My Tryst with CATs - Part-2!

The Other Day -
My Dad came to Bangalore for Aero India Show in February 2007, and I thought of showing him my company. After I introduced him to my manager, and went on a "office" tour, he asked me if I was happy working here. Believe me folks, this is what I told my Dad then - "Dad, I like being in this company, but can't see much future here, and I want to go for higher studies, perhaps a MBA. I am going to PREPARE for CAT this year."
My Dad that day was really proud of me and my decision!

CAT 2007 -

The next few months after I told the dialogue to my Dad, had been really taxing for me, as I knew I wanted to go for MBA, but was lethargic enough to put an effort for that. I had already given one year break after my 1st attempt in 2005, thinking that I will gain some "industry experience", and then go back studies (little did I knew that work can make a person too lazy to study! Ok, this is another excuse from me!). The same time, my roomie (Siddharth) was preparing really hard for the CAT 2007 as he wanted to move out of the company as well. He's a a real stud when it comes to analytical skills, and I knew he would be going to an IIM the same year. So I followed him, and applied for every damn exam (CAT, XAT, SNAP, JMET, FMS) and every institute in Top-15. Yeah, as I said I "applied". It doesn't mean I put an effort to actually stand worthy of my candidature! I joined TIME test series (got a discount as I was a TIME student 2 years back! Yeah, I somehow found the TIME Mangalore contact!). I went to almost all the test series, however my dismal performances continued. I used to sit with Sidd and see the types of questions he solved in Quants. He used to explain lots of fundas to me, but all of that just whizzed past my head!
Days passed, I knew I was not faring well, and slowly the D-day arrived. I took a good 10 days vacation from office so that I can prepare for the CAT. Well, such intentions can sometimes backfire! I slept almost all the day!
The day and went by. I knew I succumbed in my 2nd attempt at CAT. Rest of the exams were a disaster as well. No hopes from any of them. I need to confess that this 2nd attempt was the most serious attempt from my side, as I always kept thinking after those Mock-CATs different ways to improve on the scores. (Well, I just thought and never acted on that!)

CAT Results came, and I won't give a break-up of the sections.
Overall - 80% tile
Other Exam results were also something like this!
Siddharth got 99.37%tile but then his VA score was less, and thus no IIM calls. He is now in 2nd Year at MDI, Gurgaon.

After this attempt, I realised that some people are not meant to be serious in life. Hard-work(here I mean the time spent in thinking of how to better my score!) for me has never paid off. The enigma of success in CAT eluded me yet again! At the end of the day, I knew I just have to be my stupid self and stop thinking!
That comes to the grand climax. Do watch for the Part-3 :)

Cheers,
KC

My Tryst with CATs - Part-1!

Present Day -
Last few months have been really happening for me! Before I could blink my eyes, so many things have happened! Mostly on the career front! Last few years, I wondered of where life will take me, and the day I joined Sterling, I had this josh in me to change the company. But somehow I started liking this company not for their work, but for the fun part of it! Work has always been good enough to be done well within my capabilities, but then I kept wondering if MBA is within my reach or not. As I look back now at my various attempts, the pattern looks pretty weird!

Not so long ago! -
The year was 2005, my final year in college had started, and we were finding every possible way to hang out! Giving CAT was a show off for many of us there(including me). Many of us filled the CAT form with the sole intention of coming to Bangalore and having a good weekend! I coaxed my brother to fund for the TIME coaching classes, as it happened in our college campus, butI hardly attended the classes! We went there to keep arguing with the lecturers on trivial things of the subjects, it was fun! I sucked at the TIME test series(maximum i got was some 85%tile), but then the attitude I wore was "Who cares!".
First of the 3rd Sundays of November which I faced was a complete disaster. Venue was BMS College of Engineering(Our foes in the cultural fests, but then NITK rocks completely!). I didn't wear a watch, so hardly I checked the time! I always loved the DI section, and I could easily crack it!
Being the son of Mathematics teacher, I should have ideally done well, but I completely lost the fundas of Maths after I came to college!
With the last bell of 2 mins to go, I had just started with English section. Later I realised that I was so engrossed in trying to get the answers of Quants right, I almost spent an eternity in that section!
I came out, and tried to put a sorrowful face in front of my bro, saying him that he didn't buy me a new watch! [:D] Yes, I can find a reason for any outcome!
He told me that I can go back to college, but then I came to have good fun with frenz in Bangalore and that mission I accomplished successfully!
Result of CAT 2005 -
DI - 99.92%tile
Quants - below 60%tile
English - some 55% tile
Overall - 90%tile
Wow!! I was so happy about the DI section. I thought that next 2 years I will crack the other 2 sections, then I will be good in all 3 at the end of 3rd year, which would mean in the 4th attempt, I will have 99%tile+. Well what can I say now about that thought I had in 2006... !
With that, my 1st attempt at CAT was over! And yeah, I was so kind that I didn't take the watch from my brother!
Next blog would be about my 2nd attempt at CAT...!