CAT workshop @ IIM-B Vista 07: Hopefuls get advice from toppers

In what IIM-B folks call L-cluster, many CAT hopefuls (or Junta as IIMs like to call them!) have gathered here to listen from the horses mouth people who have got the maximum 100 percentiles in CAT 2006, and made it to IIMs. MBAUniverse.com, the media sponsor of IIM-B Vista 07, sat through the CAT Workshop and later spoke to these 100 percentilers.

Udayan Sarkar and Adithya MR, both 100 percentilers who are pursuing their MBA at IIM-B, started off by saying that there is no one formula for cracking CAT. Candidates should assess their strengths and weaknesses and have a go.

Said Adithya MR, What is important is to have a strategy for CAT. Identify your weakness and strengths and work on them. After taking mocks I knew that I was good at quantitative area. I decided to attempt my best section (quantitative) in the middle. That gave me cushion both ways.

Udayan Sarkar concentrated on highlighting the importance of mock tests. Said Sarkar, With just few weeks to go, take a lot of mocks. That is a good way to improve your chances.

Another IIM-B student Geet Bhanawat, who scored 99.97% in CAT 07, said: Its good to have a strategy but be flexible. It is important to be open and flexible about what one expects in the paper.

When MBAUniverse.com asked IIM-B grads how entrance prep institutes help get into IIMs, Adithya said: Preparation and hard work never hurts. I prepared for 6 months and got here.

The workshop closed with a Q&A where hopefuls asked a range of questions from choosing a particular IIM, to IIMs Vs ISB, to life in a B-school.