MindInsight:- What was your overall strategy for CAT?

Kapil Bohra:-
Strategy is a very subjective thing as it varies from person to person. For me as I knew that I lacked somewhere in VA so I tried to maximize the time allocated to it. Also I tried to maximize my questions attempted in this section. Talking about QA and DI parts, I was confident about my approach. "Confidence" as in getting 90% or more questions correct consistently. I had got all 13 questions in QA correct and in DI had 15 correct out of 17, so you can think about how accurate you should be. You should attempt the section which will take the least time in the beginning.
My distribution for the time for each section was 35, 35 and 60 minutes for QA, DI and VA in the same order. Rest of the time went in analyzing the remaining question which I did not attempt so I don't leave out on any prize. It is one of the most important in CAT that you should have looked into each and every question. My target scores in each of the section was about 40% marks. So, you can decide how many questions are needed to clear the individual and overall cutoffs. Again it will vary from person to person depending upon his abilities.
PS: I tried almost all the possible strategies to attempt in the paper but found this most effective for me.

MindInsight:- How did you manage your time?

Kapil Bohra:-
I did not join any classroom courses (regular or weekends). I enjoyed the weekends in the evenings. I worked on all the other weekdays. So, does this mean no preparation is needed? No, it's not the way it goes. I joined 2 mock CAT test series, used to study on the weekdays in the late hours for 1-2 hours daily. Effectively it was 14-15 pure study every week and analysis of mock CAT tests for 4 months. I didn't jeopardize my job due to CAT as there is luck factors associated in clearing CAT. Again, study was focused on my weak sections. I believe you first get expertise in the strong sections so that you may not need to study in the wee hours and also help you to get the IIM calls.

MindInsight:-Is coaching institute a must for CAT preparation?

Kapil Bohra:-
Not really. I had joined 2 mock CAT test series and looked deeply into them to analyze what else could have been done. These are the integral part of my preparation, in terms of identifying my strengths and weaknesses and fine tuning my strategy. Coaching institute does greatly helps in improving upon speed and also gets one regular in studies.

MindInsight:- What will be your advice to MBA aspirants?

Kapil Bohra:-
Don't waste time in preparations for CAT instead work for the CAT as you would have if it was just a movie. Enjoy it but other things shall be unhindered be it your studies, job or relations. Don't just work hard but work intelligently. Just remember all the efforts over the year just get a vent on one day. Don't panic before D-day, just be calm. Last 2 days to "kuch bhi kaam nahin karna hota hain". Go out, enjoy and be happy. Give in your best shot and world would be yours.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

MindInsight:- What do you think are the three things you did well, that landed you in an IIM?

Kapil Bohra:-
a) Self introspection. Knew my strengths and weaknesses.
b) Good plan to suit my requirements.
c) Just know what you ought to know. If you think about your life span, what kind of questions should you know? Just know them. Please don't bluff in any interview. The interviewer has seen thousands like you and will kick you out.

MindInsight:- How did you prepare for GD/PI?

Kapil Bohra:-
Again I joined 2 GD PI Sessions. Practice helps a lot for GDs. Also they help you to know a lot of facts which would be new. This is the most important part of the preparation and does need a formal and sincere approach. Don't get involved into it too much (I did lose my job for getting involved in a GD with CEO J ). What I mean is that always improve. It does not mean that if your GD didn't go well, you are a loser. There are a lot of other factors involved that decides your performance in the GD.
About PI, I had a set of some 15 questions for which I had written answers. Don't remember them word by word but just know them by heart. Again please no fake answers. Get it revised by people whom you know can improve upon your answers. Again the most clichéd sentence "NOTHING is right and NOTHING is wrong". Your wrong shall not be "totally wrong" from the interviewer's perspective. It is okay if he thinks that though it is the worst thing that you have but it can be improved.

MindInsight:- How helpful is academic background for MBA?

Kapil Bohra:-
It really does not matter. There will be ample time for you to get the edge that others have. It's a matter of 5 days. So the worst case can be that you have started 5 days late.

MindInsight:- How did being at IIM change you?

Kapil Bohra:-
I was at IIT Roorkee and I was like there is no change in me. But when I came out I found that there are a lot of things that are being taught there. Its just that we don't realize. IIT made me an ENGINEER. Engineer in the sense that I was not afraid of anything that comes in my way.
At IIM, you become a MANAGER. So what IIM teaches you is time management for sure. It teaches you to find a better solution than an engineer. Again, by working intelligently and not rigorously. A lot of insights about the people and businesses around us. And definitely a lot of management fundae.

MindInsight:- A few things about Life at IIM ...

Kapil Bohra:-
Life is best at under graduation. So people in colleges, enjoy it as nothing like it. Life is not that bad here as well. We have lots of things. A lot of Parties, Club activities, Trekking, Sports, Birthday bumps (really a lot) , an unending lot of cases and assignments, etc. Definitely a few night outs. Just know that you need to work and manage for yourself. A totally new lingo awaits you here at IIMC. Overall it's a fun place barring 3-4 months where you will lose yourself.

MindInsight:- How much work experience matter in getting an IIM call?

Kapil Bohra:-
It was 5% in IIMB. Almost similar configurations in other places too. So a high percentile with balanced sectional scores and a consistent academic record should still get you a call. People with work experience need a lot of know-how. Fresher's need to brush up their basic education fundaes. So basically there is a disadvantage for experienced people in interviews.

MindInsight:- What do you think about MindInsight.com as a portal for MBA preparation?

Kapil Bohra:-
It's a very unique site, lot of innovative things in the site which will definitely help people to learn things in an easy way. The site is really good for newbie's, to come in and prepare for CAT without much worries.

Thank you Kapil for your wonderful tips which will be helpful for all MiGhts.

Degree	Board	Marks
CBSE-AISSE (Xth)	St. Anne's School, Saraswati Nagar, Jodhpur	79.8%
CBSE-AISSCE (XIIth)	St. Anne's School, Saraswati Nagar, Jodhpur	86.4%(3rd Rank)
B. Tech.	Electrical Engineering,Indian Institute of Technology,Roorkee (IIT ROORKEE)	7.47/10