MAH-CET MBA 2017: Do not fear failure, says 99.92 percentiler Naveen Rajkumar Sharma

Naveen Rajkumar Sharma

Naveen Rajkumar Sharma has scored a stunning 99.92 percentile in MAH-CET 2017 and is among the top 74 candidates. He is ranked 33rd in Mumbai University and 58th in the state.

Currently, studying at Prin. LN Welingkar Institute Of Management Development and Research, Mumbai, Naveen has taken MAH-CET thrice before. This was his fourth attempt. According to him, solving lots of IBPS paper online as well as banking papers helped him a lot. Naveen, who once wanted to be a cricketer now aims to walk the path of American business magnate and philanthropist Warren Buffett.

Shiksha spoke to Naveen about his MAH-CET journey, his prep strategy and future plan. Here’s what he shared with us.

Question: Was this your first MAH-CET exam attempt?

Answer: No, it was my 4^th MAH-CET attempt. My score was 89.53 percentile in 2014, 97.14 percentile in 2015, 98.75 percentile in 2016 and finally 99.92 percentile this year. I took admission in 2016 in Prin. LN Welingkar Institute Of Management Development and Research but the thought of going to my dream college was always there in my mind and therefore I tried one more time.

Question: Did you expect such a brilliant score?

Answer: I still remember the moment I saw the result; I was so excited and nervous before knowing it and elated once I saw it. Every single morning, I wake up smiling, thinking that I am a day closer to my dream college. I worked really hard because it was my last shot at my dream, leaving no stone unturned to get the top results but honestly my ranks in mock tests were not reflecting it. I made sure that I believed till the last moment of my exam and I am happy that it paid off.

Question: Tell us about your MAH-CET selection experience.

Answer: MAH–CET process is quite straightforward. Once results are out in March, we have to go through documentation process where they check whether the information we gave during filling exam forms were true. Then state rank and All India Rank are allotted to us because Maharashtra state candidate seats are 47 while 18 of seats are provided to All India Level students in my dream college. After the ranks are allotted, we have to go through Central Admission Process (CAP) where we select the college in which we want to take the admission according to our preference. I have completed my documentation process. Further process will take another 15 days.

Question: What’s your dream institute and the area specialization you intend to choose?

Answer: My dream institute is Jamnalal Bajaj Institute Of Management Studies and I want to study Finance. I have studied it in my second semester in Welingkar and I loved it. I would be really lucky to study it in Jamnalal Institute from best of the faculties in our country, among best people.

Question: What was your preparation strategy?

Answer: It was my fourth attempt so definitely my concept were clear, I just had to strengthen them further as MAH-CET MBA is time bound exams where you have to solve 200 questions in 150 minutes. I cleared basic concepts in the first 15 days of my preparation. Then I gave mock test every single day which mean I solved at least 200 questions each day in last 60 days. IBPS was setting the paper so I solved lots of IBPS paper online as well as banking papers which are set by IBPS which really helped me a lot. Mentally I was getting tougher as it was my fourth attempt so failure to score lesser in mock test did not deter my confidence level.

Question: What is the minimum time frame needed to prepare for MAH-CET, and when did you start with your preparations?

Answer: Time frame depends from person to person. Now as it was my 4^th attempt, I used to attend all my college lectures at Welingkar because I hadn’t told my parents that I was preparing for MAH CET exams fearing what they would feel. So I thought I will take the exam and if the result is good, then only I will tell them otherwise continue with my Welingkar course. So I attended all my lectures till the exam date which consumed at least 10 hours a day. At home I would study for another 6 hours. I made up my mind in October and started preparing in November 2016. Once my first semester exams were over on December 26, 2016, I made sure to attempt one mock, analyze my mistakes and improve it. So I would say may be 60 days with 8 hours of studies on an average because I used to be productive in my travelling time too.

Moreover, if you are clear with all your basic concepts of Maths, Logical Reasoning, English and Data Interpretation, then 4 months are enough to prepare. Students should take all the competitive exams like CAT, XAT, NMAT by GMAC, SNAP, MAT, ATMA, CMAT which will help them to get lot of experience to crack MAH CET in the very first attempt.

Question: What did you do to improve your weak areas?       

Answer: Practicing lots of sums and making a strategy really helps. Giving more time to weak areas in initial days of preparation helps a lot. Once you are closer to exams dates, it is advisable to rely more on strong areas. My math was weak initially so I solved a single math book 4-5 times which also helped to create my own shot- cuts to solve questions. There are many tricks which I learned to tackle my weak areas. For example, if I find English passage difficult, I would apply elimination technique where you cancel the wrong answers from options eventually increasing the probability of you marking the right answer. Facing the strong areas first in mock test and doing the weaker areas at latter stage also increases your confidence and you do better in weaker sections

Question: Is it important to join a coaching institute?

Answer: If you do not know anything about how competitive exams work, definitely coaching helps. I completed my graduation in 2013 and I was unaware of these exams so I joined a reputed class in first year. But then I came to know about all the exams so I never enrolled to class room sessions again. But as far mock test and exam giving strategies are concerned, institutes really help and that’s what I did exactly. I purchased tests of all the classes and prepared for the exams and got benefitted from it. So, it all depends on where you stand today but I know lots of aspirants who did not join them and still succeeded.

Question: Would you like to share some tips for future MAH CET aspirants?

Answer: First of all believe in yourself, if I can do it, anyone can. Start your preparation from today itself as exams are coming closer, if you give full efforts, nothing can stop you. Clear your basics first which would eventually take time but once it is clear you would be on totally different level. Do not miss a single test and you will see the improvement. Do not compare your scores to others because if you keep believing in yourself, you will eventually achieve your goal because I still remember I used to be in top 70 in 1,000 students in particular classes mock test and I am in top 70 in main exams where 88,226 candidates took exams.

Nothing matters, only thing which matters is your efforts, if you put it, you will surely get the results. Do not fear failure as you can see it was my fourth attempt and today I feel that 4 long years for MBA preparation for your dream college is still worth it.

Question: Tell us something about yourself.

Answer: I have completed my Bachelor of Commerce from Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College, Ghatkopar. I have 18 months of work experience in Capita India organization as Insurance Executive. I dreamt of becoming cricketer throughout my childhood and teenage days but could not fulfill it because I lacked some good qualities which are required to sustain the tough periods. I made sure I never quit again. I like reading self – help books, autobiographies and recently started reading business books. I like singing, dancing, playing cricket, writing Hindi poetry and working-out. Huge development in every single field around us excites me and strengthens my belief that I am going to be part of it very soon. We are a family of four. My father has a garage in Ghatkopar while my mother is housewife; my younger sister just completed her graduation. My parents always supported me in every single endeavour even though they could not afford it financially and I am glad to have parents like them.

Question: What is your future plan?

Answer: Right now, I am just waiting for the day when my admission would be confirmed. I would like to learn every single financial aspect of businesses and how they work at my dream college and make my career as equity research analyst. I would love to learn the skill of knowing the real valuation of companies because throughout my life I wondered how the stock market works and the criteria which decide the price of a share. I am huge follower of Warren Buffet and his values. I would love to walk the path which he walked all his life. I feel lucky that at least I know where I see myself in next 10 years.