CAT being a computer-based test might create hiccups in the first 2 years,” feels 99.53 percentiler Sitaram Agarwal

Sitaram Agarwal is a Commerce graduate from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. Sitaram is also pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst program offered by the CFA institute. He is currently a level 2 student of the same. Having appeared for CAT for the second time in 2008, he scored 146 out of 256 which gave him the percentile of 99.53. Sitaram was offered the final admission by IIM A.

Talks to Sitaram Agarwal:

Q:  Which are the institutes that shortlisted you for GD PI and offered you final admissions?
A: I got calls from IIM A, IIM C and IIM K (I didn’t apply anywhere except the IIMs).  I was offered final admission by IIM A.

Q:  Which is the institute that you have decided to take admission, and why?
A: I am joining IIM A, and my decision would have been the same even if I had other options. I believe IIM A will nurture me best – especially their case based pedagogy.

Q:  Which test prep institute did you go to? How did you make the selection? How should CAT 2009 aspirants make this decision?
A: I was based in Kolkata and went to TCC Management Systems. I found this to be the most effective part of the entire preparation – the guidance I got there was the fulcrum of my preparations.  I selected TCC because when I was on a hunt for the best prep courses, I got to see a positive approach there, which was incomparable with any other place that I went to.  For CAT 2009 aspirants, the decision of prep institute should be based on their own judgement – the psychological comfort is really important.  The kind of enthusiasm and individual attention that a prep centre can provide is also important. A lot depends on the amount of effort the candidate is willing to put in. Just the prep course won’t be of help without personal effort and hard work.

Q:  With just over 6 months to go, what is your advice to CAT 2009 aspirants?
A: Given that it is mid May, it’s time now to focus on the basic concepts. CAT tests us on the very basic concepts, and all that is important is how well we can apply those concepts. Also, the practice tests are a crucial part of the overall learning. I would advice at least one test per week, with an in-depth analysis of answers that went wrong, the ones that were right, as well as those skipped. Careful attention must be paid to selection, as that is the key for success, and effective time management.  These tests are to give you a feel of the CAT exam, and one can effectively learn from mistakes made in these tests, and make sure they are not repeated on the final day.

Q:  How should they plan their study on the basis of different sections in the paper and time management?
A: Personally, I had to devote a lot of time on the quantitative part, because that was a bottleneck for me, while verbal was a strong point. One should devote maximum time to the weaker sections to bring them up to an optimal level. Also devote time to develop one extremely strong section. It’s important to develop one strong point – the section which will be the score maximising section for the candidate. A strong study plan is very effective in keeping track of preparations and performance across sections. Aspirants should also devote time and improving reading habits – as they are crucial for success in the verbal section.

Q:  As you are aware, CAT 2009 will be a computer-based test. In your view, how does this change the exam?
A: CAT being a computer based test might create hiccups in the first 2 years, given that students will have to adapt to the new format. The essence of the test will still evaluate your verbal power, conceptual clarity and thinking prowess. So it will be like old wine in a new bottle.

Q:  What is your take on this new format?
A: The new format was a natural step in view of the increasing the number of applicants to the IIMs and the logistical problems it was creating. The IIMs are not yet clear on whether they will be adaptive or non adaptive. We should wait for the official notification to be released before making any comment on it.

Q:  Are you happy that you did not have to appear for this format or you feel that CBT form would have been better for you?
A: Given the fact that I appeared for CAT the second time; I would have been a little sceptical if I would have had to go for the CBT.

Q:  What should aspirants do to adjust to this new format?
A: Candidates should practice more with the CAT-like weekly tests to familiarise themselves with the new environment. Special care must be taken by those who are not appearing for the first time. Since such candidates were used to the old format, the online test might prove to be an uncomfortable battlefield. Also, candidates who are not comfortable with using computers need to develop that ability now, in addition to all other preparations needed for cracking the CAT.

Despite global gloom, all students graduating from IIM-Lucknow get jobs

Despite the global economic meltdown the Indian Institute of Management-Lucknow (IIM-L) managed to find jobs for all its graduating students but with a dip in the salaries and fewer options to choose from, the institute said Saturday.
The public sector units (PSUs), once not the ‘top choice’ for students graduating from one of the premier B-schools in the country, offered placements to a record 65 students.

“Of the 235 students who opted for placements, 65 students were recruited by various PSUs. It’s true PSUs gave us relief when everyone was worried about placements and feeling the heat of the global meltdown,” Sushil Kumar, IIM-L chairman of placements, told reporters.

