WISDOM nugget for a year from now.
A little context: It has been almost a year since I last visited this subreddit. I used to be quite active here, seeking updates, advice and general guidance. I am currently at a Tier 2 B-school, wrapping up my summer internship with an MNC that I secured outside the placement cycle.
Some wisdom worth sharing: This may not feel relevant right now, but give it a year and you will likely see the truth in what I am saying. Treat your placement cell as a secondary resource, not your only one. If you have good connections, use them without hesitation. They are your strength, plain and simple. If you do not have connections yet, you still have roughly six months to build a solid network and actively pursue opportunities from outside the placement cycle. Here is why I say this. During the placement season, I genuinely could not figure out what logic was being applied while shortlisting students for summer internships. Some students who did not particularly stand out ended up in great organisations, while some clearly sharp ones had to either fend for themselves, find internships from outside, or settle for less exciting roles. It was puzzling, and I say this without any bitterness.
On case competitions: Do not participate just because everyone around you is doing it. I have been in three case competitions and finished on the podium in two of them, so I can say this with some confidence: falling into that FOMO trap is not worth it. Participate if you genuinely want to, not out of pressure.
And lastly, please do not forget to have fun. Happy MBA!