Will IIM Lucknow extend CAT 2017 Registration last date from Sep 20? Know the reasons & implications

IIM Lucknow has not announced any extension in the CAT 2017 registration last date which is scheduled to close today on September 20, 2017 at 5PM. Since it is the last day for CAT 2017 registration and is also your last chance to apply to IIM admission 2018, you need to finalize your CAT 2017 registration before 5PM despite all the odds including any technical glitches.

Important CAT links: Must read

• CAT 2017 Registration: Countdown begins - last 2 days to go; 5 key don’ts for error free submission
• Step by Step guide to CAT 2017 Registration & CAT 2017 Application Process
• CAT 2017 Registration guide: How to avoid petty mistakes and successfully submit CAT exam form

CAT aspirants raising query…
On the other hand, CAT 2017 aspirants are raising their query whether there is any possibility of IIM Lucknow extending the CAT 2017 registration last date for few more days. So far the CAT 2017 convener Prof Neeraj Dwivedi, faculty and admission chair at IIM Lucknow, has not responded to this query. Although it is difficult to predict now whether the CAT 2017 registration last date would be extended, the past trends of last few years speak of a different story.

IIMs extended CAT Registration date in past: Last 3 years trends
Going by the last 3 years trends in CAT registration dates, it can be predicted that the CAT 2017 last date to apply can be extended by 4-5 days by IIM Lucknow. In fact, prior to the CAT year 2014, the CAT registration last date was seldom extended.

But, with the take-over of CAT exam by TCS from Prometric in 2014, it has become a yearly practice followed by CAT convening IIMs to extend or reopen the CAT registration for few more days. IIM Indore, the CAT 2014 convener reopened the CAT registration after the last date; IIM Ahmedabad, the CAT 2015 convener extended the CAT last date to apply; IIM Bangalore, the CAT 2016 convener also extended the CAT registration date by 5 days.

Chances of CAT 2017 registration last date extension
It is expected that IIM Lucknow will also follow the last 3 years CAT registration date extension pattern and may announce the extension in CAT 2017 registration date by 4-5 days.

The biggest reason compelling the IIMs to extend the CAT registration last date during last few years, is that thousands of CAT aspirants prefer to register on the last date. 

Going by the trends of previous years, there could be a huge number of CAT 2017 registrations on the last day. This factor would increase the load on the servers, and can potentially impact the server response time. Many candidates, therefore may not be able to complete their CAT 2017 registration by 5PM today on September 20. Such candidates then submit their grievances to the CAT convening IIM, and looking at the genuine problem of technical glitch during CAT 2017 registration process, IIM Lucknow may announce to extend the last date to apply for CAT 2017. In case the CAT 2017 registration last date is extended, candidates are strongly advised to register early and avoid last minute inconvenience.  

Short CAT testing window & no choice: Key reason of last minute rush
Till 2014 CAT exam used to be held in a 15 to 21 days testing window. On each day there would be two sessions in which CAT exam was held. Another facility was to choose the preferred testing slot, test date and test centre. This facility has been discontinued since 2014. Maximum number of CAT aspirants used to register in early days to freeze their testing date, testing slot and testing venue.

Now CAT exam is held in a single day and two sessions. There is no facility to choose your testing slot and test centre.  On the top of it, allotment of CAT testing venue is made after the CAT registration last day is over. Accordingly, CAT aspirants do not much care about completing their registration early but instead wait for the last date of CAT registration.

Although IIMs take all the care to cope with the last day CAT registration rush, the heavy rush on the CAT 2017 registration last day  pose more technical problems due to which even CAT registration has to be suspended. This has happened in CAT 2014 registration when IIM Indore had to reopen the CAT registration after 10 days from the CAT registration last date which was September 30 but the CAT registration was re-opened on October 10 for one day.   

Don’t wait! Finalise your CAT 2017 registration today
In fact, the CAT registration window whenever extended, the thought behind providing this facility is to accede to the candidates’ genuine request and help those who are serious on taking CAT exam and not for the candidates who are always late and are fond of getting into technical glitches at the last moment registration instead of finalizing the things well in time.

It is advisable to complete and finalize your CAT 2017 registration today and keep the following points in mind:

Technical problems - you might face today
Even the CAT 2017 convener would admit that on the last day of registration, there may be technical glitches. Accordingly, you should finalise your CAT 2017 registration early.

• Heavy rush at the last moment pressurizes the server which despite getting updated may begin throwing errors or may crash
• Aspirants may have to wait for long due to longer response time of CAT 2017 server on the last day
• You may get problem in getting your photograph, signature and other documents uploaded on CAT 2017 registration form. The process may take hours or may not be completed.
• Your CAT 2017 registration fee payment may get stuck in transit. Money from your account may be debited but may not reach the destination due to the overloaded server.

Check the CAT 2017 registration site accessibility
Make sure that CAT 2017 registration website is accessible all the time. In the last day rush it is very much possible that the website may not work or you are not able to complete the registration and application process. In such cases you are advised to close the internet browser and try it again. Also, ensure you are using the correct version of the Internet browser recommended:

The CAT 2017 Registration/Application form is best viewed in Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers. IIM Lucknow has advised to preview your application before submission to ensure that all the details are correct.

Try to avoid afternoon hours
IIM Lucknow has already advised to close the CAT 2017 registration at 5PM on September 20. In case the CAT 2017 registration date is not extended, it will close at 5PM today and you may expect heavy rush during afternoon hours as thousands of CAT 2017 aspirants will try to complete their registration during this period only.

Although, it is expected that the CAT 2017 registration even on last date will remain smooth and will function normally, but you never know what could happen on the last day of registration.

A key fact is that the pressure due to CAT 2017 registration rush will begin mounting during afternoon hours and this may cause another difficult situation for those who do not have too much time to register.

It is therefore advisable to register latest by 12 noon today instead of afternoon hours to avoid any unpleasant situation or your money getting stuck in transit.  

The best is therefore to register early and avoid getting trapped in avoidable rush hour in afternoon.

CAT 2017, conducted by IIM Lucknow, is the mandatory exam for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes at 20 IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMI New Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, JBIMS Mumbai, TAPMI Manipal, XIM Bhubaneswar and hundreds of other top B-schools in India. The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2017 will be held on November 26, 2017 in 144 test cities in morning and afternoon sessions. You will be allotted one of the 4 preferred test cities after the last date of CAT 2017 registration is over.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2017 registration

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