CAT 2014 aspirants, involved sincerely in their preparation have some genuine query whether their decision to drop one year while preparing for CAT stands on merits.
‘I am a working professional and don’t get time to prepare well, how would I justify the drop year without job’ or ‘I have just completed my B tech, should I remain jobless for one year, wouldn’t that affect my MBA 2015 admission prospects adversely’, these are few of the many queries that MBAUniverse.com has regularly been receiving from the CAT 2014 aspirants, engaged in serious preparation of CAT 2014 to get into one of the IIMs or other top B school in 2015.
To a great extent the apprehension of the candidates is true since the weightage in short listing and grilling questions in PI round can create obstacles in getting the aspirant included in the final admission list. So while you are right in your thought, there could be number of ways and means that would not only save you from the embarrassing situation of joblessness but also make you eligible for getting awarded with some bonus points.
You can very well utilise the drop year and can earn the appreciation of panellists in PI round too, if you follow 5 below advised simple but to do acts by MBAUniverse.com
6 months of work ex: No weightage
Know the very first thing that FMS Delhi which accepts only CAT score, awards no weightage to any work experience. Also bust another myth related to IIMs as they also do not award any weightage for work experience of less than 6 months and the points are barely 2-3 for work experience beyond 5 years. Those who have worked for more than 2 years or less than 3 years are in the maximum weightage slot of 5-10 points. Find out first, where do you stand?
There is no point in working till January for 6 months or less and if you have already worked for 2 years or so, you may opt for a drop year. If you are a fresher and passed out in 2014 your time will begin from the declaration of result date which is usually in the second quarter or middle of the year. You are well aware that CAT is conducted in the month of October and the gap between the declaration of your graduation result and CAT is not more than 4-5 months. You may not earn any weightage based on work experience in your PI round at least for the CAT exam immediately succeeding your graduation. It is better to throw away this fear of losing your points in CAT short listing.
Be associated with social cause; an NGO
No job; no work ex - no problem, you can do better than many with work experience. Join an NGO, experience it, share the cause, devote some time to it, associate and involve yourself with it. This will give you an edge over many. The advice however is not without a pinch of warning ‘beware of doing anything for window dressing in final admission round of CAT.’
You may have participated in extra-curricular activities, sports and have earned certificates and trophies during your academics. But when it comes to your non profit working, getting associated to an NGO, you are no longer serious and always think of something easy to come your way like doing some charity, distributing food or gifts to poor and orphans. This wouldn’t help add anything fruitful to your personal data form, please note.
On the other hand it could be rated superficial and eyes wash only. You may no longer be your natural self but a person trying to project a fake image different from your real profile. Avoid it.
It’s high time now to utilise it with some serious thought. Instead of going for non profit exposure and going for some social cause at the eleventh hour why shouldn’t you begin now, if you really wish to be appreciated and awarded in final admission round of IIMs. The substantial amount of work with an NGO will enable you to respond to variable questions like ‘why did you join an NGO why didn’t you go for some job?’; ‘Are you not wasting your time by doing such activities?’; ‘Do you think you will achieve the goal by joining the NGO?’ and many more questions could be there. If you have really worked, you will be able to answer and convince the panellists else the implications can prove to be a disaster in your PI round.
NGOs like ‘Teach for India’, ‘SWEED’, Social Action for Manpower creation’ ‘Protsahan’, ‘National Society for Equal Opportunities for the Handicapped’ ‘PFA’, ‘Greenpeace’ and many others concerned with concurrent issues and where you can polish your skills by devoting a limited time frame and gaining more by working with dedication, will be better to join immediately after your graduation.
Working with NGO is volunteering and it acts as a rich experience to fill gaps in the work experience.
Get richer in skill: Join on-line courses
There are many online courses called Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) which are rich in learning and are offered free of charge by reputed international colleges and universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford University, University of Michigan. Inspired by Khan University these MOOC provide good learning experience and will prove to be full utilization of your time while preparing for CAT and thereafter. These courses are hundreds in number and provide learning on topics from ‘how to learn writing’ to ‘Project management’. Almost all the key areas in fine arts, humanities, science, economics, business, management, social studies are covered by MOOCs. It depends upon your interest what you would like to study. You will learn, effectively utilize your time and can proudly add it to your CV in PI round.
Join as a faculty at a good coaching
Wouldn’t it be a good idea to join a coaching institute as a faculty to enhance your skills? You will get double benefit while your preparation will get shot in the arm, you will get some financial assistance also while preparing for CAT exam. When you find the tips and tricks to solve the innovative queries in the class, it is not going to help only your students but you also. It’s therefore a novel idea to find a place as faculty of the subject you can exercise good command on. You and your class both will improve with mutual sharing of knowledge.
Be a free lancer
Why to join anywhere? You may have good photography skills, writing skills, communicating and co-ordinating skills, innovative ideas-use them, polish them during the period you are preparing for CAT. You may write for newspapers, journals; you may send your photographs for publication, your innovations could be a treasure for others; your painting may give you new ideas. So while you prepare, try to go along with your hobby. It will relieve the CAT pressure. No one can study round the clock on the same pattern, everybody needs a break, utilize it to further augment your skill. Samples and examples of the same can form the part of personal data form for PI round.
Under no circumstances should you waste the 5-6 months doing nothing. What is shared above would help you in final admission round of top B schools. So drive away the negative ideas and allow the positive ones to set it. The weightage of doing something different from others when reflected in your personal data form, will help you build more confidence and will carry you through the final admission round of IIMs.
MBAUniverse.com offers a comprehensive preparation package coupled with over 200 online interactive classes with Top CAT experts including from IIMs for CAT 2014 preparation. Visit the link below for more information and new batch schedules: http://www.mbauniverse.com/cat_preparation_online.html
Also Read:
Don't take MBA admission in 2014 if..,
5 inspirational tips to CAT 2014 aspirants; how to reach the destination
Modi government promises to open 16 New IIMs: Good or Bad?
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