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B.Tech Graduate With 62nd Percentile in CAT: Should I Reattempt and Justify Gap Years?

Patrick Dsouza |1266 Answers |Ask -Follow

CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on Feb 24, 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

Question by Harsh on Feb 23, 2025Hindi

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I completed my B.Tech in Biotechnology in 2024 and initially prepared for the CAT exam. However, I scored a 62 percentile, which isn’t sufficient for admission to a reputed college. I am considering dropping a year to reattempt CAT, but I am concerned about having a second gap year. Since June 2024, I have been learning about finance and business, though I don’t have certifications to validate my knowledge. To bridge this gap, I am currently doing a Financial Analyst Trainee internship through Internshala, but I am unsure of its value in justifying my gap years. I am committed to transitioning into finance and plan to specialize in this field. To strengthen my profile, I have registered for the CFA Level 1 exam in August 2025 and plan to acquire relevant skills through certifications such as Microsoft-certified Excel, SQL, financial modeling, and NISM (Financial Advisor Level 1 & 2). My main concern is whether taking another drop year is the right choice. How should I justify both gap years effectively? Are these certifications and internships sufficient, or should I consider alternative ways to strengthen my profile? I would appreciate your guidance on making the best decision.

Ans: If you are doing CFA along with other internships and courses it could suffice to justify the gap. If you don't plan to do CFA then it is advisable to do a job along with CAT preparation.

Asked on - Mar 01, 2025 | Answered on Mar 03, 2025

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Thank you for your response! I really appreciate your guidance. I scored 62 percentile in CAT this year, and due to certain circumstances, I am not in a position to take a drop. Given my situation, I want to pursue a full-time MBA or PGDM this year itself. I currently live in Delhi, so could you suggest suitable colleges where I can get admission with my percentile?

Ans: There are quite a few colleges. You will have to research. There is UBS Karjat, Christ Bangalore, Balaji Pune, etc. Can try and write MAT exam and see if you can score well and try colleges under that exam.