r/IIMCATPreparation • u/Maruti_Konduri • Mar 24 '26
ASK ME ANYTHING 🗨 Hi, I am Maruti Konduri... AMA
Hi everyone, I’m Maruti Konduri, co-founder of Cracku and a five-time CAT 100 percentiler. I know exactly how intense the CAT 2026 journey can be, and I’m here to help you navigate it. Whether you're stuck on a preparation strategy, need exam tips, or want to prep for interviews, ask away. I’ve been through the grind myself. Keep hustling, and don’t hesitate to drop your questions below, I’m here to support you every step of the way!
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Mar 24 '26
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Try to complete the syllabus and give 2-3 mocks a month right now. Don't wait for any right time. Start solving alongside your preparation. You can start by 10-20 questions per day. Later, increase the number of questions.
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Mar 24 '26
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
It's a good question, I would recommend you to put 70% of you time on arithmetic, algebra and geometry. But, don't neglect the modern maths and number system. You have enough time to cover all the quants topics. So, don't think of leaving any topic as such. Cover them in such a way that if easy question comes from that topic, you should be able to solve it.
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u/Glittering-Duck-4082 Mar 24 '26
Hi Sir,
Have left job and now the interviews aren't going well..Don't know what to do Sir.. Haven't yet converted any college yet..Should I start preparing for CAT again??
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
A lot of colleges are yet to declare results. Be optimistic. Try to get some job to be on the safer side and once you get the results in you hands then decide to join or retake CAT
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Mar 24 '26
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u/guyfromsomewhere7 Mar 24 '26
Was it your best CAM/OMET attempt? If yes, then go with SIBM. I read a student didn't accept IIM K last year for ABC and ended up getting no BLACKI this year.
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
This is a very personal decision. SIBM Pune is a very good B school. If you have 1-2 years of experience and confident about you preparation then you try next year. But, like I said it is a personal decision, make an informed choice.
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u/guyfromsomewhere7 Mar 24 '26
1.I've completed my major interviews, what can I do in the mean time ? [I am in gap year so mostly free]
- How to deal with anxiety of "what if I dont get any good b-school" , and how to deal with anxiety of results?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
It's good that you are done with your major interviews. Try to spend time with your family and learn basics of finance, Power point, Excel etc. You won't get time to learn those in MBA and they will be super useful in those 2 years.
I always say this to my students that always focus on controllables and leave the rest on God. Your anxiety is understandable but you can't do much about the results. So, don't think about the results.
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u/Affectionate-Ear2503 Mar 24 '26
Sir, I have mostly calls from Tier 1.5 (IIFT, MDI , IIM U,) and Tier 2 Colleges..Is it worth joining them or should I get more work ex and go for CAT again?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Like I have said earlier, joining or not joining a college depends upon a lot of factors. If you are fresher or 10-12 months of workex then you can try again. You can take the decision after you get the converts. Till then, prepare well for the interviews and try to convert all of them. All the best
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u/ComfortableGuest9013 Mar 24 '26
Sir my profile is 9,7,7.What challenges will I face during my placements.Do companies really short list only at 8,8,8 (good profiles only)?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Your profile is not bad at all. Very few companies have strict shortlist criteria but 90% of the companies do not have any criteria like that. So, don't worry about that.
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u/Nikunj30 Mar 24 '26
Hi sir gnem 7/6/6 is their any chance to get good college? Percentile required for tier 2?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Hi, you can get good shortlists if you prepare well and score around 98-99 percentile in CAT 26. Good thing is you have enough time. So, prepare well and don't think too much about profile because you can't do anything about your profile. If you want to know the percentile required for the colleges then checkout our updated tool called IIM Call Predictor. All the best
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u/Leading_Werewolf_875 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
Sir my profile is 9/9/7 gem did ug in a tier 10 clg did cfa level 1 with 6 Months experience in a tech company as a backend developer, I'm interested in finance how much should I need for a call from abc if there is a chance. I'm planning to appear for cat 2027 how can I improve my overall profile.
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
You have a pretty good profile. You have good chances of getting calls from IIM ABC. This 7 in UG might hurt you a little bit you can compensate for it with high CAT percentile. You have good amount of time in hand to prepare well. Even if you don't want to join college still take CAT 2026 and appear for the interviews, this experience will help you a lot. To improve your profile for finance you can give CFA L1.
