking of CAT as a huge opportunity, chart your career path independent of CAT success and just give it a stab without that much riding on it.
“I have heard/seen people scoring 99.8+ and not getting called for PI or getting rejected post-PI. Is taking or retaking CAT still worth a shot?”
If everyone who scores 99.8 percentile should definitely receive an admit, then the IIMs might as well suspend the interview process for these 300-odd. Every year, there will always be a few unlucky souls who miss out. This DOES NOT mean the process is rigged, or it is impossible to get in.
“Exceptions do not make examples”.
This essentially means that you should not be worrying about this they-scored-high-yet-missed-out narrative too much; this holds good irrespective of whether you are taking CAT for the first time or are retaking CAT this time for the umpteenth time.
Viewing from a different lens
Think about the scenario differently. Of the 300-odd people who have got 99.8th percentile, we have heard of only 1-2 who have missed out.
Even assuming that there might be another 2-3 we have not heard of, you can say that 99.8th percentile+ gives you a near 99% chance of making it to IIM A, B or C. So, focus on getting the 99.8th percentile and give yourself this 99 percent chance.
What do IIMs want exactly?
The IIMs want bright candidates, yes, but being bright does not merely translate to getting that dream percentile in CAT. It is the processes that follow CAT results – read WAT and GDPI – that are influential as well.
They want sharp guys with decent academic record and an ability to articulate well. They have the luxury of setting the bar very high because of a favourable supply-demand situation.
Bottom-line
Less than 100 days to go. Prepare with focus. Take care of your physical and mental health. Do not be complacent. Do not burn yourself out.
Stay safe, and Best Wishes for CAT 2020!
Rajesh Balasubramanian takes the CAT every year and is a 4-time CAT 100 percentiler. He likes few things more than teaching Math and insists to this day that he is a better teacher than exam-taker.
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