Options beyond CAT

By: Vignesh Balakrishnan 

Avoid dejections and look for the next best alternatives. One can look for many options if the CAT results are below expectations. 

Rightly said once by Winston Churchill-“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”

The words above inspire us to endeavour throughout our life. Similarly, learning is an incessant and pervasive process. It is an inalienable activity in every sphere of our life. Success gives immense joy but failure redirects and gives a new perspective of doing things. Hence, one must embrace rejections for growth.

The same principle is applicable to your demotivated thoughts after your CAT. There are people who do exceptionally well during practice mocks but end up performing average on the real front and vice versa. There is nothing to feel dejected about. It just requires some more time for introspection and reflection. Success is not defined by scores but by your performance. Apart from admission test scores, your performance in Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) process also contribute significantly to the admission process across all B-Schools. CAT or any management entrance test scores are just part of the game.

When it comes to college selection, the decision is crucial as it is going to affect your near future. Institutions play a very vital role in shaping our knowledge, industrial exposure and personality. These are the key traits for a rewarding corporate career. Therefore, careful consideration of these factors is necessary before choosing your learning destination. One point must be always remembered; you must achieve the minimum cut-off score to land at your dream college. Cut-offs vary with each year but always aim high, it will uplift your passion for learning.

• Xavier’s Admission Test (XAT)
• Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP)
• Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test (NMAT)
• Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)

Other than these, there are institution-specific and region-specific entrance exams. Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) and Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MAH CET) are popular region-specific management entrance tests through which you can get admission to specified colleges in government quota.

About the Author:

Vignesh Balakrishnan is currently pursuing MBA from Thiagarajar School of Management, Madurai. He is a commerce graduate from The American College, Madurai. He is also pursuing the Inter Programme of Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) from The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI). He loves to read and explore new things. He has won awards for his academic proficiency and has organized several events both at school and college in various capacities.