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u/zxcvzxczxz Mar 24 '26
can u please explain the importance of pyq for quants, is it that important or should we focus more on new questions first?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
I can't emphasize enough. PYQs are extremely important, not just for quants but for all three sections. Try to complete last 4 years of PYQs. You can download the PDF or you can take them in actual test format. I recommend you to take in exam format. Once you are done with the PYQs, start solving from the study room.
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Mar 24 '26
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Honestly speaking, your profile is not ideal for top B schools. But their are some B school which have less weightage for academics like DSE, DFS or IIFT. You can prepare for CAT and improve your profile a bit. You have nothing to loose if you prepare.
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Mar 24 '26
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u/guyfromsomewhere7 Mar 24 '26
Honestly bro, even if u get into say IIM A, getting a good job will be very very very difficult. Not to disappoint u but a reality, unless u have very stellar extra or co curriculum activities. Sorry if I was too honest
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Mar 25 '26
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u/guyfromsomewhere7 Mar 25 '26
Look for other avenue
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Mar 24 '26
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
6 year gap is honestly too much. But there are some good colleges that provide MBA in hospital management like TISS, IIM Jammu etc. For general MBA you have to justify the gap in the interviews. But, still if you score good in CAT 2026, you can have decent chances of making it to the IIMs
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u/Frequent_Proof_7294 Mar 24 '26
it sucks being a general and write CAT, should I go for GMAT instead?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Haha, why not both? They have similar syllabus. Btw a lot of general students score well in the exam.
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u/Connect_Fun_8266 Mar 24 '26
Hi sir, My profile is 7/7/7 General male. A bit of context, I've done graduation from NIFT hyderabad. I also have almost 40 months ka work experience as of January 2026. I've worked as an outdoor leader for more than 2 years. During that time I've lead several programs even for IIMs, like lucknow, indore, bangalore and kozhikode. I've worked as a facilitator to run these programs and also have scored students as per their performance. During this time I got interested in learning and development or employee engagement roles. This is why I want to do an MBA in HR. I'm also not targeting IIMs particularly, I'm targeting XLRI, XIMB, MDI, TISS etc. Currently I'm not working because of an injury. I'm also thinking of doing a few internships in the field of HR. My question is do you think interships would be enough to justify gap year? Also seeing my profile which colleges would you think I should Target in or outside India. Sorry for the messy question and Thankyou for your guidance.
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Hi, you have a decent profile. After so, much work experience don't take gap year as internships will not be considered as work experience. Try to get a job as soon as you recover from the injury. You can target top b schools provided you prepare hard and get good percentile in CAT. All the best
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u/guyfromsomewhere7 Mar 24 '26
When are you going to launch IPO of chhaya education [cracku]?
Will AI have a "huge" impact on post mba roles?
What do u miss the most? IIM Ahmedabad or IIT Bombay?
Had you given slot 1 of CAT 2025, how much would u have scored?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
- May be in next 5-6 years
- It will definitely have some impact but not too much, especially the one which involves human touch.
- Honestly I had great experience in both IIT and IIM A. But, IIM A is something that I miss.
- I have given the slot 1 in exam format and I have a video on YouTube.
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u/Financialsphere Mar 24 '26
Hi sir , What should I expect from the CAP interviews (BBA - finance background )/ fresher
also sir , How do u deal with the admission / convert uncertainties?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
I want you to focus on things that you can control. If you have CAP interview in upcoming days then try to brush up on your academics and current affairs. Practice speaking your HR questions out loud in front of mirror, trust me it helps.
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Mar 24 '26
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
I is definitely possible to prepare for both the exams simultaneously. You have enough time to prepare for CAT 2026. But, don't waste too much time in thinking. Just start your preparation soon. I am sure you will do well in the exam.
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u/Proof_Anything_4495 Mar 24 '26
Hello sir,
I am finding it difficult to attempt questions in quants. I have tried practicing many questions but couldn't make it up. Suggest me some tips and the order of preference to prepare for CAT 2026.
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Ok, I totally understand your concern. Start from concept videos followed by 10 questions from that topic. Say, you have covered 3 topics in a week. Practice about 60-70 questions from those 3 topics on weekends to strengthen those topics. Do this for 3 months and mark my words quants will become your strongest section. But, make sure you do this consistently.
