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Is it worth taking a one-year drop for CAT?

Praqtise — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 10:28:03 +0000

Manoj and Swati have cleared MBA entrance examinations with good percentile and have begun getting calls from many of the top B-schools in India. However, neither Manoj nor Swati have secured a call from the B-school where they want to study. Manoj plans to take a one-year drop for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations. The following is a conversation between Manoj and Swati:

Manoj: Hey, Swati, how are you?

Swati: I am fine, how are you?

Manoj: I am fine too, but I am a little worried because I haven’t gotten a call from either of the top IIMs, which is where I wanted to study.

Swati: Yes, even I am a little worried because even I haven’t gotten a call from the IIMs. However, I have received numerous calls from the newly opened IIMs and many other B-schools across India.

Manoj: Yes, even I have received numerous calls from the other IIMs and most other B-schools. However, I don’t think I am going to accept the calls. I think I will take a one-year drop for CAT and appear for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations again. I will surely get into one of the top IIMs if I have more time to prepare.

Swati: Let me stop you right there. My mother tells me that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Do you understand what it means?

Manoj: Of course, I know what it means. But I have always wanted to study in one of the top IIMs, and that is where I will study, even if it means a one-year gap after graduation.

Swati: You may be making the right call for yourself, but I think I will accept an admission into the best B-school into which I get admitted. I don’t want to waste another year going through the same repetitive routine every day. I believe, even after graduating from a slightly inferior B-school, I can capitalize on the entire year, instead of taking a gap year for CAT, toiling it away.

To drop or not to drop, that is the question!

This is the case with most students who do not get accepted into the B-schools of their choice. However, is it a wise decision to wait another year in the pursuit to secure an admission into an institute of your choice? Or is it a more prudent decision to accept an admission into a slightly inferior B-school and capitalize on the time that you would otherwise toil away. Some believe that taking a gap year for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations and getting into a B-school of their choice will open a world of fortune to them. Others think that waiting another year to get into a marginally better B-school would not make much of a difference.

There is no decisive answer to this question. It is entirely based upon the thought process of every individual. No one choice is better than the other – both the choices have their advantages and their disadvantages. You are the best judge of what is a better option for you out of the two. However, after reading this blog, you might have a better answer to the question than you had before. This blog will provide a better understanding of the gap year after college pros and cons as well.

One-year drop for CAT – Is it worth the wait?

Taking a gap year for CAT is often a risky choice because of the uncertainty involved. If you wait for another year, there is no guarantee that you will score better than before. Even if you score better, what if the others score better than you? If that happens, there are chances that you will score lower percentile than before. Another risk is that even if you get an interview call from the B-school of your choice, you might have to learn how to explain gap year in MBA interview. There are workarounds to this question, but it is sure to arise in the interview, and you must have a satisfactory answer for the interviewer. Here are some points that you should consider if you plan to take a one-year drop for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations to get into a better B-school.

Prioritize top B-school based on your percentile

After the results of the entrance examinations are out, make an exhaustive list of colleges which will accept you based on your percentile. Narrow down to a list of five or ten top B-school which are likely to accept your application based on your scores. If you get into either of the colleges from your list, then there is no scope to drop a year and apply again next year. If you plan to take a one-year drop for CAT to get into IIMs, make sure that you aim for only the best. Waiting for another year to prepare for MBA entrance examinations only to get into a marginally better college cannot be justified.

Let’s say that you are likely to get into a B-school that usually stands between ranks 11-15 in most rankings. Waiting for another year will be actually worth only if you are able to secure a b-school in the top 5 ranks. As an aspirant, you are likely to be more emotional when deciding on such things. It is, therefore, better to seek advice, ideally from a B-school pass-out.

Economic changes that can affect your prospects

If drastic economic changes take place during the year when you plan to take a drop, it can also affect your chances in top B-schools. For example, during the catastrophic economic meltdown in 2008, many people lost their jobs. Many of them turned towards further education and appeared for MBA entrance examinations. Then, what happened was, that top B-schools started selecting candidates with work experiences, as compared to those without. So, if you are a student, and you don’t have work experience, this is an important consideration that you should bear in mind.

Probable changes in fee structure

The fee structures in the top B-school keeps on changing often. Most of the top B-school increase their tuition fees every year to cover the costs that they incur. Hence, if you plan to take a drop and wait to get into one of the top B-school, this is an important financial consideration you must bear in mind. We had some insights from an IMT, Ghaziabad alumnus, after getting into a conversation about waiting another year to get into a B-school of their choice. He could not get into the B-school of his choice on his first attempt. Hence, decided to take a gap year after graduation. On his second attempt, he got into IMT, Ghaziabad.

When he commenced business studies, the fees to complete business studies at IMT, Ghaziabad was around 10.5 Lac. Whereas, had he gotten into IMT on his first attempt, he would have been able to complete his education in a mere 8 Lac rupees. One might think that as the fees increase, so must the placement packages – however, that is not the case. The average placement packages don’t increase much in comparison with the changing fees. Hence, if finances are a constraint, then you must think about this before taking a one-year drop for CAT and other examinations.

