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Girish’s CAT Success Story From 98.94%ile to FMS Delhi
Girish’s journey to FMS Delhi was anything but straightforward. He scored 98.94 percentile in CAT 2023, received calls from several top B-schools, converted IIM Shillong and IIFT Delhi, but was waitlisted at some of his preferred institutes. He then made a difficult decision: instead of joining IIFT Delhi, he chose to work at Cracku and prepare for another CAT attempt.
The following year brought another setback. His VARC performance fell into the 60s in CAT 2024, preventing him from clearing the sectional CAT Cutoff. Instead of giving up, Girish identified his weakness and built a consistent daily routine around it.
In CAT 2025, he scored 97.99 percentile despite facing a computer shutdown during the QA section. This time, he approached his MBA interviews differently, worked extensively on his personal story and mock interviews, and eventually achieved the goal he had been chasing since Class 11: converting FMS Delhi.
His story is a reminder that a CAT journey does not always follow a straight line. Sometimes, setbacks, difficult decisions and consistent preparation become the foundation for the final breakthrough.
Girish’s CAT Journey at a Glance
Milestone | Girish’s Journey |
|---|---|
School | Delhi government school |
Class 10th | Around 85% |
Class 12th | Around 85% |
| Graduation | B.Com through IGNOU |
CAT 2023 | 98.94 percentile |
CAT 2023 Calls | FMS Delhi, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, MDI, IIM Udaipur, IIM Shillong and IIFT Delhi |
CAT 2023 Conversions | IIM Shillong and IIFT Delhi |
Career Decision | Chose Cracku over joining IIFT Delhi |
CAT 2024 | VARC setback and sectional cutoff failure |
Preparation Change | Started writing one article every day |
CAT 2025 | 97.99 percentile |
Interview Preparation | Personal buckets, autobiography exercise and mock interviews |
Final Outcome | Converted FMS Delhi |
How Girish’s MBA Dream Started in Class 11?
Girish’s interest in an MBA started much before he began preparing for CAT.
While he was studying in Class 11, his school principal visited IIM Ahmedabad for training through a government-school collaboration. That experience introduced Girish to the idea of an MBA and planted the first seed of his future goal.
“The seed of this MBA or CAT actually happened in Class 11th.”
After completing Class 10 and 12 with around 85% marks, Girish pursued a B.Com through IGNOU. His academic journey was different from that of many CAT aspirants, as distance education provided fewer opportunities for regular college interactions.
After graduation, he wanted professional growth and believed that an MBA could help him achieve it.
CAT 2023: 98.94%ile and Multiple Waitlists
Girish appeared for CAT 2023 and scored an impressive 98.94 percentile.
His score resulted in calls from several leading institutes, including:
- FMS Delhi
- IIM Lucknow
- IIM Kozhikode
- MDI
- IIM Udaipur
- IIM Shillong
- IIFT Delhi
He eventually converted IIM Shillong and IIFT Delhi, but the results were not as straightforward as he had hoped. He was waitlisted at several institutes that he preferred.
The interview and conversion stage exposed another challenge. Girish felt that his limited professional exposure and distance-education background affected how confidently he communicated his experiences.
This taught him an important lesson: getting a CAT call is only half the battle. The interview stage requires you to understand your own story and communicate it confidently.
Why Girish Chose Cracku Over IIFT Delhi?
After CAT 2023, Girish found himself at an important crossroads.
He had an opportunity to join IIFT Delhi, while Cracku offered him the chance to gain professional experience. He wanted another attempt at FMS Delhi and believed that professional exposure could help strengthen his profile.
The decision was not easy.
“That whole night I didn’t sleep. I was walking on the road and thinking about all the possible things.”
Ultimately, Girish chose to join Cracku rather than immediately pursue the IIFT opportunity.
Looking back, that decision became an important part of his journey.
His role at Cracku gave him professional exposure and workplace experience. It also helped him become more comfortable with his own experiences and communicate them more confidently.
Mentors Maruti Sir and Sayali Ma’am also played an important role in helping him prepare for future interviews and understand how to present his experiences.
Sometimes, a decision that appears to take you away from your goal can actually prepare you for the next opportunity.
CAT 2024: The VARC Setback
CAT 2024 became one of the most difficult points in Girish’s CAT journey.
His VARC performance dropped into the 60s, which meant that he could not clear the sectional cutoff.
