Options After CAT Without Joining IIMs: Exploring Non-IIM B-Schools

Every year, the excitement and pressure of the CAT (Common Admission Test) examinations culminate in the eager anticipation of receiving offers from prestigious institutions. However, what happens if someone gets selected in the CAT exams but does not join any IIMs due to personal reasons?

Exploring Other B-Schools

There are over 1000 colleges and universities in India that accept CAT scores. Therefore, if an individual does not join an IIM, they still have numerous avenues worth exploring. Here is a list of some institutions that offer placements and have achieved impressive success:

SRCC, Delhi: 34.10 LPA (Lac Per Annum) in placement

SPJIMR, Mumbai: 33.02 LPA

IIT Bombay: 28.01 LPA

IFT Delhi: 29.10 LPA

IIT Delhi Gurgaon: 25.82 LPA

IIT Delhi, Ghaziabad: 17.35 LPA

IIT Delhi, New Delhi: 17.01 LPA

These institutions offer a variety of programs and placements that cater to different career aspirations. Each of these colleges has demonstrated strong performance in placements and academic excellence.

Common Reasons for Not Joining IIMs

The decision to not join an IIM can be multifaceted. Here are some of the common reasons why an individual might miss out on this prestigious institution:

-------------- sectional percentiles

-------------- an impressive past record

-------------- in Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI)

-------------- on their past work experiences or projects

Despite these challenges, individuals who have secured CAT scores and did not join IIMs still have numerous opportunities. The key is to explore and leverage your performance in other prestigious institutions.

Real-World Examples

Often, the reasons for not securing a seat at an IIM are rooted in specific sectional scores or interviews. Here are some real-world examples that illustrate this:

Mukesh Goyal: A friend of mine knows someone who got a 100 percentile in CAT 16 and received calls from IIM A and IIM C. However, the individual's verbal ability (VA) percentile was around 85, leading to a VA cut-off at some institutes. Consequently, despite having a perfect score in the other two sections, the candidate did not secure a place at IIM A or C. Instead, he secured admission at FMS.

Avidipta Chakraborty: Another example is Vidyumita Chakraborty, who got a 100 percentile in CAT 16 and wanted a deferred admission to IIM-A after receiving an offer from McKenzie Co. Despite his excellent CAT score, he could not convert the deferred admission from IIM-A but appeared for CAT 17 and still secured a 100 percentile. This highlights the significance of interview performance and the impact it can have on the overall admission process.

While these are extreme cases, they are not unique. You can find many instances on platforms like PagalGuy where candidates with impressive scores still did not secure seats in the top 10 B-schools due to interview selectivity.

It is important to understand that the CAT exam is more about scores, while interviews are highly variable and can be the deciding factor. Nevertheless, a strong CAT score significantly increases the chances of securing a place in a B-school.

Conclusion

If you are reading this, you are likely one of the many individuals who have scored well in the CAT but did not get a seat at an IIM. However, with an impressive CAT score, you still have numerous options available through non-IIM B-schools. The key is to focus on these institutions, continue to improve your skills, and make the most of the opportunities that come your way.