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27-Year-Old with Work Gap and Experience: Should I Go for CAT and MBA?

Patrick

Patrick Dsouza  |1288 Answers  |Ask -

CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on Mar 28, 2025

Patrick Dsouza is the founder of Patrick100.
Along with his wife, Rochelle, he trains students for competitive management entrance exams such as the Common Admission Test, the Xavier Aptitude Test, Common Management Admission Test and the Common Entrance Test.
They also train students for group discussions and interviews.
Patrick has scored in the 100 percentile six times in CAT. He achieved the first rank in XAT twice, in CET thrice and once in the Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test.
Apart from coaching students for MBA exams, Patrick and Rochelle have trained aspirants from the IIMs, the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and the S P Jain Institute of Management Studies and Research for campus placements.
Patrick has been a panellist on the group discussion and panel interview rounds for some of the top management colleges in Mumbai.
He has graduated in mechanical engineering from the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad. He has completed his masters in management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Feb 27, 2025Hindi
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I am 27 years old. I want to prepare for CAT and try for MBA in one of the top mba colleges. I have 1.5 years work gap and 1.8 years work ex. I am really confused between trying and improving in IT sector (tier 3 engg grad) or try for mba. I am jobless right now. Please help.

Ans: If you are interested in IT field then look for opportunities in that field by doing courses that are job relevant. Simultaneously can start preparing for MBA entrance exams. But it is recommended that you prepare for MBA entrance while working as you already have a gap.
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Patrick

Patrick Dsouza  |1288 Answers  |Ask -

CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on May 16, 2024

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Hello Sir..i m 33 yr engineer mommy to 2.5 yr daughter..want to do an MBA from tier 1 college. After graduating i was lecturer in engineering colg hv 2 years of experience n after that working in govt Bank from past 7 years. Gave CAT twice but time constraint n toddler was not able to crack.last year got finalised for NMIMS hyderabad but dint took admission as away from mumbai n not that great bschool.going to give cat this year as ladt chance but i m very very confused n stressed that should i go for it or not, m having age barrier ,a growing kid,offc n home work pressure, managing all this i could hardly make time of 2/3 hrs to study with low energy..i thought of executive mba but was thinking doin executive taking so much risk wil actually land me where? Also as d growing age n 9-5 job health hampers sometimes with backaches n end of day i think that is my decision really worthy,shud i really go fr it or settle wid what i hv, in short m trying to jump from comfort zone to competitive world where i il b having colleages 10 yrs younger n smarter than me..but i get a kick wn i c womens sparking high.can u plz guide me sir taking my decision?
Ans: I believe instead of looking for 2 year full time MBA course, try for Executive MBA course from some of the top IIMs or XLRI or ISB. You would have to write the GMAT which requires less amount of preparation as compared to CAT. Minimum work experience required for doing Executive MBA is around 5 years. So the others would also be of similar age.

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Patrick

Patrick Dsouza  |1288 Answers  |Ask -

CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on Jun 11, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 10, 2025
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Hi I joined Wipro in 2019 just after my graduation through campus placement. From then I had in my mind that I will do an MBA from a good college. as I thought I will be better in non technical things and management roles. I was not an IT guy at heart. Just an average guy with 6.62 CGPA from Amity University. I was in 3 projects in Wipro. 1st was incident management, 2nd was Application Testing(Automation tester) and 3rd was Big Data development. (Big Data Developer) I wanted to leave wipro after 3 years but my family members told me not to do so and keep trying for a good project in the organisation. Everyone advised me not to leave the organization or search for another IT job. I tried but did not get a good project in Wipro. I also tried for post of Data Developer in other companies but was not able to do so. Then I left Wipro in June, 2023 so that I can crack CAT in November 2023. I also joined coaching for the same. BUT was able to score only 49 % in CAT and 79% in XAT. Again I tried again in Cat 2024. This time i was doing self study only for CAT. Meanwhile i was also asked by my family to prepare for government bank exams. I also joined MAHENDRAS for that. My brothers marriage was scheduled in the month of November. I was able to score 88.69% in CAT 2024 and 61% in XAT. Should I give another try for CAT because i think I can still crack more than 99%. I know it. and also they are many 28yrs + people at IIMs OR am I too old for MBA and should not try more?? Year of birth - 1997. 10th -89.33%(2013) 12th-83.00%(2015) Grad- 6.62 CGPA (2015-2019,Btech CSE) Exp-3 yrs 10 months in WIPRO( July 2019 to June 2023) Kindly guide me in this matter. I am a little bit confused .
Ans: If you have not got admission to a good college you can give another attempt. I had a student this year who passed his graduation in 2018 and had work ex of 2 years and gap of 4 years - managed to get into top 8 IIMs with a 97%ile. But it is recommended to write CAT exam while doing a job as you already have 2 years of gap.

