An Interview with Shivang Sharma (Alumnus at IIM Lucknow, IPMX Programme)

With an NC-OBC category, 85.77 percentile in CAT, a strong 9/9/8 academic profile, and a graduation background in Horticulture, you do have some chances, but they differ significantly between IIM Ahmedabad FABM and IIM Lucknow ABM.

For IIM Ahmedabad – FABM, the institute usually has a very high CAT percentile requirement, even for reserved categories. In recent admission cycles, NC-OBC candidates shortlisted for FABM typically had CAT percentiles closer to 88–92+, along with strong sectionals. Although your academic profile and relevant horticulture background are definite positives, a CAT percentile of 85.77 is on the lower side for IIM Ahmedabad’s FABM shortlisting. Therefore, getting a call from IIMA FABM at this percentile is unlikely, unless there is an exceptionally favorable normalization or sectional performance and cutoffs drop unexpectedly.

On the other hand, IIM Lucknow – ABM is more achievable for your profile. IIM Lucknow gives significant weightage to academic consistency, relevant agricultural background, and category reservation. For NC-OBC candidates, ABM shortlists have historically gone slightly lower than flagship PGP cutoffs, especially for candidates from agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and allied sciences. With 85.77 percentile, a 9/9/8 profile, and a core horticulture degree, you stand a reasonable chance of getting a call from IIM Lucknow ABM, provided you meet sectional cutoffs.

If you do get shortlisted for IIM Lucknow ABM, your final selection will depend heavily on the PI, academic relevance, work exposure (if any), and clarity of career goals in the agri-business domain. Candidates with strong domain understanding often convert ABM calls even at relatively lower CAT percentiles compared to general MBA programs.

In summary, IIM Ahmedabad FABM is unlikely at 85.77 percentile, but IIM Lucknow ABM is a realistic possibility for you as an NC-OBC candidate with a horticulture background. You should also consider applying to other ABM programs like IIM Kashipur (ABM), IIM Sambalpur (ABM), and other agri-focused management institutes, where your profile would be competitively strong.

Hello aspirant,

With a CAT 2025 raw score of 84 and strong sectionals, your expected percentile may fail in the high 98 range , depending on scaling. Your excellent academics and 2 years of work experience strengthen your profile .IIM Lucknow calls are possible but competitive for EWS engineers , while FMS Delhi looks mainly at CAT score and VARC , so you have a reasonable chance there . Final calls depend on cutoffs and composite score.

FOR REFERENCE : https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-cutoff

Hope the details will help you.

THANK YOU

Hello, Getting shortlisted for IIM Lucknow or IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) with your profile is challenging, primarily due to your 58% in Class 10th, which significantly impacts the composite score calculation for both institutes. While your 98 percentile CAT score is excellent, and your 24 months of work experience, B.Com (Hons) background (providing academic diversity, especially for IIM-L), and KVS National player status are valuable additions, top IIMs and IITs heavily weigh consistent academic performance. Your 74% in 12th is also on the lower side. IIM Lucknow places substantial weight on 10th and 12th marks, making a call quite difficult despite your strengths. You likely have a relatively better, though still uncertain, chance at IIT Bombay, as their weighting might be slightly less penalizing for past academics compared to IIM-L, and your high CAT score is a major factor. However, the low 10th score remains a significant hurdle for both prestigious institutions.

I hope you found this information helpful and for study related queries you can ask in careers360 app, Have a great day and!

Hi!

MIT-WPU and IIM Lucknow are quite different institutions offering the MBA programme. While MIT-WPU is a private university offers an MBA through its WPU School of Business, IIM Lucknow is a public institution established by the Government of India, and is recognised as the 'Institute of National Importance' . Getting admission to the MBA programme of IIM Lucknow is comparatively more difficult than getting admission in MIT-WPU .

However, given below are some of the points of differentiation between MIT-WPU and IIM Lucknow based on which you can make a decision:

• Exam Accepted : IIM Lucknow accepts the scores of CAT for its flagship MBA programme while MIT-WPU accepts the scores of various entrance examinations such as CAT, XAT , NMAT, GMAT, PERA, CMAT , MAH-CET, and MAT.
• Selection Process : IIM Lucknow selection process includes appearance in the CAT followed by the Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI) while the selection process of MIT-WPU include appearance in any of the entrance examination followed by Group Discussion (GD)/ Extempore, and Personal Interaction (PI).
• Specialisations Offered : MIT-WPU offers MBA in 11 different specialisations while IIM Lucknow offers only PGP/ PGP ABM/ PGP SM, and MBA Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
• Fees : The annual fees charged by MIT-WPU for its MBA programme is Rs. 4,55,000 while the programme fees for the MBA programme charged by IIM Lucknow is approximately Rs. 20,00,000.
• Placements : The placement opportunities offered at IIM Lucknow is far better than placements at MIT-WPU.

You might consider other factors as well according to your wish. But the conclusion is that IIM Lucknow is better option than MIT-WPU . But you need to score an exceptional percentile in CAT to get admission to the MBA programme offered at IIM Lucknow. On another hand, you might get an Interview call from MIT-WPU even at a lower percentile.

Also Check : CAT 2024 College Predictor

See, your academics are the most problematic things, as with 75%, 87% in schooling (10th and 12th), and 75% in your graduation, you are in quite disadvantageous position. And since you are in B.Sc, you'll be counted in the same bucket as engineers, you you'll get no diversity points as well.

The best thing will be that you re-attempt CAT after getting some work experience, because workex is the only thing which can counter all the negative things in your CV. All the best!