Don’t just prepare for the entrance examinations

If you have decided to take a one-drop for CAT and other examinations, you must plan your activities meticulously. You cannot justify a one-year drop for CAT and MBA, by saying that you were preparing for the entrance examinations. Hence, you must be able to answer the question – How to explain gap year in MBA interview – with efficacy. Most people can easily prepare for the entrance examination within three to four months, even when they have a job. Here are a few things you can do while preparing for the MBA entrance examinations:

Contribute to a social cause of your choice and be an active participant
Apply to short-term online courses from reputed websites
Look for a part-time job, which can help you gain perspective into the subjects in which you want to specialize

There are numerous personal and professional factors which affect the decision whether or not to drop for one year. However, aforementioned are some of the major factors which you must consider before making a decision. Even after considering all the points, if you still decide to take a one-year drop for CAT, then you should plan the year meticulously. For more information to help you plan your drop year, you can also seek the help of experts at Praqtise.

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What are institutes looking for in your Statement of Purpose

Praqtise — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 10:09:32 +0000

Ram and Shyam are two school friends and both of them are good students. They both wish to get into the same MBA institute, Acme institute (fictional and unrelated to Wyle E. Coyote). It top MBA institute with a very good placement record. But as fate would have it while Shyam got accepted into a good college, Ram was not as fortunate. Both the friends tried to analyze why Shyam got accepted and Ram did not. After all they, had similar academic, extra-curricular and sports record. They even had similar admission test scores and work experiences. The one difference that they found after deliberation was the statement of purpose. It turned out Ram had included a lot of information which Shyam had not and in spite of that was not selected. So what information did Shyam include and exclude that made the difference, let’s find out.

Statement of Purpose

Many people get confused regarding the exact purpose behind this. They have no idea why and how to write a SOP. In simple terms, through a statement of purpose, college applicants can tell an MBA institute why it should accept them. But that does not necessarily mean including every single detail of one’s life. There has to be a filter to include only pertinent information. So what information should be considered as pertinent while writing a statement of purpose for MBA?

Do not take ‘statement’ literally

We understand that it is a statement of purpose but that does not mean writing precise statements. A better and proven method is drafting your experiences and achievements into a story. A story is more captivating as it paints a wonderful picture whereas statements would be monotonous. One has to write a statement of purpose in a manner where you are the main character and describe your journey. But bear in mind that the story shouldn’t turn into a novel and should have a point.

Don’t Dilly Dally

While you are writing a story, don’t waste your time dawdling on minor details to expand your content. Get to the point quickly but in a meaningful and articulate manner including details that support your decision. Remember that while writing a statement of purpose for MBA you should include information and stories which underline your decision to pursue a MBA institute. Frame your story in a way that it becomes memorable but remains formal as well.

Depiction

The way you depict yourself is crucial. A statement of purpose is the perfect medium of expressing your character, personality and attitude. This is all essential information that you should include in the statement of purpose for MBA. It is imperative that you include anecdotes which exemplify your passion for the field. You should also include example of your ability to handle multiple tasks and academic workload. The best way to convince selectors of your passion is to narrate real incidents that justify your choices.

Honesty

‘Honesty is the best policy’, we know that it is a cliché but it is apt while writing a SOP. Yes, you have to be creative and you have to write a story but do not embellish. Don’t say you had a magical education even if you were in a wizarding school (no you weren’t). The stories have to be believable but above all else they have to be true. Do not pretend to have qualities and attributes, as the officers of admission office are experts in weeding out false applicants.

But don’t be blunt

Yes, one should be honest but to a certain degree. For example, do not mention that you want to get into a MBA institute for a higher salary. Additionally, do not mention that you could not think of what else to do in life or that your parents compelled you. Everyone knows that majority pursue MBA for the allure of a higher salary and the pressures of family. But there is no need to include that in the statement of purpose. Instead focus on creating a premise where your passion is the fuel which propelled you towards MBA. Similarly, do not say that you are passionate about a particular field. Your written content should indirectly mean it and convince the admissions committee of that.

Admit your shortcomings

No manual says that you have to mention only your strengths. Accept the fact that you have shortcomings and use them in a manner that depicts growth and maturity. Colleges expect you to mention an incident of failure or dejection. Remember that being honest is an essential factor. You should clearly explain the reason for your failure. Also, mention in the statement of purpose how it affected you and the way you overcame it. Additionally, mention what you gained from the experience including how to avoid a similar situation in the future.

Homework

No, not the one that you got during classes. But this homework refers to the research about the MBA institutes for whom you are writing a SOP. Mentioning specific and relevant information about the college goes a long way in strengthening your case. Examples include, a particular resource or facility specific to the MBA institute or an eminent professor who is a hero to you. But make sure that these are generic statement about the college. They should not pertain to the salary offered after MBA.

