Great Lakes PGPM & PGDM 2025
ApplyAdmissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
In an exclusive CAT topper interview with Careers360, Pushti Shah who is currently studying MBA from IIFT Delhi shared her strategy to crack CAT and about her life at IIFT. She scored 98.38%ile in CAT 22 and 99.87%ile in MAH MBA CET. She talked about her CAT preparation journey, CAT mock test strategy, IIM CAP interview experience, and profile building. This article offers excerpts from the interview. Watch the complete conversation by clicking the YouTube link given below.
Careers360 - Tell us a little bit about yourself and your profile?
Pushti - I am a BSc Biotechnology graduate from Mithibai College in Mumbai,presently I am pursuing MBA from IIFT Delhi. I was a science student in 10th and 12th standard.
Check out | All About IIFT
Careers360 - Why you decided to pursue MBA?
Pushti - During the second year of my college, the lockdown set in and we were confined to our homes.I had always been a stationary and an art nerd. So I got out all my sketchbooks.I decided to stitch a journal on my own.Eventually I started selling journaling stationery.The word spread in our closer circles and orders started pouring in. I thought that this was a good business opportunity and eventually I decided to scale up by importing journaling supplies from the Philippines and Malaysia.I started conducting workshops online. And during the course of that, I realised that business is something that I was really interested in.So I decided to pursue MBA.
Also Read | MBA after BSc
Careers360 - Apart from CAT, what other MBA entrance exams did you give?
Pushti - So the first exam that I decided to take was NMAT. I took it two weeks prior to CAT. CAT for me was one of my most important exams.So on the 13th of November, I took my NMAT. My score in NMAT was 237, and I did convert the call for NMIMS Mumbai. But eventually, when I got calls from other colleges, I decided to switch over.Apart from these I also gave IIFT, XAT and MAH MBA CET.
Check out | Crack CAT in 6 months
Careers360 - When did you start your CAT preparation?
Pushti - I had roughly four to five months of preparation before I sat for my first entrance test.My goal was to finish the CAT Syllabus as soon as possible. In the first two to three months of my preparation journey, I solely focused on ensuring that my basics were strong. There was no particular strategy that I had in mind, except for one thing that is start taking walks from day one. So I had enrolled for offline coaching at IMS since a couple of subjects were new to me and I would require help, especially since time was not really on my side.
Careers360 - When did you start giving CAT Mocks?
Pushti - I started taking the CAT mocks from day one. I remember the first mock that I took, I had around 30 to 40 percentile overall, because I hardly knew that was the first time I was seeing a DILR question. But the key was to not get demotivated, just keep at it. One mock a week since the start of my preparation journey, I think that made a world of difference.
Check out | Practice CAT Mocks for free
Careers360 - Would you recommend any books for CAT Preparation?
Pushti - More than the books I think CAT past year's question papers.I must have taken 21 to 22 mocks and past year question papers up till 2016 or 2017.Past year's question papers are a great resource to tell you the level of difficulty of the questions that you can expect in actual CAT Exam.
Check out preparation resources for NMAT and CAT 2024
Careers360 - Why IIFT over other B-schools?
Pushti - Trade always fascinated me. Now that you think about a globalised world, there is no such thing as a domestic business. Every startup is looking to be a unicorn, be transnational, and be global. So it really blurs those lines. IIFT offers a pedagogy which is more focused on trade and international business.So, I preferred IIFT over any other college.
Check out | Top MBA Colleges in India
Careers360 - What are some of the mistakes that one should avoid during CAT 24 preparation?
Pushti - One mistake I think all aspirants are prone to is that the closer the exam gets, the more frantic you get. You have to keep faith in yourself and strengthen all the concepts that you have already done.
Full version of CAT Topper’s Interview: Pushti from IIFT Delhi shares her tips and tricks to crack CAT 24
Check out this video to watch the complete conversation.
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Hello,
Here are important points regarding your query :-
Hope it helps !
Hi,
Based on the previous year analysis, According to your CAT 2024 percentile some of the colleges in which you have chances to get a seat includes:
You can predict more colleges using the CLAT 2024 college predictor tool .
Hope this information will help you
Hello Greetings
With a CAT 2024 percentile of 68.28%, you may face a challenging time getting into IIT Delhi, as their cutoffs are typically higher. However, being an SC female student, you may be eligible for relaxation in the cutoff criteria .
To give you a better idea, here are some general CAT cutoff percentiles for IITs and other top B-schools:
- *IIT Delhi*: Typically above 90 percentile for general category students.
- *Newer IIMs*: Such as IIM Vishakapatnam, IIM Shillong, and IIM Udaipur, may have lower cutoffs, around 80-90 percentile.
- *Other top B-schools*: Like IMT Ghaziabad, XIM Bhubaneswar, and TAPMI, may also consider students with lower percentiles.
It's essential to note that CAT cutoffs can vary from year to year, and other factors like your academic background, work experience, and performance in the personal interview (PI) and written ability test (WAT) also play a significant role in the admission process.
To explore more options and predict your chances of getting into various colleges, you can use online CAT college predictor tools .
Have a great day
Hello Greetings
Considering your 82.58 percentile in CAT and 22 months of industry experience in IT and Financial analysis, you have several options for General Management PGDM or PGPM programs.
*Decent Colleges Accepting Low CAT Percentile:*
- _SPJIMR_: Offers PGDM and PGPM programs, accepting CAT scores, with a minimum eligibility criterion of 50% aggregate in graduation ¹ ².
- _SOIL_: Provides PGPM and PGDM programs, considering CAT scores, with a focus on experiential learning ³.
- Other institutes like _IMT Ghaziabad_, _XIMB_, and _IRMA_ might also accept candidates with lower CAT percentiles, but this may vary depending on the program and intake.
*Key Factors to Consider:*
- _Work Experience_: With 22 months of experience, you might be eligible for PGPM programs, which typically require more work experience than PGDM programs ¹.
- _Career Gap_: Explain your career gap effectively in your application, highlighting any relevant activities or skills gained during that period.
- _Profile-Based Selection_: Some institutes consider profiles, including work experience, academic background, and extracurricular activities, in addition to CAT scores ¹.
*Next Steps:*
1. Research the institutes mentioned above and their programs.
2. Review the eligibility criteria, admission process, and fees for each program.
3. Prepare your application, ensuring you effectively communicate your strengths, work experience, and career goals.
4. Be prepared for interviews, focusing on your profile, experience, and motivation for pursuing a PGDM or PGPM program.
Remember, a lower CAT percentile doesn't necessarily limit your options. Focus on showcasing your strengths, experience, and fit with the program to increase your chances of admission.
Have a great day
Hi Gaurav,
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted annually in India for admission into MBA/PGDM programs at prestigious institutions like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools.
For registering for CAT 2025, you can follow the given steps:
For more recent details, you can check out the given link.
Best wishes!
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