I failed a big exam twice. Should I give up?

It often happens with students in tough exams - say, UPSC or IIMCAT or XAT. They give their best, and yet are unable to make it even after two attempts. What to do then?

Ask yourself these questions:

Failure, Success, Mindset

1. How many aspirants crack the exam in the first attempt? If the answer is anywhere less than 100%, you are not on the wrong track.
2. How many crack the test in the second attempt? If the answer is again significantly less than 100%, you have hope left.
3. Do some people make it in their 3rd or 4th attempt? If the answer is Yes, you can be one of them.

The real questions to ask, post the above, will be

• Why did I fail in my two attempts? Where did I fall short? Which topics could I not master adequately? Can I master them now, given this background? Was I really sincere enough? What did those who got selected did right that I missed on?
• How badly do I aspire to be a top civil servant? If it's bad enough, striving for a couple of years more is a good idea.
• What do my parents think of it? Do they have faith in me? Will they support me emotionally, and if required, financially through the next few months/years?
• Do I have the energy left in me to go the whole hog again? Or am I exhausted? Was I exhausted even before the second attempt came through?
• If I do not make it even in the next 2 years, what are the other options I am looking at?

Take a small break. Think deeply along these lines. If there is that "aha moment" when you feel totally at ease, totally relaxed and full of clarity in mind, follow the decision that you take at that moment. 

We have all had our share of failures in life. But successful people do not stop at a milestone, or when in a ditch. They keep moving forward, because life does not stop for anyone or anything. As they say, our mindset and attitude has to ultimately mould our lives to best fit our reality, and there is no one better than you to reach that conclusion. 

Finally, it's just an exam! Your success in life may lie way beyond it. God bless!
~

XAT 2016 pattern change - how to cope

XLRI's XAT

XLRI's XAT has always been one of the most well-designed and challenging of the MBA entrance tests in India. In fact, I would rate it as a test that's better-designed than even the IIM CAT. Especially in the past 7 years, CAT has taken a knock. XAT has graudally gained a sort-of legendary status among smart candidates.

Some reasons for saying so:

1. Almost never has the test crashed, or leaked! (except the disastrous computerisation attempt a decade ago, quickly shelved, sensibly)
2. The test hardly ever has errors.
3. It is now a 100% transparent test. IIM CAT is 100% opaque. Others are in-between.

So let's see what they are planning to do now, for XAT 2016 (03 Jan)

There are TWO major changes :

CHANGE # 1

Number of Questions and Time Limit - In the main question paper the number of questions have been reduced from 84 to 78 and the time has been increased to 170 minutes.

IMPACT -

• The XAT authorities have indicated that traditionally the total number of attempts in XAT is on the lower side. Toughness of the questions is one of the reasons for this. It has been mentioned that the questions this year would be easier than the previous year.
• Hence, it is clear that this year students would be able to attempt more. If a student has set some targets regarding the number of questions he needs to attempt (which we don't advise), he may have to redraft his strategy. In fact, relax as you would now attempt more!
• The best way to handle this problem is to not set a target on the number of attempts and just try to be as fast as one can be.
• Students will also be able to apply the Scan-Search-Select-Solve (SSSS) technique more easily. It will help attack a greater number of questions now.

Why MBA after engineering - an analysis

A dream can come true with right engineering

Typically, an MBA post Engineering makes you look quite bright from the employment perspective, provided your aptitude and attitude match what's taught in the MBA programme and you are able to significantly add new skills and a "thinking approach".

Being confused about your future is a pretty healthy thing, as it means you are evaluating several options. You are thinking. You are not sure. This is how it should be, initially. No worries!

I will help you understand the right approach to getting an answer to this question.

Choosing any career

For any student stuck in a dilemma, a good basic course of action is:

1. Introspection - Undertake a serious process of introspection to identify your triggers.
2. What you love - Find out what are 3 or 4 things you would love to do consistently for many years, day in and day out, and be happy doing those.
3. Listing - Make a list of everything you thus evaluate.
4. Feedback - Discuss with family, friends and those you trust.
5. Reality-check - Check your background dispassionately - what a student does through schooling and college years is a reasonably good indicator of future potential in terms of entrepreneurship or business leadership.

MBA or UPSC - what to choose

The dilemma of selection

Ummm... which looks better?

A lot of bright young people find it rather trying to decide which option they will pursue from many good ones available. If you are facing the same, you are not alone. Since both require a lot of hard work, it is best if you spend some quality time differentiating.

Let us understand the difference in the type of work that these two careers entail. I'll put it simply, without too much of jargon.

Being an MBA - This is what most entrepreneur dreamers, high-personal-achievers, corporate-types, brand-builders, leaders, communicators would choose to do. They have a dream of either working for a large brand globally, or wish to start an enterprise of their own. They may even belong to a family that's running a large business. These are people who may wish to work across disciplines (HR / Finance / Marketing / Product design / IT). These surely are people who wish to be financially very very successful, live in big cities, own big fancy apartments, drive cool cars!

Being a Civil Servant - These are people who wish to spend their lives for the benefit of the nation, the people and the social system. They get immense happiness when they see a smile on others' faces as they solve some intractable problem. They get a huge kick by ensuring that projects are conceptualised and executed well, say for Garbage Disposal, or Solar Lighting, or Employment Camps in Remote Areas, or Primary Health Centres or ...  Of course, there are fancy options as well depending on the Service you choose. But largely, these are people who dirty their hands while working at the grass-roots level in teams that are extremely varied in social composition.

These two are entirely different mindsets. 

1. The first is centred on one's own self, and the second on others.
2. The first assumes tremendous personal energy for self-growth. The other requires energy for growth of others.
3. The first is likely to be full of nervous energy raring to prove itself. The second requires a patience that only deep, cool, thinkers may have.
4. The first is likely to seek permissions from the second for the projects they launch!