What not to include

We have covered almost every factor that should not be included while writing a statement of purpose for MBA. But the last one is very important. DO NOT CONFUSE A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE WITH A RESUME! The emphasis and all-caps might seem over the top but it is necessary. There are many students that still write a statement of purpose as if it is a resume. Do not repeat the information from your resume.

Now you must have a clear idea on how to write a SOP. To sum-up, if you consider and apply the information given above, your SOP will be alluring and captivating. Additionally, it will leave a lasting impact (the right kind) on the admission committee and will increase your chances of getting accepted.

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What to Do the Day before the GD/PI – Grooming Tips and Other Points

Praqtise — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 07:25:54 +0000

If you are applying for an MBA, you must consider substance as well as style. How you present yourself in the GD/PR influences the outcome significantly. One tends to ignore grooming tips till the last minute. In order to make sure that you do well in these situations, we bring you a few tips and ideas to keep in mind while you prepare.

What to Do the Day Before

Revise the plan!

First of all, you need to make certain that all the preparation you have carried out in terms of studies and reading, among others, is well-retained in your mind. This tip is as vital as any of the grooming tips we have outlined below. It is thus important for you to revise the most basic and certain detail-oriented aspects of your previous studies in order to be able to answer any possible question asked. While a theoretical question may not necessarily come up during the GD, the interviewers may ask one to you during your PI. Hence, it is very important that you keep all this information at the forefront of your knowledge base.

Secondly, it would be excellent if you can keep an eye out for last minute news and developments. The interviewers would not expect great details, rather a basic level of awareness. This would also prevent you from being stumped if such a topic is put for discussion or raised during the interview.

Third, try practising your speech and voice modulation for your GD and interview preparations; since these are usually carried out in English, you need to make sure that you respond only in English, without switching to a vernacular language in between, as we are prone to do. This is one of the most important interview tips you can consider. Usually, practising in front of a mirror tends to help, and during this time you can also keep an eye on your expressions, gestures and posture – all of which are extremely important when it comes to personal evaluation of individuals during such assessments.

Get your gadgets!

Grooming tips are not only about how to dress. It is also extremely vital that you do a final check of the things you need to carry with you as part of your GD and interview preparations. In the former, you would do well to carry your documents along with a notepad and pen, while in case of the latter, make sure all your documents are available in one easily accessible place. It is best to carry a good quality folder in these cases, as your documents would be heavy and would certainly require a proper package of sorts in which to carry them and present them when necessary.

With regards to your documents, you need to have a two-pronged approach. The first step is to arrange them in right order. Your CV should be the first thing they find, followed by the statement of purpose (SOP). Then come the education-based documents, which should start with the most recent one and end with the least recent. Similarly, any work experience related documents should be arranged in the “most-to-least” order in terms of recentness. Secondly, you must also ensure that you carry at least 2 photocopies of your most essential documents. We would, in fact, go as far as to say that your CV and SOP should have at least 5 copies at any point of time.

Your statement of purpose is one of the most essential documents you can carry. Apart from your performance in the GD and your interview skills and background, your SOP shall reflect not only how well-suited to the task you are, but also how much you really want to be able to pursue the course with that specific college.

The kind of folder you might want to consider for your documents

Dress to kill – timeless grooming tips!

Eventually, you must consider how you plan to dress for the assessment. These buy viagra from canada grooming tips might help you through the situation. As it is an MBA GD/PI situation, you can simply stick to a basic formal dress code. This does not necessarily mean a suit, although that might not go far amiss. Men can normally settle for a crisply ironed shirt and tie with well-fitted trousers. Women, on the other hand, seem to have more options. You can wear formal-looking Indian clothes such as a salwaar-kameez or saari, but you could also look highly professional in a pantsuit or shirt with a pair of trousers or a skirt. The colour combination should comprise mainly pastel and subtle shades.

Keep hair away from the face, whatever your gender. Your face needs to be visible at all times and from all angles to the panellists. Pick the right type of shoes. Subtle, formal-looking shoes always work. Accessories, such as jewellery for women and bags for both genders, must be formal-looking and easily accessible.

The colours which are acceptable in these situations. Women can follow the same or similar colour palette.

A Praqtical Look

To conclude, it is important to note that all these grooming tips, interview tips and interview preparation ideas are meant to help enhance your interview skills, as well as your proficiency with the group discussion. If you ignore these aspects, you will feel out of place on the day of the GD/PI. You may end up worrying about your appearance more than the actual GF/PI. It is easy to lose focus on what is important in such situations.

However, there are some unconventional tips we would like to give you. Listen to whatever kind of music that calms your nerves the night before, and set your alarm according to the timings given. You should be well in time for the assessment, and must allow for delay of any kind. Make sure you get enough to eat before leaving, and remember to carry a plain and unobtrusive water bottle. All right, we do not want to sound like a mother hen! But these are the little things that make a big difference.

Well, that’s pretty much it from our side! Do share with us some more ideas of how to spend the day leading to the GD/PI in the comments.

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