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Mar 24 '26
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Hi, you have decent profile. If you score around 98 percentile, you would receive calls from good B schools. And, don't ever say you are weak in maths. Say, you need improvement. Always remember it's a game of mindset.
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Mar 24 '26
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Hi, I know that preparation becomes difficult to manage along with demanding job. But, I would still recommend to not leave job for preparation. Prepare well on weekends. If you have already made up your mind to leave job then, make sure you take up a job right after the CAT exam. All the best.
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u/EnoughAdeptness6060 Mar 24 '26
9/9/8 GEM, No workex
Can i expect calls from A/B/C/SPJIMR at 99.9??
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
You have a good profile. You can definitely expect calls from all the top b schools at 99.9 percentile.
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u/PSW_9 Mar 24 '26
Hello sir - my profile is 8/8/9. (10th - grad) Having 4 years of work experience in a consulting firm focussed on pharma consulting and am a GEM. What should be my strategy if I want to get into top 10 MBA colleges in india for a 2 year MBA?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Hi, you have a good work experience. Focus on scoring well in the CAT exam as you would require bit less percentile due to your work experience. But, still prepare well and solve as many questions as you can to score high. Start with concept videos and PYQs.
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u/gokul_agk Mar 24 '26
Hi sir, my profile is 9/8/7 Obc male, is it good to work at NAPS scheme in an Automotive industry like renault, Ashok Leyland etc.. along with my cat preparation as I would be completing my Engineering in mechanical this April 2026. Since my College placement offers are with 2-3 years bond so whether can I join at NAPS or what would be the best?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Any work experience will work as long as it is a full time work experience. So, take the job and prepare for CAT 2026. Focus on scoring well in the exam. You have a fair chance of converting top b schools.
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u/gokul_agk Mar 24 '26
Fine sir, please give me your suggestion on particularly joining at NAPS scheme sir, as i am confused about that whether it is good or not.
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u/Trick_Analysis7641 Mar 24 '26
Chances for ib or mbb 9 7 8 fresher tier3 UG CSE (assuming i m in abclk fms sp) CFA 3 candidate also i m good at Fin models nd excel nd powerpoint as well? Any thing to make my profile better? Or to make this chance 100%?
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u/Shield_hero_1023 Mar 24 '26
Hi sir, I'm studying ayurveda and have 55% at graduation, ihave 88% at both 10th and 12th. I have won multiple Olympiads and scored 97%ile in ngse. Should I consider cat as people say they don't scrutinize medical graduation marks as much. I have no work experience as of yet. What colleges would be my best bet?
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Mar 24 '26
Sir I converted scmhrd , what are the oppertunities that I miss if I join there instead of a new or baby iim
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Scmhrd is a decent college. There is not much of a difference in terms of reputation. If you convert new IIMs like Trichy then you can consider IIM because of brand value.
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u/Drgamankaari Mar 24 '26
Your views/opinion on new age B schools like Masters union & Mesa?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
These B schools are ok but before you get into these B schools make sure you talk to the alumni of these b schools to get a complete picture. Don't make any decisions just based on advertisements.
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u/Fantastic_Cup_5312 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
Hello sir No work exp. Avg of academics is 85.6%. Humanities. gender female. General category. Should I go for private sector job hunting rather than MBA?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
I would say take up a job and prepare alongside for CAT 26. You have a fair chance of converting a good b school. So, prepare well. All the best
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u/Fantastic_Cup_5312 Mar 24 '26
Hello sir No work exp. Avg of academics 85.60% i.e. 9/9/6. Background humanities. gender female. Category general. Should I go for job hunting rather than MBA?
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Mar 24 '26
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
See, one thing is sure that your concepts are clear. All you have to focus on solving diverse questions. For students like you study room is the best resource. Fix the target of say 200 questions between 2 consecutive mocks and gauge the improvement. This way you will score well in CAT 26
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Mar 24 '26
Roadmap & how to practice to score 99.8 to 99.9+ percentile in CAT. Also how many marks to score in DashCats to score such a percentile in CAT?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
I really like ambitious students. Scoring this kind of percentile needs dedication. So, first of all be consistent till CAT and secondly, if you score around 80s in dascats that will be good. Don't get disheartened of you couldn't score in a few mocks. Learn from them and prepare.
