After the results of the Common Admission Test, your next step is to do well in the Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

CAT trainers A R K S Srinivas and Rahul Reddy of TIME, a training institute for B-school aspirants, had this advice for Get Ahead readers in a chat on December 3: For GDs, start reading magazines like Manorama. For interviews, spend time on your academics, personality-based questions, current affairs, and career-related questions.

• 26 commandents for Personal Interviews

Srinivas, an alumnus of IIM-Calcutta, is the director of TIME-Mumbai. He has an engineering degree in electronics and communication from Osmania University and worked with Maruti Udyog [Get Quote] Limited in Gurgaon, Delhi and Kolkata before joining TIME-Hyderabad. He has been training students for eight years.

Reddy is also an IIM-Calcutta alumnus. After working with Hindustan Lever and Merck Electronics, he set up TIME's Kolkata branch.

For those of you who missed the chat, here is the second part of the transcript: 

Part I: Taking on the GD and more

Part II: Pointers for B-School admissions

grim :  sir i've got 5 calls from the iim's only A didn't short list me i'm a fresher i.e no work ex .Whats the probability of converting calls.

A R K S Srinivas : Hi Grim, you no longer have to be grim! You have a very good chance. Prepare well for the Group Discussion and Interview.

SAMEER : sir.. wt do u think was time correct in the predictions it had made?? i mean regarding the percentiles??

Rahul Reddy : Hi Seems correct to me so far... conclusive proof will come when score cards are available.  

deepanjan : what is the ideal time to start the preparation for cat2006,i mean the no of days(no of hrs per day)

Rahul Reddy : Hi, start right away. It is less than a year away. Try to put three to four hours dialy.

kumarnaveen : can u suggest me some good institutes in delh??

Rahul Reddy : HiFMS, IIFT, MDIIMI, Fore, LBS, DFSBITM, Noida.

Jignesh : Hi I have got calls from all the iims...what I wanna kow is approximately after how much time do the iims give you an offer of admission after the GD/PI

A R K S Srinivas : The final results will be out by April 15, latest.

SAMEER : sir.. wt do u think was time correct in the predictions it had made?? i mean regarding the percentiles??

A R K S Srinivas : You can check the same on the IIM web sites. 

si : i am actually interested to know the site from where we can know scores online.. as i am not in India

A R K S Srinivas : Go to IIM web sites and click for scores online. 

khalid : iam asking again,plz reply.dear sir according to u how mch of min work ex is gud b4 going for MBA and is TIME in bangalore as gud as in kolkata?

A R K S Srinivas : There is no minimum requirement as such. and T.I.M.E Bangalore is a good as any other T.I.M.E centre.

nikhil : sir pleaase reply to my ques . i posted it long ago. hey i am doing comp engg 3rd yr from REC Kurukshetra (nowNIT). my 10th and 12th scores were 85% . pl tell mewhat GRE score is good enough to get in MS program incomp in US for1) top 10 univ2) 10-20 univ3) 20-30 univalso do LoR from IIT profs do the job or corporatesare better .Nikhil nikhil

A R K S Srinivas : If you are from RECs, you should take LOR from your professors. Since you are not working, taking from corporates does not make sense except when you have done a long project in any of the cos. 1400+ is very good.

dhiraj1 : SIR I M GETTING 38-40 (VA 20-22 QA 7.33 AND DI 10.6 APPLIED TO TAPMI IMI MICA BIM WHAT R MY CHANCES OF GETTING CALL FROM THESE INSTIS

A R K S Srinivas : Good.

rishabhjain_007 : Sir with the score of 44.66, i am not getting a single IIM Call.I am having a work experience of 18 months. What are the chances for SP Jain,NITIE and MDI. I have 9.66 in QA. Please advise.

Rahul Reddy : Hi. Good chance.

kumarsunny : sir when can i see my score card,how will i get the information about my score

Rahul Reddy : Hi, once you get your score card, visit the T.I.M.E to calculate actual scores.

capriguy007 : hello rahul sir...i am from time kolkata.... sir i am a ca ...shud i join nm if i convert ther... i mean will there be any value adddition....or shud i get a job rite now...i have no problems with either option--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rahul Reddy : Hi, I would suggest converting NMIMS and then considering both options. Meet me for discussion any time.

neelu : which is the best book for prep for CAT'06?

Rahul Reddy : Hi, I think it will take more than a book. Would suggest an instiute for systematic preparation

SwethaJG : Sir , what are the good coaching centers in bangalore for CAT

Rahul Reddy : Hi, T.I.M.E. Bangalore has a very good record. Visit the nearest centre for details

ABHI BLR : i have got 6 calls and i am studying electronics at PESIT BANGALORE. although my aggre is nearly 79 but it has been on a decline over the last three semesters. how do you think that will affect me in the gd/pi stage?

Rahul Reddy : Hi, if you plan your answers and do a thorough revision of the basics in your subjects, you should get through with flying colours.  

somaru : sir score of 60 in jmet what calls can i get

A R K S Srinivas : Except B and even D, all others yu may get

Roma : can u give me the tips for gd-pi. plz.........

A R K S Srinivas : This could be for every one -- for GDs, start reading magazines and books like Manorama.

For PI, spend time on your academics, personality-based questions, current affairs, and career-related question. Join places like ours to get live practice. ALL THE BEST.

SAMEER : sir , bec earlier many guys told me tat with a score around 25 i might get 85 %ile.. but now?????im pretty tensed

A R K S Srinivas : 85 percantile would be around 28/30 marks.

