You are here: Home  »  CAT Prep Tips   »  How I Cracked CAT?   »  Ms. Manisha Bhatia

How I Cracked CAT? - Manisha Bhatia

Name: Manisha Bhatia

My background: B.A. Corporate, Ethiraj College, Chennai. Ist year NMIMS, Mumbai. Planning to specialize in Finance and Marketing.

With just five months left before Dec 9, 2001, I started my preparations. There were two things which were absolutely clear in my mind. This is, what I have always wanted to do and that there was to be only one chance in which I could prove myself.

When I started going for the coaching classes, I felt unsure, vague and even terrified. I was low on self confidence. The entire batch as I saw had a few brain boxes (u recognise those types on sight) and a few people who had attempted these exams earlier and finally people like me. On a deeper observation, I found that everyone was scared like me....the serious ones, I mean. That is what gave me the impetus to work harder. That was where I started having an edge over others. I prepared for topics in advance. I approached the profs who used to take classes with my doubts. That was none the easier with me. I am a shy person and takes a lot for me to approach someone. But above all, I took everything that was told in the class seriously.

I prepared the way I was told. I read newspapers, magazines, novels......anything which could enrich my vocabulary and add on to my knowledge of current affairs. Eventually confidence started to build up. It only made me work harder. Honestly, there is no substitute for hard work. And the results started to show. I was sharper and more observant. Those moments of self doubt still persisted. It was then that I started planning for the mock exams I took. I experimented and planned my stratergies which suited me. Of course, I needed lot of guidance which I got from a lot of sources. There were many people who stood behind me and many people tried to discourage me. But I was optimistic, cause I firmly believed in my goals.

I really mixed up with a lot of fellow students and the faculty as well. Their experiences brought a few things in a better perspective. Also, I made a definite list of my strengths and weaknesses. This act of spelling out my strengths and weaknesses on paper really helped me a lot. And I put my heart and soul in improving thoses weak areas.

I cleared the written tests of MICA, BIM - Trichy, NMIMS and LIBA. During mock GD and interviews, I consulted a lot of people and built a strong plan for myself. This process is one I felt and put me through a series of difficult and some overpowering emotions. But it is the way you deal with them that helps you clear these exams. And of course, singleminded hard work. I got admissions into MICA, LIBA and NMIMS.

I wish all of you success in your pursuit of an MBA.