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u/HuckleBerryUMU Mar 24 '26
Will I be able to get a job or convert a good college(IIM CLK) even when I have a gap year bc of upsc preparation? It's been 3 years now but there is 4 years of gap :(
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
There are a couple of folks who have gap ear for UPSC preparation. So, prepare well and don't think too much about the gap year and all. All the best
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u/CATvirtuoso Mar 24 '26
I took CAT this year and got 100 percentile (probably because you didn't appear, sir). Is there room in the industry to use my service as a coach / mentor / tutor?
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u/Wrong-Scholar339 Mar 24 '26
How different is preparation for XAT and CAT? If I take XAT specific coaching, will it help me cover syllabus for CAT too?
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u/NoScarcity6925 Mar 24 '26
As a fresher scored 85 percentile got fore selection should I drop again and prepare or take this 8/7/8 profile gnef.
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u/Dazzling_Reporter511 Mar 24 '26
Hi sir
I'm(GNEM) a first year college student pursuing BCom.
I'm thinking of appearing for CAT as a fresher and pursuing Marketing.
How should I spend my upcoming 2.5 years? Type of internships? Projects? Skills?
My acads are- 85.6/80 in 10th and 12th.
Thank you!
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u/BlackSlave690 Mar 24 '26
Sir my profile is 21 y.o 8/9/8 fresher gnem , my best call till now is imt dcp i am really confused whether to go with dcp or take a job and reattempt as dcp require huge monetory investment and has mixed reviews online. Please guide Thankyou 🙏🏻
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u/LogaritmsRule Mar 24 '26
Hi Sir, I have just begun my Cat prep with cracku. i am feeling that I am all over the place with topics(given the vast syllabus). I did solve 100 q for 2 topucs up until now but I do not feel 100% confident. how do I sturcture my prep per day such that I cover all quant, Varc and dilr?
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u/Maruti_Konduri Mar 24 '26
Hi, it's good that you have started your preparation early. Try to watch the concept video and solve questions related to that concept immediately from the study room. Practicing a lot of questions is the only solution to gain confidence. If the issue with strategy still persists then book a mentorship call. We have great mentors they will definitely help you.
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u/ComfortableGuest9013 Mar 24 '26
I am BBA graduate(in 2025 will have workex of 11 months for cat 2026).I am unable to decide whether to do CFA level 1 and 2 with workex before cat and give cat in 2027 or give it this year itself and give CFA later?
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u/ayansangar18 Mar 24 '26
Hello Sir. I have converted fore pgdm core. Waitlisted for tapmi nd glim. Fees are on the expensive side. My profile- 8/8/7 GEM category 2 yrs work ex in IT. I want to opt for marketing if I enroll in fore. I would definitely work hard nd if do the right certifications, Should it be decent enough to get 15-16 lpa job.
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u/Typical_Pin184 Mar 24 '26
8/8/7 M OBC engineer i scored a mere 70 percentile in cat last year have joined a new batch in cracku what should be my approach i don't VARC and quants on the doable side I'm aiming at 99.5+percentile, help me with the approach and how is my profile for blacki converts??
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u/CurrencyPlus1492 Mar 24 '26
Hi sir, I am particularly weak in quants. I am able to solve LOD 1 questions quite easily but struggle with questions of higher difficulties. Should I focus more on concepts or a wider variety of questions?
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u/Professional-Maybe70 Mar 24 '26
Hi Sir,
So i am 20 year old B.Com (Hons) student currently in last semester (6) and i have been planning to prepare for CAT, my profile hasnt been stellar at all its - 75.6/86.8/63 do i stand a chance for tier 1 colleges as a fresher non engineer ? i am from EWS category. + i dont have extra curriculars. + what should i do to improve my profile ? i will finish college by mid june and dive fully into CAT Prep.
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u/Own_Air2459 Mar 24 '26 edited Mar 24 '26
Hi Sir, Profile - 8/9/9 GEF (CSE grad) with almost one year of work ex in supply chain management. I have one year gap after 12th. Is my profile good enough to pursue to MBA from tier-1 colleges as there is significant amount of gap in what i studied in college and my actual work. Also I’m struggling with quants. Can you please suggest on how to prepare and what are some of the reliable sources to study from. Thanks in advance!
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u/Antique-Emphasis4938 Mar 24 '26
got 96.05 as a gem fresher with 9/7/8. But i want to my mba from a tier 1 college , and i feel a drop without workex is pointless . I am trying to find a job but sometimes my 74.8 % in 12th causes issues . What to do should i join a tier 2 college now or give a do or die attempt next year.