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I have got 3064 rank in srmjee phase 3, and i opted for cse with software engineering in ktr campus. I just wanted to know that will i get the opted branch and college or if not will my chance to alppy for any other be closed?
Ans: Ishaan, With a SRMJEEE rank of 3064 in Phase 3, securing CSE with Software Engineering specialization at SRM KTR campus is challenging but not impossible. The expected cutoff for CSE at KTR typically ranges from 2000-5000 ranks, with specializations like Software Engineering often having slightly higher cutoffs than core CSE. Your rank falls within the borderline range, making admission dependent on seat availability and choice filling strategy. The institute maintains NAAC A++ accreditation with modern AI/ML labs, dedicated cybersecurity facilities, and strong industry partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Over 900 companies participate in campus placements with 80-90% placement consistency, and the Career Centre provides comprehensive pre-placement training and aptitude development. SRMJEEE counselling operates through online choice filling until July 12, 2025, with seat allotment results on July 15, and importantly, participation in Phase 3 counselling does not close opportunities for alternative options—you can explore other campuses like Ramapuram or Vadapalani which accept ranks up to 65,000 for CSE programs.

Recommendation: Actively participate in Phase 3 choice filling with CSE Software Engineering at KTR as first preference while including backup options like CSE at Ramapuram campus and other SRM campuses. The counselling process allows multiple rounds and alternative choices, ensuring you maintain admission opportunities even if your primary choice is not immediately available. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8658 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

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Sir please tell which one is better for Btech CSE Program Pimpri Chinchwad University Pune , BIT Mesra Jaipur off Campus or JK Laxmipath University Jaipur
Ans: Bhavya, is this your 2nd or 3rd question today? Pimpri Chinchwad University’s B.Tech CSE programme, governed by AICTE, UGC and ABET-aligned NBA criteria, delivers an NEP-2020 outcome-based curriculum with strong emphasis on AI, cybersecurity and software engineering, supported by state-of-the-art labs, live industry projects in Pune’s tech corridor, a 10-acre residential campus and an active placement cell forging ties with Infosys, TCS and Cognizant. BIT Mesra Jaipur Off-Campus operates under BIT Mesra’s academic umbrella, following identical curriculum, faculty mentorship and examination standards, with IIT-level computing and networking facilities, e-library resources and a placement cell achieving around 70% CSE branch-wise placement consistency over the last three years and marquee recruiters including Microsoft and Directi. JK Lakshmipat University’s NAAC ‘A’-accredited B.Tech CSE offers specializations in AI/ML, data science, cloud computing, and cybersecurity; integrates six-week and semester-long practice schools; includes industry collaborations for internships, modern AI and cybersecurity labs, and dedicated soft-skills training. Each institution provides experienced PhD faculty, accreditation assurance, hands-on infrastructure, and industry linkages, differing in campus environment, cohort size and brand legacy.
Prioritize BIT Mesra Jaipur CSE for consistent CSE recruitment and main-campus curriculum rigor; choose PCU Pune CSE for its robust NBA-ABET alignment, metropolitan industry exposure, and outcome-based design; opt for JKLU Jaipur CSE if specialized AI/ML tracks and immersive Practice School programs align with your career goals. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8658 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

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My son got 60206 in jee mains, GEN category from kolkata. BITS score 193. Msc maths or physics dual degree will be helpful or which course/ college is advisible from jee mains score?
Ans: Maneesh Sir, With a JEE Main rank of 60 206 (General) from Kolkata, admission into top-tier NITs and IIITs for core branches is unlikely, but numerous government and private engineering colleges remain fully accessible. Government institutes where closing ranks for various B.Tech programmes exceed 60 206 include NIT Agartala (Civil), NIT Meghalaya (EEE), NIT Mizoram (Mechanical), NIT Manipur (Civil), NIT Sikkim (Mechanical), NIT Puducherry (Civil), NIT Arunachal Pradesh (Biotechnology), IIIT Kalyani (CSE), IIIT Kottayam (ECE), IIIT Ranchi (CSE), IIIT Nagpur (ECE), NIT Uttarakhand (Civil), NIT Goa (EEE), NIT Manipur (ECE), NIT Sikkim (ECE), GFTI BIT Deoghar off-campus (CSE), IIIT Bhagalpur (CSE), IIIT Dharwad (CSE), IIIT Manipur (CSE), and IIIT Raichur (Mathematics & Computing). Leading private universities with open JEE Main cutoffs below 60 206 encompass VIT Vellore, SRM Chennai, Manipal Institute of Technology, Thapar University Patiala, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore, KIIT Bhubaneswar, SASTRA Thanjavur, Lovely Professional University, Amity Noida, and Chandigarh University accepting JEE Main scores.

Recommendation: Focus on securing seats at government institutes like NIT Agartala or IIIT Kalyani for affordable, accredited education and stable funding; alternatively, choose VIT Vellore or SRM Chennai for world-class infrastructure, industry-aligned curricula, and strong placement cells, aligning with long-term career aspirations. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P P  |8658 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 12, 2025Hindi
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Sir, my daughter has got 11790 rank in kcet. Through counseling she can get EEE in BMSCE basavanagudi college and electonics, cybersecurity and information science in Bangalore institute of technology .....can you help by guiding which one to choose ?
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Recommendation: Given the rank constraints, recommendation is to choose BIT’s IoT & Cybersecurity specialisation for its cutting-edge infrastructure and strong placement consistency; alternatively, opt for BIT Electronics & Communication if higher intake flexibility is available in early counselling rounds. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8658 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

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