Fourteen PSUs recruited from the institute, which is highest across all the IIMs. last years only two PSUs visited the campus.

“Stability in the job and pay revisions in the PSUs were the two main reasons for students opting to work with them,” said Kumar.

The PSUs that made the job offers include Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Coal India, Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India.

Out of the graduating batch, 25 students accepted the pre-placement offers extended to them, while seven students chose to start their own ventures, officials said.

Effects of the slowdown were evident in the IIM-L placements. This year there was a decline in the number of offers made by the companies, compared to last year.

“Last year we had 496 offers, but this year there were only 284 offers from different companies. Surely, it was the recession effect,” said Kumar.

“Last year, the international placements were 32. That dipped to 15 this time.”

The international offers came from firms such as Barclays Capital, Frost and Sullivan, Ernst and Young (Middle East) and Alshaya, he added.

In all 150 recruiters participated in the final placements. Of these, 50 companies recruited from IIM-L for the first time. “Though the number of entrants increased, the average requirement per company was fewer this time,” said Kumar.

Companies that visited the campus for the first time included Jaypee Capital, Siva Ventures, Loreal, Tholons Consulting, Virgin Mobile, Religare Securities, Darashaw and Co, Allegro Advisors, Eli-Lily, Jindal Steel, Kellogg, Maersk and Bharti Telesft, officials said.

Significantly, there were several big names missing from the recruitment process.

“Some of the big names that were missing this time included Reliance Industries, Reliance ADAG, Accenture, Ernst and Young (India Division),” added Kumar.

About 40 percent of offers came from the finance sector while 31 percent of the students were got into marketing.

In addition, about 16 percent of the batch accepted consulting offers while the rest took up offers from human resources, general management and operations, he said.

Siva Ventures remained the top recruiter with 21 heads, followed by Jaypee Capital with 14.

The top B-schools in India are facing a dip in the average salary in both domestic and overseas positions offered to the students.

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta reported a drop of 25 percent and 23 percent in their average salaries respectively.

According to a senior official working with IIM, high salaries quoted for the students are inclusive of bonuses which are mainly determined on the basis of the performance of the employee.

“The salary is just a fraction of the offer made by the firm visiting these institutes. And in these hard times the probability of reduction of this variable pay is very high and is resulting in a small pay check for the aspiring students,” said the offici

In IIM admissions this year, focus is on academic records

As the Common Admission Test (CAT) results, out Friday, show, the seven prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) this year have given weightage to the candidate’s performance in school in addition to the scores in the examination.”The general performance has been on expected lines. People who got scores above 130 points have mostly gotten calls. Obviously weightage has been given to academic record also,” Shiv Kumar, director of research, development and academics at Career Launcher, told IANS.

“People who performed well in their Class 10 and 12 board exams evidently got extra points while the calls were being sent from most institutes,” he said.

While in IIM-Ahmedabad, 25 percent weightage was to CAT scores, 33 percent was to academic performance; in Bangalore, the institute attributed 25 percent to CAT, 40 to academics and 10 to work experience.

In IIM-Lucknow, 30 percent weightage was to CAT scores, 15 percent to academics and 10 to work experience, and in Calcutta, the weightage was given purely to CAT scores in the main management course (PGDM), but 25 percent weightage was to academics and work experience for the computer aided management course (PGDCM).

IIM-Kozhikode was an exception, with 50 percent weightage to CAT scores and five percent to work experience.

“While the calling process is transparent in the website of these institutes, the selection process in Indore and Shillong institutes is not clear,” Kumar added.

The CAT is an annual test conducted by the IIMs and is the first step in the process of seeking admission to the 1,800-odd seats in the institutes at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Indore, Kozhikode, Lucknow and Shillong. Besides this year, six new IIMs are due to start.

Around 270,000 aspirants across the nation appeared for the test Nov 16.

The IIMs have implemented a quota for candidates from the Other Backward Castes (OBCs) from this year and have increased their seats.

CAT is considered one of the most important national standards for entrance to management institutes. Apart from the IIMs, over 50 other management institutes use the CAT score for short-listing candidates before filtering their admission with group discussions and personal interviews.

All institutes, barring Ahmedabad and Calcutta, had also made clear how much weightage would be laid on the further selection rounds of group discussions and personal interviews, according to Kumar.

“For students who have received calls from the institutes, the key points for keeping them in the clear would be confidence levels, ability to communicate clearly, knowledge level in subjects and working environment. Aspirants must work with their strengths,” he advised.