Dear all,
This time I am bringing something very different for all of you. This is especially for those who tried to prepare last year for CAT 2009 but somehow could not. This is also for those who have started their preparation and are facing difficulties in adjusting their preparation into daily routine. This is also for those who want to give up their preparations.
This is how one of my students started preparing for CAT and what all challenges/problems came his way. This will also tell you how he tackled those challenges. This article will also act as a time manager for you.
I have written this article keeping myself in his shoes. So now on where ever you read ‘I’ it’s he actually. He does not want his name to be mentioned here and his friends call him ‘Quiz Master’. So I will also call him Quiz Master.
I am calling this article ‘My Life, My Journey, My CAT preparation’
Enjoy reading it.
Vaibhav K Mittal
CEO – Zion Education Services
‘My Life, My Journey, My CAT preparation’
Majority of us want to live life to the fullest; best job or business, beautiful house, luxurious car, great family and be able to travel to places of our dreams. I was no different when I started working. Being a fresh graduate from an engineering college, I thought that I would take the whole world in my hands. But soon I realized that it was not easy to grow in an organization. Time and again you have to proof your worth to your managers in order to excel. This is when I started to observe my managers to learn from them and be like them. After a few discussions the fact came out that they all had a vast experience of at least 5-7 years before coming to this role. The other fact that also came out was that those who did a post-graduation in finance or with an MBA degree from a reputed institute got placed as managers earlier than those who were just graduates.
This is when I decided to prepare for CAT and pursue MBA; after all it was shortcut to becoming a Manager!! Shortcut? You may ask!! There is no shortcut to success. Yes, everyone knows there is no shortcut to success but doing an MBA from a prestigious college is no shortcut. It requires great hard work pre and post admission into these colleges.
When I started preparing for entrance exams, I faced another challenge. I was almost out of my home for 13 hours working and traveling to work. Coming back from office I was left with no energy to study. However the words of one of my school teacher echoed in my mind who said “We would spend endless number of hours searching for the Gucci T-shirt that SRK wore in DDLJ even on a hot summer day but we would not study in the comfort of our home knowing that one day it will help us earn enough to afford that same T-shirt and many more things”.
This, indeed, is a fact that most of us achieve what we want to if we are passionate about it.
Since I was passionate about preparing for MBA entrance and getting in a good B-school, I started analyzing my time and the way I can utilize it to the maximum.
There after my mornings would start with a prayer and then a quick walk to the park. I prepared cards with word meanings, its synonyms and antonyms, and would read them while having my breakfast. Since I used to travel to office in a company bus, I carried a newspaper and the cards I prepared for vocab, and read both during the journey to office. For those of you who drive yourself to office; you can download some Mark Gorman motivational lessons or David Swartz’s ‘Magic of Thinking Big’ audio-book and play them either in your mobile or your car’s CD player. This would keep you motivated throughout the day. I used to listen to them while coming back from office as there was not enough light to read during my evening journey back home.
Once I was home, I did not waste much time and focused on the main topics of mathematics, data interpretation/sufficiency, logical reasoning and verbal ability. I spent on an average 2 hours a day studying these subjects. I tried studying both Maths and English on a daily basis but on occasions I would study them on alternate days.
Since I was regular with Maths, DI/DS and LR and English including grammar, RC and vocabulary; the only thing that was left was my business aptitude. Since partially it was taken care off by the newspaper readings, to get the complete insight of the business arena I subscribed myself in Business Today Magazine.
During the weekends I would read books of renowned authors, revised the topics I studied during the week and solved some crossword-puzzles and sudoku. These puzzles are important for your mental abilities.
As most management entrance exams test a person’s time management skills; I had to test mine before the D-day. A mock-CAT series is what helped me in trying different strategies for the main exam.
I am sure that this experience of mine will help you in your preparation for CAT exam. I know that people get nervous by just thinking about the exam. All I would like to mention before I sign off is a thought that someone shared with me:
‘It doesn’t matter where and who you are, all that matters is where and who you want to be’.
