Life after CAT 2014

by Anjali Rameshbabu

It’s that time of the year again. Among other promises, the dawn of a new year brings with it results of the CAT 2014 exam. For some, this brings good news, for others, disappointment. If you are one of the former, congratulations! If you are not, know that you are one of many, it’s not over and there is life after CAT. Last year, we discussed coping with the possibility of a disappointing outcome.  With several applicants taking the exam this year, let’s revisit some of those points.

You may look over the results many times in shock and check for possible printing errors in hope. For sure, this setback brings up sadness, anger, frustration, and worry for the future. Let these emotions visit you briefly, then let go of them. Once you let your negative feelings and thoughts fade, give yourself time to calmly reconsider your options. It may be difficult to look beyond your disappointment at first but be sure that there are indeed many possibilities and you mustn’t give up until you are able to see them.

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One of the first things to do is dismiss the notion that you are alone. Why? Because when you look at the ratio of applicants to the number of top business schools in the country, you will find that the majority of candidates cannot possibly get into those few select schools. I guarantee that you will find at least a few people who share your experience or know someone who does.

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A note to those of you who reattempted the CAT this year. I hope that this year’s attempt has brought better results and wish you much luck in your career path. On the other hand, if you find that your scores haven’t changed much from last year or fell short, your first thought is probably something like “I wasted the entire year!” It’s all right to feel this way; you did after all work hard and deeply hoped for a better performance. However, let’s look at your “wasted year” objectively--not easy at first but try again. Looking back at your past year, what did you gain along the way? Acquired new study skills? Learned better time management? Developed the determination to succeed?  Made new friends and contacts who helped you prepare for the exam? These may not be tangible rewards but they are certainly significant skills for life. Write all of these on paper for you to read and re-read.

 Understand the shortlisting criteria of IIMs

However strong, resist the temptation to equate your CAT score with your potential in the field itself. In the year that you studied hard to take (or retake) the exam, it is very likely that you learned much more about the various aspects of business; apply this knowledge and cultivate fresh perspectives. It is also possible that your preparation time helped sprout some interest in a different field altogether. If so, allow yourself to explore those new possibilities. Ask yourself what other fields interest you, what other job opportunities you can seek, and most importantly, who you can talk to about your next steps. Talk to your family, friends, professors, colleagues, or your seniors with similar experiences. As you push yourself out of this cloud of negativity, you will find that there are many silver linings.

This is also a great time to zoom out of your CAT lens and think about you what your interests are and where your strengths lie. Keep in mind that zooming out means taking several steps back and looking at this scenario from the widest angle possible. What is the CAT exactly? An exam. What purpose does it serve? It helps you get into a good business school. How does attending a top tier business school help? It helps you build a career in business. Now start working backwards. Are all the successful people graduates of IIMs and other top tier schools? No! Can you find other ways to take business courses? Yes! There are numerous credible business schools other than IIM and a variety of courses that you can enroll in.  Can you look into pursuing those alternatives? Yes! So is a high CAT score your only chance at a business career? Certainly not!

 Remember that the CAT is an entrance exam to a business school. It’s not necessarily an entrance to a career in business.

 This exercise could point you to other exciting possibilities. If you have found a growing interest in a different field, does this field hold viable career options? Most likely, yes. If not, continue your search. Ultimately, is your poor CAT score going to prevent you from leading a happy and productive life? You know the answer is a resounding “no”. Once you zoom out of your CAT lens, you will be amazed at how many possibilities are open to you. Again, make sure to reach out to those around you in this journey. They may be initially surprised or even disappointed, but as you continue to think clearly, communicate your thoughts, and share your emotions, you will find that your loved ones will eventually support your decisions. 

A final thought here. CAT, MAT, XAT, JEE, CET.

Isn’t it interesting how much power these labels hold in an exam taker’s mind? If you really look at them, they are just letters! The intent here is not to downplay the importance of entrance exams. The point is not to elevate it to a larger-than-life status. Don’t let a combination of alphabets rule your career choices, your wellbeing, your peace, your hope for the future, and your life.

This is, after all, a fresh year. A poor exam score shouldn’t define the rest of your year. You should. Make this year one of hard work, hope, and positivity.

About the Author

Anjali Rameshbabu holds a Ph.D. with a focus on Health Psychology. Her expertise is in designing interventions to help people adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.