The problem was not simply a lack of preparation. Pressure had started affecting his mindset after the difficult decisions surrounding his previous CAT attempt.
Girish described what happened:
“I took it lightly, and I really panicked, and that actually ruined my verbal section.”
VARC was already his weakest section, but he had not given it the consistent attention it needed.
The lesson was simple: A weak section cannot be treated as an afterthought.
Instead of allowing the setback to define his CAT journey, Girish decided to change his preparation approach.
How Girish Improved His CAT VARC Preparation?
For his next CAT attempt, Girish stopped constantly switching between resources and followed a simple routine suggested by Sayali Ma’am.
He started writing one article every day and recording its key points.
The task itself was simple, but the consistency was difficult.
VARC Challenge | New Approach | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
VARC was his weakest section | Daily article writing | Improved reading and summarisation |
Preparation lacked consistency | One fixed task every morning | Built discipline |
Previous pressure affected performance | Focused on controllable actions | Reduced unnecessary anxiety |
Weakness was repeatedly ignored | Gave VARC daily attention | Built greater confidence |
Girish also posted his article summaries in a group every day.
Even when others stopped posting regularly, he continued.
His mentors noticed this consistency and encouraged him to maintain the routine.
Maruti Sir explained during the interview that he and Sayali Ma’am regularly checked whether Girish had posted his article.
The routine demonstrated an important CAT preparation principle: consistent practice can be more valuable than constantly searching for a new strategy.
Girish’s CAT Preparation Strategy
Girish’s preparation reset was not based on a complicated study plan. Instead, he focused on identifying his weaknesses, creating a routine and remaining consistent.
He Identified His Weakest Section
VARC was his weakest area, and CAT 2024 made that weakness impossible to ignore. Rather than avoiding the problem, he made VARC a regular part of his preparation.
He Followed a Daily Routine
The most important change was consistency. Writing one article every morning gave him a specific task that he could complete every day.
He Focused on One Approach
Instead of constantly switching resources, Girish followed a simple routine and gave it enough time to produce results.
He Learned From Setbacks
His CAT 2024 result could have become a reason to stop. Instead, he used the experience to identify what needed to change.
He Worked on His Interview Preparation
Girish realised that CAT preparation alone would not be enough. His previous interview experiences showed him the importance of being able to explain his academic background, work experience, strengths and career goals. That became a major focus during his next preparation cycle.
CAT 2025: 97.99%ile Despite a Technical Glitch
Girish entered CAT 2025 with a different mindset.
He had worked on his weakest section, developed a consistent routine and gained professional experience.
However, exam day presented another unexpected challenge.
During the QA section, his computer system shut down. Around 10–15 minutes passed before the issue was resolved.
Girish described the experience:
“My first two sections went very well, VARC and DILR, but as QA started, my system shut down.”
The disruption could easily have affected his concentration. He also had to continue solving QA while other candidates were finishing their papers.
Despite the interruption, Girish completed the examination and scored 97.99 percentile in CAT 2025.
CAT 2025 Factor | What Happened | Girish’s Response |
|---|---|---|
VARC | Previously weak section | Improved through daily practice |
DILR | Stronger section | Maintained preparation |
QA | System shutdown disrupted the section | Continued despite the interruption |
Exam Environment | Noise increased after the delay | Focused on completing the paper |
Final Percentile | 97.99%ile | Received several top MBA calls |
The result brought FMS Delhi back within reach.
He received calls from FMS Delhi, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, MDI, IIM Udaipur and IIM Shillong.
This time, however, Girish knew that the CAT score was only one part of the journey.
He had to prepare differently for the interviews.
How Girish Prepared for the FMS Delhi Interview?
After his earlier interview experiences, Girish understood that memorising standard answers would not be enough.
He focused on understanding his own story.
He divided his life and experiences into different “buckets” and prepared each area carefully.
“I prepared my buckets already, like an academic bucket, my whole story, my work experience, what I want to do.”
He also completed an autobiography exercise that required him to revisit his life and experiences.
Interview Area | Girish’s Preparation |
|---|---|
Childhood | Revisited important experiences and influences |
Academics | Prepared subjects, achievements and learning experiences |
Work Experience | Mapped responsibilities and practical lessons |
Career Goals | Clarified why he wanted an MBA |
Strengths and Weaknesses | Prepared personal examples |
Current Affairs | Followed developments across India and globally |
Mock Interviews | Recorded questions, feedback and mistakes |
Personal Story | Built a clear narrative around his journey |
This approach helped Girish connect different parts of his profile into one coherent story.