Srinath : hi ARKS & Rahul.I'm an ex-TIME student.I gave CAT in 2004 and couldn't get a score good enough to get into IIMs.Now I'm working in a software company with 1.5 years of experience.1.What score in CAT 2006 will actually fetch me calls from IIMs?2.During the admission process do they also take into consideration the company in which I've been working?3.Also, how good is the GMAT option?

A R K S Srinivas : Predicting CAT 2006 may not make sense. However, seeing the trend, a 50+ mark should be enough. Your work experience includes, quantity and quality.

gotACLIK :  SIR I AM FROM TIME MUMBAI. MY THREE YRS WORK EX. IS FULLY TECHNICAL. HOW MUCH ECONOMICS AM I EXPECTED TO KNOW.

Rahul Reddy : Hi, not much. But basics about the Indian economy, policies of govt etc should be enough. Don't worry, no IIM would eliminate you solely becuase you do not know economics.

neetu_2k : sir pls...answer my question...I asked long back...when we will come to know our marks...what is the cutoff. I am expecting a total of 34 what I should do? I have applied to SP JAIN, I am a cost accountant having 2 years of experiance....can I expect call from SP jain or MDI? What about admission in BIM with 34 marks in CAT

Rahul Reddy : Hi, when scorecards come you can calculate scores. SP Jain might be difficult at 34. BIM should happen.

ait : sir,what would b the percentiles of the ppl.......who has get selection in iim/?

Rahul Reddy : Hi, I would expect 99 percantile and above, though a few might get calls at 98 percantile+ also.

Rish : Sir, I am getting 9.66 QA,13.66 DI, 21.33 VA. But still haven't got a single call. I am clearing the cutoffs as predicted by TIME. I was expecting atleast a single call.I am working for a Software company for past 18months. Now i am thinking of giving CAT2006 although i have applied for SPJIMR,NITIE,MDI.This was my 2nd attempt. Please advise.

Rahul Reddy : Hi, wait for a few days. Let the score cards come. Also the other calls. Giving CAT 2006 is always an option, but dont give up so soon.

Dushyant : Sir, Is it worth doing an MBA without any work experience? Why do you think that the best schools in the world ask for work ex?

A R K S Srinivas : It would not make much difference except that with work experience you would appreciate more theory.

manish22222 : sir do they consider acedamic records along with cat marks , before givin admissions?

A R K S Srinivas : Some of them definitely do.

jhvfjdgkfd : i have got 6 calls worked very hard now i will run before girls.

Rahul Reddy : Hi. Run well, run fast.

SAMEER : sir , bec earlier many guys told me tat with a score around 25 i might get 85 %ile.. but now?????im pretty tensed.plz reply sir

A R K S Srinivas : Do not worry. Wait for three days you would exaclty know your percentile.

rocks_81 : Time is about to finish ;;m still waiting to get answers of my queries ???? m i tht bad in writing .....

A R K S Srinivas : What was your questions rocks?

sunny : SIR, FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME....SCORE OF 30...IS IMI POSSIBLE

A R K S Srinivas : I guess, yes Sunny.

rahuldev :  have got calls from IIMA IIMB IIMC Sir students with porr academic record stand a chance in IIMS

A R K S Srinivas : Yes Rahul,. otherwise they would not have called you. Prepare well for the GD and Interviews

shibs : hi, i would like to write cat 2006, i havn't really started my preparations for it . am i having enough time now if i start preparing . plus i am working

Rahul Reddy : Hi. You have 11 months.That's a lot. Start right away.

Dushyant : Is it true that the students with work ex are not only prefered by the IIM's during the admissions but also by the companies during the placements? Would work ex get me a better call and a better job?

Rahul Reddy : Hi, students with relevant work experience are given somewhat higher salaries and designations, which they deserve. But freshers too get very good jobs. Almost all top companies also recurit freshers

shweta : Sir, I have got calls from B,L,I and K. I have an experience of few months in a software MNC and I did my engineering in Electronics. How should I prepare for the interviews and what all do I need to brush up in my academics?

A R K S Srinivas : Dear Shweta, please get in touch with us in any of the cities. We would guide you.

psaurav : sir with the score of 57 according to TIME (V-18, DI 18, Q- 21).. i got calls from only K and I

A R K S Srinivas : Dear Saurav, Please do check back with us once score cards come. That could explain a lot of things.

Judaida : Hello CAT Gurus,I didn't have much information about Globsyn. But this year Companies like IMRB, Pepsi and Murugappa Group is picking up GBS studets with 3.8-4 L pay packages. I have 78 percentile. I am looking for options at Kolkata because it has growing job market. Do you think I should opt for Globsyn ? It is still open I think.

Rahul Reddy : Hi. Globsyn is open. Job market is good in Kolkata this year. Average pay is about 2.75-3.0 per annum. 

srinivas : sir plz answer my question IF WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION FOR CLASSWROOM CONTACT PROGRAM THEN HOW SHOULD WE GET ALONG WITH THE PREPERATION FOR CAT?

Rahul Reddy : Hi, next best option is correspondence with test series.

A R K S Srinivas : We have come to the end of this Chat. After the written test, the next hurdle is the GD and Interview stage. Give it you best shot. Wish you all the best. Rahul and Arkss.

Rahul Reddy : Hi Guys, out of time i am afraid. All the best for all you.

DON'T MISS!

• 4 steps to ace Group Discussions
• CAT 2005, analysed
• CAT 2005 versus CAT 2004/2003