MindInsight:- What was your overall strategy for CAT?

Rakesh Nag:-
My strategy was always to start with my strongest section which was Verbal Ability. I was more or less indifferent to DI/LR and QA. But since I found LR a little more time consuming, I attempted DI/LR next and finally QA. I split up the 150 mins as 45 mins, 55 mins, and 50 mins respectively for VA, DI/LR and QA. Of course this strategy was for CAT 2007 which had equal number of questions across the three sections.
The important thing about CAT is not to get stuck on a question for too long and to have at least looked at all questions so that no sitters are missed out. The actual strategy will vary from person to person with regards to order of attempts and time allocation. But I always found it best to start with my strongest section purely in terms of raising my confidence, which helped me give my best in the other sections

MindInsight:- How did you manage your time?

Rakesh Nag:-
This was my second attempt at CAT. After nearly a year of preparation in my final year of engineering, I narrowly missed out on IIM calls. So this time around I was fairly confident that I had it in me to crack CAT. Hence most of my effort was concentrated in the last two months leading up to CAT. I was new into my job and was keen not to let that suffer. Hence the preparation was mostly restricted to weekends. I gave as many mock cats as possible and the weekend was spent analyzing my performance and trying to solve the entire paper. Apart from that, I did take up quite a few mock tests at home as well, to build up speed to maximize my attempts because I had identified speed as one of the weaknesses that I needed to work on. From my first attempt, I also figured out certain topics that I was weaker at, especially in QA. Hence I focussed more on these during preparation to best make use of the limited time I had. Thus smart work is extremely critical for effective time management during CAT preparation.

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

Rakesh Nag:-
Not really. I did attend a one year training program. While it did help marginally, the one thing I really found useful was the large number of mock CATs that was part of the program. These formed the most important part of my preparation, in terms of identifying my strengths and weaknesses and fine tuning my strategy for D-Day. Also the sheer variety and patterns I was exposed to meant that I was prepared for anything and this helped me keep a cool head during the actual CAT.

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

Rakesh Nag:-
Be clear of your reasons for wanting to do an MBA because MBA may not be as enjoyable if big money is your only motivating factor. Once that is clear, focus on preparation for CAT and other entrance exams. Never give up at any stage even if the scores in your mocks are not right up there. A lot of people tend to throw in the towel in the weeks leading up to the exam, make sure that doesn't happen. The key is to keep a cool head during the exam and to make sure you at least attempt everything you know. Also it is necessary to be aware of the happenings around you. So start reading newspapers and magazines to help build your perspective on important issues.

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

Rakesh Nag:-
a) Clear strategy and a cool head on the day of CAT helped me maximize my attempts with a fairly high accuracy.
b) A balanced score across the three sections meant I had almost all the IIM calls.
c) Confidence and an ability to remain calm under pressure during the interview, especially the stress interview at IIMA, ultimately helped me convert the calls.

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

Rakesh Nag:-
I did join the GD/PI classes at a coaching institute. These classes do help you in gaining the much needed practice and confidence as far as GDs are concerned through a large number of mock GDs. The mock interviews conducted were also fairly useful in terms of being able to better articulate my thoughts with poise and confidence. Also these classes are a great place to network with some of your potential batch mates. Ultimately practice makes perfect. The more mock GDs and PIs you are able to give, the better you get at them.

MindInsight:- How helpful is academic background for MBA?

Rakesh Nag:-
Academic background doesn't really play a major role once you are into your MBA. It is true that most people in the top management institutes are engineers. But the MBA curriculum is equally challenging for all students. While the engineers may find the quant oriented courses a lot easier than the non-engineers, the students from a commerce background may find accounting a lot easier than others. Thus there is no major advantage as such being an engineer or otherwise.

MindInsight:- How did being at IIM change you?

Rakesh Nag:-
For one, I have definitely learnt the art of time management though I am yet to perfect it. The hectic life has made me mentally stronger because every day is a new challenge. Also being part of the organization of huge events such as Chaos and Confluence has taught me a lot in terms of people management and handling responsibility

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

Rakesh Nag:-

• It is hectic no doubt. But having made it here, one should be able to manage it just fine.
• Sleep does take a hit. But it is amazing how the body adjusts itself to weird sleep patterns
• Most activities on campus are student run. So there is a lot of scope to take up responsibility in terms of organizing events or running student bodies and clubs
• There are the occasional parties and ramps or dance nights for the dance enthusiasts.
• Sports is big in IIMA, especially football and Frisbee.

So there is a lot of scope at IIMA to enjoy life as well. Though academics are of utmost importance, it's always up to the individual how he balances his activities to get the maximum out of this place.

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

Rakesh Nag:-
As of now only the quantity of work experience is taken into account by the IIMs while giving out calls. While the weightage is still not high enough to give people with work-ex a significant edge, it does help in the interviews as the candidate probably has many more experiences to talk about, and a better understanding of how an organization functions compared to a fresher. Also the quality of work experience comes through only at the interview stage. So a high percentile with balanced sectional scores and a consistent academic record should still get you a call even if you don't have work-ex.

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

Rakesh Nag:-
Mindinsight.com definitely has the potential to become a one stop online preparation centre for MBA aspirants. The look and feel of the site is great and a lot more user friendly than some other similar sites. Also some features such as CAT T20, and Battle of Wits are an interesting way of drilling in the concepts. So keep up the good work!!

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

Degree	Board	Marks
10th	PSBB, Chennai	90.4 % (CBSE)
12th	PSBB, Chennai	91.6% (CBSE)
B.E	Electronics And Communication (VTU), PESIT, Bangalore	81.2%