Courtesy: Quiz Master.
Similar Posts:
- None Found
Sir i wanna know abt “”Mark Gorman motivational lessons and David Swartz’s ‘Magic of Thinking Big’ audio-book”", Sir how to prepare mathematics i.e basics, data interpretation/sufficiency, logical reasoning and verbal ability i.e Grammar, RC and Vocab., What is the difference between fiction and non-fiction, which one u prefer to read?, and how to solve crossword-puzzles and sudoku, Is there any link available for motivational lessons and solve puzzles?
i did BSc in Information technology and thinking to prepare for CAT exam,
Hi.
Sorry for being late. I will post your answers within 2 days.
VM
Hi Sir,
We are still waiting for the answers….
Avi
I have given you links of the videos in a separate scrap.
Answering your other questions: Please see my article ‘Everything about MBA entrance exams # 2′ on mbatutes. And follow the series there on.
That series will answer all your questions. If any question left then also then let me know
All the Best
Vaibhav Mittal
Sir,
Very well written and said. I have same story and you know today I am IIM A pass out. Following your tips helps a lot. I thank god for I came under your guidance.
I always tell my fellow juniors at DCE to come under your guidance to clear CAT. I by chance found your articles, while searching you as my juniors were asking for your number.
From what this article says I can make out that this is you only who use to teach me in IMS. Sir, I want your number so that I can pass on the same to my DCE juniors. I hope you don’t mind. Kindly send me the same. My No. is same from which I use to call.
Regards
Rajat
Sir,
I want to know where is your institute located. I have read most of your articles and after reading today’s article I feel if you can make this guy work in such a nice way then you can make me also work in such an organised way.
I have written last 2 CATs but got pathetic percentile. In 2008, I joined IMS because I heard your name and wanted to be taught by you. But I was unfortunate. And other teacher were …I dont want to say. Thn in 2009 i joined CL, there teachers were worse, most of fresh Engineers or MBAs.
Now that I have found you please tell me how can I contact you.
By the way above article really touched my soul.
Warm regards
Anupama
hii,
Hey Anupama I am Vaibhav’s sir student .. he has opened his own inst [ZION EDUCATION]. To meet sir u can come to Edunext Hudson Lane Kingsway Camp [north campus]. I thnk he is the best teacher fr CAT preparations…. Do come n meet him if u want to take admssion in best B- school…..
Regards
Aditi
Aditi.
Thanks a lot. Can U give me his number or address or website adress.
Thanks a lot again.
Anupama
Hi,
Ur welcome… fr knowing more details visit to “zioneducationonline.com”.
Regards
Aditi
Hey Hi Aditi…..
Dear, If Possible can u give the address of the institue…..
Ajay
ans. my queries……Sir
Adi
Following Links will surely help you.
Mark Gorman: https://www.markgorman.com/home.htm
On the above link you will be able to listen audio clippings. If you subcribe you may get a mp3 sent to you on your email. Otherwise all the mp3s have to be purchased.
For David Schwartz audiobook…you will have to purchase it online
All the Best
Vaibhav Mittal
sir! really CAT is a big challenge. sir i like ur article very much it is full of conation…sir i need ur help for making a time management for my cat study. my exam is on 24 nov. and i hav completed math and l.r.
but i mvery weak in english…
Ankit
Please talk to Bhuvnesh @ 9990709663. He will help you with a schedule for English.
Bye
V K M
Hi Sir,
Where can i find your CAT videos?
You can find Vaibhav’s video either at ourYoutube Channel: Youtube.com/MBAtutes
or in our Videos section. Click the videos category in the menu bar on top of this page.
Hi,
Thanks for the reply Gaurav.
I found the videos highly useful.
Is ther any other videos available?.I mean videos on other chapters.
Thanks
Rasi
they are still in the making…..
When I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any manner you possibly can take away me from that service? Thanks!