Hey guys, I genuinely need some advice because I’m at a crossroads right now.

My Profile

• 10th: 92.14%
• 12th (PCM): 88.88%
• Graduation: 85% BA Economics & Mathematics from Motilal Nehru College, DU
• Category: GEM
• Work Experience: 26 months
• CAT 2025: 97.39 percentile

Background

I’m originally from Gurgaon. During graduation, in the COVID era, I started a small custom PC startup and built around 26 PCs in 2 years, generating nearly 36 lakhs in revenue.

After graduation, I had to move to Tonk (a Tier-3 city in Rajasthan) because of my grandparents' health issues. They were emotionally attached to that place and didn’t want to shift to Gurgaon. Being the youngest one in the family and unemployed at that point, I went along with it. Honestly, a part of me also wanted to be there for my grandfather.

While preparing for CAT, I joined a nearby ophthalmology clinic. Over time, I started managing a team of 7 people directly under the director herself. I worked on marketing initiatives, operations, and even helped expand into the opticals business.

A part of me believed this experience would eventually help me in FMCG/marketing because I was getting real exposure to Tier-2 and Tier-3 consumer behavior, buying habits, and operations on the ground.

CAT Journey

In my first serious attempt (CAT 2024), balancing work pressure, hospital responsibilities, and my grandfather’s appointments became too much, and I ended up with 92 percentile.

But I knew I could do much better.

So for CAT 2025, I went all in:

• 120 sectionals
• 60+ full-length mocks
• Consistently scoring around 98 percentile in mocks

I genuinely believed this was going to be my year.

Then, in mid-August, my grandfather’s condition worsened. Multiple attacks followed by multiple organ failure. He passed away on 17 September 2025.

After the rituals, I shifted back to Gurgaon with my parents and grandmother and resumed preparation. Somehow, I still managed to get back into rhythm.

But CAT day completely broke me.

I had Slot 3. The night before the exam, I was extremely anxious. I decided I’d sleep early and go in fresh.

I couldn’t sleep at all.

12 AM became 4 AM, 4 became 7. I somehow got ready and traveled almost 200 km to my center.

I went in exhausted and completely tanked DILR — the section I was usually decent at.

DILR percentile: 84.89

I was devastated because I knew I was capable of much more.

Interviews & Current Situation

Still, when calls came from:

• SPJIMR
• IIFT
• MDI
• IIM Shillong

…I thought maybe I still had a shot.

But honestly, I took interviews too lightly, and after getting humbled there as well, I’m currently sitting at around 80.46 composite score for IIM Trichy.

Now here’s the real conflict.

My parents are happy because, for them, “any IIM = Tier 1.”

But deep down, I genuinely feel I haven’t given my best — neither in CAT nor in interviews.

When I tried explaining this, both my parents got upset and basically said:

>

Today, out of curiosity, I solved CAT 2025 Slot 1 just to see where I stand after months away from prep.

Even after 4 months of barely studying, I was still around the 99.5 percentile range.

And that’s what’s eating me alive.

I genuinely believe I can do better.

I’ve already spent 2 years chasing this exam, and I feel if I settle for a college that, deep inside, I believe I could’ve converted on a normal day, I might regret it for years.

I know comparison is unhealthy, but I’d be lying if I said watching some of my peers make it into colleges I genuinely believe I was capable of converting wouldn’t hurt.

At the same time, I’m also scared of:

• another year of uncertainty
• disappointing my parents
• failing again
• and ending up in the exact same place a year later

If I do repeat, my plan would probably be:

• CFA prep
• Financial modeling
• Skill building
• Strengthening my CV overall

So I genuinely wanted to ask:

What would you do in my position?