How Mock Interviews Helped Girish Improve?
Girish’s mock interview experience also showed how preparation can translate into improvement.
His first mock interview received a rating of 2.5/10.
Instead of taking the feedback personally, he documented the mistakes and worked on them.
His next mock interview reportedly improved to around 7.5/10.
The improvement came from:
- Reviewing mistakes
- Preparing better answers
- Understanding his own experiences
- Practising repeatedly
- Refining weak areas
- Becoming more comfortable communicating his story
He realised that an MBA interview is not simply about giving technically correct answers.
It is also about helping the panel understand the person behind the application.
Therefore, Girish focused on authenticity rather than rehearsed perfection.
From Multiple Waitlists to FMS Delhi
Girish’s journey was shaped by multiple attempts, setbacks, and turning points.
Girish’s journey shows that a CAT score is not always the end of the story. For Girish, every stage brought a different lesson that eventually helped him reach his goal.
What CAT Aspirants Can Learn From Girish’s Journey?
Girish’s story offers several lessons for CAT aspirants.
Your First Attempt Does Not Define You
A 98.94 percentile and multiple calls did not immediately lead Girish to his preferred B-school.
Instead of treating the outcome as final, he decided to try again.
Identify Your Weakness
VARC was Girish’s weakest section, and CAT 2024 made that clear.
His next step was not to ignore the problem but to give it daily attention.
Consistency Beats Constant Strategy Changes
Girish’s daily article-writing routine was simple.
Its strength came from repeating it every day.
Learn From Feedback
His mock interview experience shows the importance of accepting criticism and working on specific weaknesses.
Moving from a 2.5/10 mock interview to around 7.5/10 required him to analyse mistakes and improve.
Prepare Your Personal Story
CAT interviews are not only about academics and current affairs.
Girish prepared his childhood experiences, academics, work experience, career goals, strengths and weaknesses so that he could explain his journey clearly.
Setbacks Do Not Have to End the Journey
From waitlists to a CAT 2024 setback and a technical problem during CAT 2025, Girish faced several obstacles.
What changed was not the existence of setbacks but how he responded to them.
How Cracku Supported Girish’s Journey?
Cracku became an important part of Girish’s journey after CAT 2023.
Joining Cracku gave him professional experience and exposure while he continued working toward his MBA goal.
His mentors, including Maruti Sir and Sayali Ma’am, also supported his preparation. The daily article-writing routine that helped him work on VARC was one example of the structured guidance he received.
The experience also gave Girish more professional situations and experiences that he could later discuss during his MBA interviews.
For Girish, the decision to join Cracku instead of immediately pursuing IIFT Delhi became part of the journey that eventually led him to FMS Delhi.
Keep Improving One Weakness at a Time
Girish’s CAT journey began with an MBA dream in Class 11.
It passed through a government school, distance graduation, tutoring, delivery work, CAT waitlists, IIFT Delhi, professional experience at Cracku, a difficult CAT 2024 attempt and a technical disruption during CAT 2025.
But the journey ultimately led to FMS Delhi.
His story is a reminder that competitive exams are rarely about having a perfect journey.
Sometimes, progress comes from doing one small thing consistently.
For Girish, that meant writing one article every morning, learning from feedback, improving his interview preparation and continuing to pursue the goal even after setbacks.
“I have always taken all the bold decisions I could take with all available resources.”
On 19 May, Girish finally converted FMS Delhi, turning the dream he had carried since Class 11 into reality.
His journey from 98.94 percentile and multiple waitlists to 97.99 percentile and FMS Delhi shows that setbacks do not have to be the end of a CAT journey. They can become the experiences that prepare you for the next opportunity.
From Delivery Boy to FMS Delhi Girish’s Inspiring CAT Journey: Conclusion
Girish’s CAT success story shows that reaching a top B-school does not always require a perfect first attempt. From scoring 98.94 percentile and facing multiple waitlists to struggling with VARC in CAT 2024, he encountered several moments when his MBA journey could have ended. Instead, he identified his weaknesses and continued improving. His eventual 97.99 percentile in CAT 2025 and FMS Delhi conversion demonstrate the value of consistency, self-awareness and strong interview preparation. For CAT aspirants, the biggest takeaway is simple: one disappointing result does not define your CAT journey—what you improve before the next opportunity can.
