You didn't bell the CAT, so what?

by Anjali Rameshbabu

You worked hard, probably several hours a day for months, and battled exam jitters. Exchanged notes, practiced many mock tests (of course, there's always room for more!), dreamt up possible questions, and heard many pep talks. You were as ready as you could be. Then it was time. Much awaited, yet much dreaded, the CAT exam is a phenomenon that unites hundreds of thousands of aspirants each year, only to soon divide them into smart, smarter, smartest, and let's-see-how-far-we-can-go categories. You survived the exam, got out feeling relieved, exhilarated, confused, or just ready to catch up on a few months' sleep. And then it's time to wait. After some weeks of praying, nail biting, rapid swinging between optimism and self-doubt, the results are here. The CAT is finally out of the bag. For many, the scores are satisfactory and your dream of an MBA and a promising career are well on the way. For some others however, this is not to be. Unfortunately, you may be one of them.

Enough is said about getting high scores. Not nearly enough is said about the other scenario. Among a pool of some 1.94 lakh CAT takers this year, only about 3,335 will make the final cut in various IIMs---that's less than two out of a hundred; this means 98 will not get in. What happens to the remaining majority? If you are among this larger group, stop and think before you tell yourself that it's all over.

You are likely shocked, disappointed, angry, depressed. "What am I going to do?" "How can I face my friends and family?" "Where do I go from here?" Suddenly there are no options and all the questions in your mind point toward despair.

First things first. Sit down. Take a deep breath. It's ok to feel disappointed and sad. You worked hard; it just didn't turn out the way it was supposed to. Give yourself time to experience these negative feelings. Take a walk if you'd like. And then, let go of those feelings. Disappointments are often less burdensome when you share them with people who are close to you. Find a family member or friend or even a pet to talk to. These are useful ways to deal with your negative emotions. Sometimes, you may be tempted to deal with the situation alone, withdraw from those around you, or even develop serious unhealthy patterns such as drinking or smoking.  Fight this temptation. As much as you think it's better to deal with disappointments on your own, perhaps because you don't want to face anyone or because you think they just won't understand, push yourself to reach out. Chances are, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much support you receive and how much lighter you’ll feel.

A way to tackle the problem of not getting that high score is to talk to those who have been in your situation. Given how popular the CAT is, you're likely to find many (many!) others who have been in your situation.  Remember, there are only 13 IIMs in the country, which means the majority of exam takers cannot possibly get into them. Does this mean there are only a handful of business graduates in the entire country each year? Think of all the people you know who are in marketing, sales, or HR professions and you'll have your answer.

Often in such situations, despair sets in because we tend to pin all our hopes on the single goal at hand, in this case, getting a high CAT score. Every time you feel that your dream of getting into that top business school has slipped away, ask yourself: Are there absolutely no other options for getting a business degree? Are there other ways you can still pursue your passion? Approach professors or others in the field to find out about your possibilities after the exam. Before you know it, you'll have at least half a dozen suitable alternatives. 

If, after adequate consideration, you do decide on retaking the CAT next year, congratulate yourself on your decision, and actively work on ways to increase your chances of success. These may include a better study plan and plenty of test practice. Also, remember that some people are better test takers than others. This means that they may have had plenty of prior practice taking exams, may have better test time-management skills, or may be better under pressure. This doesn't necessarily make you a poorer student. A combination of calming exercises, positive support from those around you, and above all, a healthy lifestyle to support a calm mind, can leave you better prepared for next time.

An especially useful exercise after a disappointing outcome is to ask: So what? Calm your emotions and put on your Rationality hat. So what if you didn't get that high score? So what if you didn't get into that top school this year? Think logically. A low score does not mean you're not good enough to be a business graduate. Not making it into the top school does not mean you will never have a career in business.  Resist the urge to be pessimistic. When you have thoughts like "my dream is shattered", ask yourself, "what exactly is my dream and how can I practically work toward it?".  You'll soon find yourself considering viable plans from a fresh perspective. Challenge your negative thoughts and channel your energy into finding positive alternatives.

You are going to be fine. Remember, it's only an exam. It's not life itself. It's less important that you didn't get a high score and more important how well you deal with it.

About the author

Anjali Rameshbabu holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA. Her expertise is in designing interventions to help people adopt and maintain positive health behaviors.

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