How to Create a Strong Profile for MBA Admissions Following CAT

How to Create a Strong Profile for MBA Admissions Following CAT

So you have taken the CAT, scored a high percentile, and are now facing the next major challenge: creating a strong profile for MBA admissions. Top business schools look at more than just your CAT score. They seek candidates with leadership, impact, and personality.
In this article, we will discuss how a strong profile can make you stand out from the crowd and tips to create an impressive profile.

What makes a strong profile?

A good profile receives "average" or "above-average" ratings on the majority of the elements and has a spike on at least one of the elements.
A spike is a level of achievement on a parameter or attribute that indicates that you outperform others.
Here are some examples of spikes:

Academic Spike — A score of more than 90% in X, XII, and Graduation is considered a significant academic spike. The key is the 90 in graduation. Because most aspirants have 90s in X and XII, the 90 in your graduation will place you in the outlier category.
Sports Spike — Those who have competed in games at the district, state, and national levels will be considered to have a spike because most aspirants will have played but not professionally.

You can experience a spike in any one area, such as leadership, if you have always held positions of responsibility. If you were involved in a lot of drama, singing, or dancing in college, it could be an extra-curricular boost. It can be a special interest spike if you have taken up dancing, singing, painting, languages, or any other activity and are serious about it.

How to Create a Strong Profile?

As previously stated, you must concentrate on what you can change in the present, and thus in the future, rather than on the past. The goal of this post is to provide you with a realistic understanding of the selection process and assist you in planning your next steps. So, instead of getting discouraged, start looking into the ways listed below to improve your profile.
Take certification courses related to your career goals

If you are an engineer looking to pursue a career in finance! To do this, you must demonstrate what steps you have taken to achieve your goal.

Many engineers who are serious about pursuing a career in finance are taking the CFA exam. A student at IIM-C, India's mecca for finance aspirants, stated that there are now approximately 70 students who have passed at least Level 1 (out of 3) of the CFA! This figure is bound to increase. The CFA is not an easy or inexpensive exam to prepare for and take. But if you are serious, you must take it up.

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Take up positions of responsibility

This is something that freshmen should pursue in the upcoming semester. Instead of submitting a paper for the symposium, organize it! There are numerous committees and clubs on campus; you must join at least one, actively organize things/events as a member of the committee/club, and obtain a certificate for your efforts.
Participate in social impact activities

While both recent graduates and working professionals can participate, the latter are more likely to become active contributors to your organization's CSR initiatives. You can also sign up to volunteer for an NGO that works in your field of interest, such as education, health care, or the environment.
Freshers can consider applying to and joining student organizations like AIESEC (which has city-specific chapters) or participating in their initiatives.

Participate in competitions, events, and cultural festivals

If you are not interested in organizing, participate in inter-college events that interest you, such as case study contests, b-plan contests, singing, dancing, acting, sports, or whatever you are passionate about. The idea is to present yourself as someone who does more than just go to college and back.
When asked about their career goals or why they want to pursue an MBA, many people say they want to be entrepreneurs. However, for the most part, the line is similar to any "they lived happily ever after"; no one knows how we are supposed to interpret it. So show your interest and join your college's E-Cell!

What is the procedure for MBA admission after CAT?

Following the CAT, candidates must participate in the WAT, GD, and PI rounds hosted by various institutions. Furthermore, candidates with a higher composite score are considered for MBA admission.

Is profile important in an MBA?

Yes, profile evaluation is an important part of the MBA admissions process. Although taking and passing MBA entrance exams is necessary, having a strong profile is critical for attracting the attention of the admission committee.

The Bottom Line

IIMs use profiles to select the best candidates for their MBA programs. CAT scores are taken into account by top business colleges in India when selecting MBA candidates. However, scoring well on the CAT exam does not guarantee admission to a top-tier business school.
In most top business schools, the CAT exam is worth up to 50% of the total score. The remaining 50% is based on candidates' performance in GD, PI, academic background, and work experience.
As a result, in addition to performing well on the CAT, candidates must also create a strong profile that highlights their academic achievements, work experience, extracurricular involvement, and so on. Nevertheless, a strong profile gives a candidate an advantage over their competitors.

Sambhavi Prakash