How this Biotech Grad is Adding Diversity to IIFT Classroom: CAT Topper Interview ft. Pushti Shah

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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