Should You Repeat CAT or Settle for an Average MBA College? How to Make the Right Decision

Should You Repeat CAT or Settle for an Average MBA College? How to Make the Right Decision

A lot of students who appear for the CAT suffer the dilemma of whether or not to retake the CAT exam. While some think it is worth a shot, others think that they should simply apply to a lower-tier B-school. There’s the saying, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Well, to solve your problem, we bring you two questions to consider in your mind:

First: What do you seek from an MBA?

What is it that you want from an MBA? Do you want to get into a top B-school for the tag? Is it the best placement that appeals to you? Or are you simply looking to join a specific recruiter who only hires from the best schools?

If you want the tag, you would want to appear for the CAT once more and put your best foot forward. If you get into a top B-school, you will be assured the best placement. Retaking the CAT is the way forward since it opens the doors to an opportunity that you currently may not have.
However, if the tag is not your goal and you’re simply looking for management education and decent placements, it would be in your best interests to join a tier-2 business school. An MBA is, however, very expensive. If you are willing to bear that cost, then you could consider joining a non-tier 1 business school. Be warned; you may not receive the best return for your investment. Therefore, it is best to be cautious.

Second: Is CAT the only way to have a good career?
If you want to obtain a management education, then a CAT retake would be useful. If you do not want to repeat the CAT, then you should also consider the competitive exams such as XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, MAT, etc. that are accepted by the B-schools of India. If you're interested in colleges abroad, then you can appear in GMAT and GRE exams.

These exams are vastly different from the CAT, but they open multiple doors for you in terms of business schools. In fact, if you do a bit of research, then you can conclude that an MBA is not the only route to getting ahead in your career. A non-MBA master's program may be your ticket to a higher-paying job and faster career growth. It is worth investing time and effort in research to arrive at the most optimal route for your career.

So, once you have thought this through, take the decision that seems right for you. Wishing you the best of luck for your future! Additionally, Ravi Prakash Sir from Rodha has addressed the dilemma in his insightful video titled "Should I REPEAT CAT or Settle for an average MBA College? I How to Decide?"

Sambhavi Prakash, SEO Content Writer, Rodha