Hey everyone, I’m a 24M currently unemployed. I have appeared for three UPSC CSE attempts and cleared Prelims this year. Due to some personal reasons, I now need to start earning and am actively looking for a job, possibly in sales, with a monthly salary of ₹25,000 or more.
Alongside my job, I’m considering preparing for CAT, with the aim of securing admission to a good MBA college and eventually getting a job with a package of around ₹15 LPA. I’m flexible about the institute and don’t have a specific college in mind.
My academic profile:
- Class 10: 95%
- Class 12: 94%
- B.Sc. Mathematics: 8.23 CGPA
I have a few questions and would really appreciate advice from people familiar with CAT and MBA admissions:
- CAT vs UPSC Prelims: How competitive is CAT compared to UPSC Prelims in terms of difficulty, competition, and the preparation required?
- Chances of admission: Given my academic profile and background, what are my realistic chances of getting into a good MBA college that offers placement packages of around ₹15 LPA?
- Impact of work experience: If I take up a sales job while preparing for CAT, will it improve my profile, have little impact, or potentially affect my chances of admission? How much weightage do MBA colleges generally give to work experience?
- Preparing alongside a job: Is it realistically possible to prepare for CAT while working a full-time job, especially in a sales role that may involve long or unpredictable working hours?
- Overall strategy: Given my circumstances, would you recommend pursuing CAT while working, and what should I keep in mind while choosing a job?
I understand that CAT results, college selection criteria, and placements depend on several factors. I’m looking for realistic advice about my chances, the colleges I could target, and the best way to approach this transition.