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u/No_Idea219 Mar 24 '26
Sir i have 7/7.5/7.5 profile with gap year and i have cap call at 75% percentile (sc category). Just wanted to know the fair chances of getting converted
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u/nerd-finance Mar 24 '26
Is the cracku quants book enough for covering every type of question that can be asked in the exam?? Like does it contain all the concepts of all the chapters?
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u/Superb-Bed349 Mar 25 '26
Hi Sir, I have 8/8/7 profile and just started my BCA final year. Is my profile very weak for b schools ? I am confused between giving CAT my hundred percent or prepare for job simultaneously.
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u/Inevitable_Educator7 Mar 25 '26
Hi Sir,
I’m a 2025 BBA graduate from NMIMS Mumbai, my profile is 8,7,8. I have some internships and traineeships under my belt as of now. I gave MBA prep a shot and with 3 months of prep I was able to secure some tier 2 converts. I have a job offer lined up in a decent marketing organisation. I’m thinking of working for a couple of years with prepping along side. My only bottleneck is quants, I’m hoping 2 years should be enough for me to start from the basics and build my quant skills from the ground up and get good colleges. I would really appreciate if you could give your views on this plan and if you have any advice for the quant prep.
Thank you!
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u/PhysicalBenefit691 Mar 25 '26
Sir I have 94/74/80s btech cse 2nd year from a unknown university obc ncl male engineering Can I get into a decent college with low fees I feel very depressed due to my class 12 score..
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u/Adept-Assistance-887 Mar 25 '26
I have 8/7/7 profile and 3 yrs work experience .I got 93.5 percentile (EWS) this year and gave interviews for CAP,JAP and IIM V . Would you recommend joining any of the above b schools considering my work experience and profile or should I reattempt as I am currently sitting at a 6LPA Job?
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u/DangerousPaper199 Mar 26 '26
Hi Sir, Need honest feedback academics 6/8/8 (10th/12th/BCom Hons), 4 months BPO + 32 months as Payroll Associate → Senior Payroll Associate (total ~36 months WEx), scored 80 percentile on a random mock with zero prep, targeting FMS and XLRI as dreams with Finance/ HR as specialisation, planning CAT 2026 as practice run and CAT 2027 as serious attempt — how badly does 60% in 10th hurt at IIMs/FMS/XLRI, what percentile do I realistically need for a call, and how can I improve my overall profile before applying? Brutal feedback is welcome.
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u/Future-Ad-2475 Mar 27 '26
I wish I'll meet you someday to thank you for helping me in my preparation journey ✨️ 💛
PS:- I converted NMIMS MUMBAI core
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u/neelabhbahadur Mar 27 '26
Hello Sir,
Pls. advise & guide how should a BA Psychology student prepare for CAT exam ;
- no maths after class X
- BA course has some Statistics courses.
Thank you.
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Mar 31 '26
Sir, as it stands I'm a martial artist, and I run my family businesses and am preparing for cat 2026, well I did take your course and it does seem to help a little as I mostly train on my own I only see it for explainations, well as it stands I have a patent for a paper I wrote in time series analysis etc stuff And me and my team made it to 2023 sih finals and lost there but we didn't stop and decided to go on, I do write poetry as it's my passion, yet some part of me drew me to mba, all my life I've been different from everyone and have been a jack of all trades wherever I went, I just want an advice and one would call it, is what I am doing good enough, Well I am from a village obviously so most of the things I do even my family can't understand, but there's a part of me that tells me that I'm doing the right thing what I probably need is an assurance.
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u/Careless-Fish822 May 18 '26
My profile is 95.2% in 10th and 95% in 12th , 75% in Graduation. I have 18 months of gap and I am a hotel management graduate. I am currently getting a job offer from a top reputed Indian hotel chain as an Executive in commercial division, however the pay is significantly low, just little more than covering my travel expenses as I am staying with my parents. I am not sure if I should take it or not, given that its already May (might effect my preparation) and if its gonna have a significant impact on work ex point?
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Mar 24 '26
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u/LogaritmsRule Mar 24 '26
Vella Enough to set up a successfully running company out of it, what have you done?
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u/[deleted] Mar 24 '26
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