Make Your Own Way to an Iim

MAKE YOUR OWN WAY TO AN IIM

Common Aptitude Test (CAT) has now become a metaphor for success in the great minds of India in the recent times. Some are really passionate and some consider MBA as a three letter word - a gateway for a seven figure annual package. With new phrases like "Crack CAT", "Bell the CAT" the aspirants take CAT informally and become wannabes and what they forget is that the nation needs them. A 90+ percentile is a Cat's meow for the future managers. What the wannabes are reluctant to realize is, the IIMs want to give opportunity to the serious aspirants.

The future managers of the country, once hearing the Cat's meow go demented in getting the ticket to the IIMs. The public forums and social networking sites are now flooded with these desperate wannabes and aspirants. The best part is the knowledge sharing in these forums and sites. There is a flipside for this coin though. As you all know, each IIM has a unique way to select its pupils. The grievances by people in these forums, who could not make it through to the next stage disturb the pool and disrupt constructive discussion.

One should clearly understand that mere diligence proved by a high CAT percentile doesn't really facilitate the way up to an IIM. It's the ability which matters too. An IIM actually check both these aspects (diligence and ability) and need entrants to be prospective managers. A prospective manager is not the one, who is merely inspired by captivating verbal expressions like leadership, soft-skills (considered to be - all in one pot) but he/she should really contain qualities like knowledge, commitment, versatility and should be able to bring out opinions in a creative and concise manner.

CAT is just a life jacket which brings you to the surface making you visible to an IIM. It is you who should swim to the bank of an IIM. The water is so turbulent that, there is a survival of the fittest situation. Most high scorers are great minds and achievers and what matters to get to the next level (a ticket to an IIM) is the differentiation which you project about yourself in the WAT/GD & PI rounds. The REAL RACE starts from here.

A word of wisdom to the aspirants is "know what you speak". One should do extensive introspection on what they really want to do with a MBA, what is the career they contemplate and define the way to go. Most people need mentors for introspection and clarity of thought. What one forgets is an external mentor (may be a senior from an IIM) can just guide through the process and help you in the "HOW" aspect of it and not the "WHAT" aspect. So, future managers, think extensively. Put in a lot of thought process. It is discernible that, at this age one needs a guide. Discuss your concerns with your mother as she is the best mentor you could ever get. If you cannot explain things to her and analyze her