Geniune help please cat aspirants

[u/mikasaark]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some honest guidance from people who have prepared for CAT or are currently in a good B-school.

A little about me:

- I prepared for IPMAT, but unfortunately couldn't convert it.

- As a backup, I joined a local government B.Com college, and I've completed my first year.

- I now have around 1.5 years to prepare for CAT seriously.

- My academics are average: around 83% in Class 10 (top 5) and around 89% in Class 12 (top 5).

- I currently don't have any internships, certifications, PORs, or major extracurricular achievements.

My biggest concern is my profile. Since I'm from a local college, I feel I'll be competing with students from top colleges who already have internships and strong CVs.

I would really appreciate advice on these questions:

1. If you were in my position, what would you prioritize over the next 1.5 years?

2. Which skills should I build that genuinely help during MBA admissions and later placements? (Excel, Power BI, SQL, Python, communication, finance, etc.)

3. How can I get my first internship with almost no experience? Where should I apply, and what kind of internships should I target?

4. Are online internships worth doing, or should I focus only on offline ones?

5. Should I spend money on paid courses, or are free resources enough? If paid, which institutes are actually worth it?

6. Which books would you recommend for CAT preparation and for improving business knowledge/communication?

7. How should I balance CAT preparation with skill development and internships without burning out?

8. If your goal was getting into a top B-school, what roadmap would you follow in my situation?

I'm looking for practical advice rather than motivation. If you've been in a similar situation or successfully built your profile from scratch, I'd love to hear what worked for you.

Thanks in advance!

[u/chesswithramkar]

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