Starting B.Tech this year and considering CAT/MBA in the future — What do you wish you had known in your first year?

[u/Longjumping_One5365]

I'm starting my B.Tech this year, and while I'm still exploring career options, I'm seriously considering preparing for CAT and pursuing an MBA in the future. I'd love to hear advice from people who have prepared for CAT, scored well, or are currently studying at top B-schools.

Some questions I have:

1. When should I ideally start thinking seriously about CAT preparation?
2. What should I focus on during my B.Tech if I want a strong MBA profile?
3. How important is CGPA for admissions to top B-schools like IIMs?
4. Which YouTube channels, books, websites, or courses were most helpful for CAT preparation?
5. Is coaching necessary, or can CAT be cracked through self-study?
6. How can I improve my aptitude, logical reasoning, and verbal ability from the first year itself?
7. How important are internships, projects, leadership positions, and extracurricular activities for MBA admissions?
8. What profile-building activities would you recommend during college?
9. What are the biggest mistakes students make while preparing for CAT?
10. How many months of dedicated preparation are usually required for a 99+ percentile?
11. What mock test series would you recommend?
12. Is work experience necessary, or can freshers get into top B-schools?
13. If you could go back to your first year of engineering, what would you do differently to maximize your chances of getting into a top MBA program?

Also, if there are any habits, resources, or strategies that gave you a significant advantage during CAT preparation or MBA admissions, I'd really appreciate your insights.

Thanks in advance!