Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    “CAT is worth it even if it takes multiple attempts to crack” - Ananda, IIT Bombay

    “CAT is worth it even if it takes multiple attempts to crack” - Ananda, IIT Bombay

    Team Careers360Updated on 05 Apr 2024, 02:41 PM IST

    CAT Topper Interview: Many students choose to pursue an MBA from IITs as they offer great ROI due to their moderate fees and high placements. Pursuing an MBA from IITs not only adds the prestigious IIT tag to your CV but also offers a great campus life and networking opportunity. Here is another exclusive interview with a CAT topper who did his MBA from SJMSOM IIT Bombay. Ananda Roy scored 98.53 percentile in CAT 2020. In this interview, he talks about how the admission process at IIT Bombay is different than other colleges, his CAT preparation journey, mock strategy, and profile building. This article offers excerpts from the interview. Watch the complete conversation by clicking the YouTube link given below.

    “CAT is worth it even if it takes multiple attempts to crack” - Ananda, IIT Bombay
    “CAT is worth it even if it takes multiple attempts to crack” - Ananda, IIT Bombay

    Careers360 - Tell us a little bit about yourself and your profile.

    Ananda - I was born and brought up in Kolkata. After that, I did my B-Tech in Mechanical Engineering from SRM University, Chennai. During my undergraduate days, a lecturer came from Mahindra who was an R&D engineer. He gave us a lecture on how an engine is developed, and how platforms of vehicles are developed. I understood that as an engineer, I can only make the vehicle efficient or I can reduce cost. Ultimately, the decisions of when to launch the vehicle, at what price the vehicle will be launched, and other important decisions are taken by managers and executives. And that is what really drew me to pursue an MBA.

    Check out | When and how to start CAT exam preparation?

    Careers360 - Which MBA entrance exams did you get?

    Ananda - Initially I started preparing for the GRE and one of my friends who was preparing for the CAT Exam suggested me to give CAT as well. So I gave CAT and GRE.

    Careers360 - How much time did you devote to CAT preparation daily?

    Ananda - I devoted almost six to eight hours per day. I did not have a formal job when I was preparing for CAT.So, for CV building I volunteered at an NGO, I did courses on machine learning, economics, and accounting. CV building is very important because you will be asked in interviews about what you did during this time.

    Check out | Crack CAT in 6 months

    Also, Read | Important Topic for CAT

    Careers360 - Would you recommend any books for CAT Preparation?

    Ananda - I bought a book called Sarvesh K. Verma and I finished that book three times for Quant and For LRDI, I started with solving the previous year's question papers and also I took an LRDI booster course from a coaching institution which really helped. As far as VARC is concerned you

    can read essays from Aeon, Medium, Ken, The Economist, The New Yorker magazine, editorials, and some book reviews.

    Check out preparation resources for CAT 2024

    Best books for CAT preparation

    Free VARC Study material

    Free CAT mock tests

    for CAT 24

    Latest CAT exam study material

    Most scoring topics for CAT 100 CAT Quant Facts

    Careers360 - What other interview calls did you get apart from SJMSOM IIT Bombay?

    Ananda - I had calls from MDI Gurgaon and SPJMR. Apart from these, I had IIM CAP calls from all the new IIMs and baby IIMs.I converted MDI Gurgaon and IIT Bombay.

    Careers360 - Why did you choose IIT Bombay over other B-Schools?

    Ananda - Number one would be the batch strength. In IIT Bombay, the batch strength usually hovers around 120 odd people. So during placements, the competing pool of people is really small. The companies offer great roles and salaries. IIT Bombay happens to be one of those B schools that has the philosophy of a tech school offering an MBA. The campus life is very vibrant. There would be some music competitions, some theatres, some art exhibitions, and some workshops happening all the time.

    Check out | Top MBA Colleges in India

    Careers360 - So tell us about the admission process at IIT Bombay. What was the procedure like?

    Ananda - The admission process is really simple. You apply for admission based on your CAT scores and then you get called for a personal interview, which is taken by a panel. So here is the difference between our college and other colleges. The panel is composed of three people. One

    would be an MBA professor, One would be a B.Tech or an M.Tech professor from IIT And the third panelist would be an alum from SJMSOM who has a background similar to the student.

    Careers360 - How is the Academic curriculum at IIT Bombay?

    Ananda - We have case study-based pedagogy. It's no different from any other B school. The academic focus is more on the quantitative analysis of different subjects. So even if it's marketing and it would be more around the analytical aspects of marketing.

    Careers360 - What advice would you give to students who would be giving CAT24?

    Ananda - I will say it's never too late.CAT is very much a crackable exam. I have known people who have leaped by bounds and scored stellar percentiles. Even if multiple attempts are needed, it would still be worth it. I know CAT is becoming harder year by year which is why cracking it is possible only through sheer discipline.


    Also Read | MBA after B.tech

    Also, Check out -

    Must Watch for CAT24

    How to convert IIM Calcutta

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Bschool Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    VITBEE Application Date

    31 Oct'25 - 12 Apr'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    PU MET Application Date

    3 Dec'25 - 28 Mar'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Online MBA
    Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
    Corporate Law
    Via National Law University, New Delhi
    Strategic Management
    Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
    Online BBA
    Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
    Management of Commercial Banking
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    Management of Inventory Systems
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    Udemy
     703 courses
    Edx
     467 courses
    Swayam
     236 courses
    Emeritus
     231 courses
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe
    University of Essex, Colchester
    Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
    Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
    Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
    Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
    Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
    Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
    Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
    University of Reading, Reading
    Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
    Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
    The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

    Questions related to CAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CAT ?

    FMS Udaipur admission for 2026 is not open. The MBA 2026 admission will likely commence in May 2026. You can keep checking the official website of FMS.

    Hi admission to the courses offered at CUSAT is based on the CUSAT CAT results, relative performnace of the students and the number of applications for each course. Please check CUSAT CAT cutoff 2025 to know in detail about the cutoff score for Electrical and Electronic branch in previous years.

    Yes, it is possible. If you have received a PI call from IIM Sambalpur with a 75 percentile in CAT, you have a chance to convert the call. However, the final selection will depend on multiple factors such as your personal interview performance, academic record, and overall profile.

    All the