Students’ Speak: What after you have appeared for CAT exam?

Abdullah Salman shares some tips on what to do after the Common Admission Test (CAT) which is to be held on November 24. The aspirants, who will appear for CAT, can follow these tips to excel in the upcoming phases of the exam.

Apply In Top B-Schools

Once the CAT is over we need to start applying for the other top B-schools for which the applications are open. Prepare for Non-CAT Exams such as XAT, MH-CET, SNAP, NMAT, CMAT, MAT, etc., based on your college preferences.

For choosing the best B-Schools in India I would recommend that an aspirant should visit shiksha.com and take the list of B-schools and also go through their websites and collect information with regards to placements, faculties, fee structure, infrastructure, alumni network, etc.

Prepare For Further Phases

Clearing CAT is not the end. Students put so many months of effort into preparing for CAT but after the exam, they don’t focus much on the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Group Discussion & Personal Interview (GDPI), which are equally important.

To prepare for WAT, an exam aimed at testing your knowledge and writing skills, one needs to up to date with current affairs and some general knowledge. Newspaper reading is the best practice. Along with reading, you should also be a fluent writer as everything you do in this exam is time-bounded. So writing helps you learn time management.

In case of GD, students generally shy away from practicing certain exercises that could help them be well-prepared for this session. The topics of discussion could include world affairs, political issues, lifestyle or any general topic. Also, one needs to be versed that the number of aspirants participating in GD can make the competition stronger. Through this test, your verbal communication and body language are tested. So, along with giving smart points, you need to be clear in your expression. Additionally, the tone of speech and body language should be amiable.

This is followed by PI, an important step to get an admission to a B-school. It involves interaction with the interviewers who will judge your confidence and point of view. In such a scenario, being confident doesn't mean you should be overconfident.
There are some common questions which are asked and it is good to be prepared for them. The questions may include - How do you describe yourself? Why did you choose the particular institute? Where do you see yourself in the coming years? What does success/failure mean to you?

Here’s wishing you all the luck for your future.

About the Author:

Abdullah Salman M is a student of Master in Business Administration (MBA) in General Management from Thiagarajar School of Management (TSM), Madurai. He has worked for over a year with as a Network Engineer and has studied his graduation in Bachelor of Engineering with a specialisation in Electrical and Communication Engineering from Anna University, Chennai.