Completely lost about CAT after a gap year — need some honest advice
I’m planning to give CAT 2026 but honestly I’m pretty lost and overwhelmed right now.
I completed my B.E. in CSE and took a gap year after graduation to prepare for government exams, mainly because of my parents pressure. I didn’t really want to take a gap year in the first place but I went along with it.
Now almost a year later, my parents want me to give CAT so that I don’t “waste another year” preparing for government exams. So here I am, preparing for CAT even though this wasn’t really the plan I had for myself.
I’m feeling very stuck because I don’t know if I’m making the right decision anymore. I feel like I’ve already lost a year and now I’m scared of losing another one. At the same time, I don’t have a clear idea of what I actually want to do career wise.
For people who have given CAT or gone through something similar:
- What should I realistically expect from CAT preparation and the exam?
- How difficult is it to get a decent percentile if I’m starting seriously now?
- Is an MBA actually worth it if you’re not completely sure what career you want?
- How much does the gap year matter during MBA admissions?
- And most importantly, if you were in my position, what would you do?
I’m not looking for sugarcoating. I’d genuinely appreciate some honest advice because I feel pretty hopeless and directionless at the moment.
Thank you