My original Plan A after school was actually to take a drop year and prepare again. Things turned out differently—I ended up converting all the IIMs offering IPMAT (Indore, Rohtak, Ranchi, Jammu, and Bodh Gaya) and joined the IPM program at IIM Indore. In hindsight, that decision completely changed the trajectory of my academic and professional life.
The three years at IIM Indore were transformative. Academically, the program gave me a strong grounding in management fundamentals early on. Alongside this, I cleared CFA Level I and actively explored different interests on campus. I was part of the fest sponsorship team, the Consulting Club, and E-Cell, which helped me build real-world skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and stakeholder management.
I also used my summers and breaks to gain diverse internship exposure—working with United Colors of Benetton, a Y Combinator–backed startup, and on a Trump commercial real estate project. These experiences helped me understand what kind of roles and work environments truly motivated me.
Despite a comfortable path ahead, I wasn’t fully satisfied and wanted to push myself further. I appeared for CAT, didn’t convert any colleges from my first list of calls, but eventually secured admissions from IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, FMS Delhi, and XLRI. I chose to join IIM Lucknow for my MBA.
Currently at IIM Lucknow, I’ve seen firsthand how strong the IPM foundation can be. In my section alone, 3 out of the top 6 institute rankers are IPM graduates. I’m part of the student-run fund here, where we manage real student investments, and I’ve secured my SIP in a highly coveted finance role.
Happy to help with doubts around IPMAT, CAT, college choices, IPM vs traditional routes, internships, or MBA life in general—especially for those trying to decide their next step or feeling uncertain about their path.
Please log in to comment and participate in discussions.
Bhaiya, I am also a finance aficionado and am quite keen on tracking my career path into finance-related fields.
I was wondering whether, in order to pursue a career in investment banking or some other market-related roles, a BSc (Hons) in Economics or Data Science + MBA would provide more leverage than a BA/BBA + MBA?
The BSc (Hons) degree I am referring to is the IIM Bangalore UG program, and the BA/BBA degrees I am referring to are the IPM programs of the IIMs.
In addition, I would also like to pursue to clear CFA Level II and do some certification courses from CFI like FMVA and CMSA by the end of my MBA.
I understand that I should not build castles in the air but rather focus on building a strong foundation; however, I was curious about which path would be more favourable in the long run.
This choice really comes down to what you value more right now.
On one side is the IIM Bangalore UG tag; on the other is the IPM safety net—a guaranteed MBA seat after 3 years, irrespective of how CAT goes. And that safety net matters more than people admit. Even a PI call doesn’t mean conversion. I personally had an IIM Indore PI via CAT and still got rejected—not even waitlisted. I can only laugh about this because I already had an IPM MBA seat in Indore and even if I got rejected from all colleges, it wont mean that I will have to wait a year for my MBA.
From a finance-career perspective, your UG degree (BSc vs BA/BBA) won’t materially change outcomes. What truly matters is where you do your MBA from, what internships you have done, how consistent you were with academics. That’s what finance recruiters optimize for.
Clearing CFA Level II (even Level III) during MBA is very doable—don’t stress about that now. Focus first on getting into a Tier-1 MBA program.
CFI courses are fine for learning basics, but they carry little recruiter signal compared to CFA/FRM/CA due to lower rigor & low barrier of completion.
Thank you Bhaiya, your advice was quite helpful and clarified my doubts🙏
(1) If you got the chance to time travel to your day 1 at IIM Indore, is there anything you would change from the point of view of an academic and student/professional life? Basically something you thing you could have done better or you should have done.
(2) What's the point of CFA, or maybe even CMA? Why does a person do it and what does it adds to a profile? Who or what kind of career paths is it meant for?
That said, I wouldn’t change much else. The internships I pursued, the positions of responsibility I took up, the friendships I built, and even the time spent socializing and unwinding were all equally important in shaping me as a person and professional. Those experiences taught me skills that don’t come from textbooks. The balance mattered, and I’m glad I explored campus life fully rather than optimizing only for grades.
In my case, CFA Level I helped significantly during my Trump internship, where I had to work on financial models and evaluate investment decisions. Having that conceptual base meant I wasn’t learning everything from scratch under pressure. It also helped during my SIP selection process, where familiarity with finance concepts gave me confidence and clarity in interviews.
That said, CFA (or CMA) isn’t for everyone. It makes the most sense for people targeting careers in finance—investment banking, asset management, equity research, corporate finance, or related roles. It doesn’t replace an MBA or internships, but it complements them very well by adding depth, credibility, and technical comfort.
Looking back do you think IPM gave you a significant edge over students who did a regular UG before MBA ?
Short answer: yes—without a doubt.
IPM gives you early exposure to almost everything that regular MBA students face for the first time: academic rigor, intense timetables, heavy workloads, case-based learning, and the expectations around professionalism and self-management. By the time you enter an MBA, none of this feels new—you’ve already adapted to the lifestyle and pressure.
This matters because an MBA shifts very quickly into Summer Internship mode, which is one of the most demanding phases. If you’re already comfortable with the IIM ecosystem, you can focus single-mindedly on summers instead of spending energy on basic adjustment. That head start is both real and valuable.
The advantage, however, goes beyond familiarity. It also shows up in the quality of classroom contribution. IPM students have already studied the foundational disciplines that management education is built on. As a result, they bring deeper context, make stronger cross-subject connections, and rely less on rote framework learning.
Because of this, MBA academics feel far more manageable, sometimes even smooth. Beyond academics, IPM students also arrive with a strong execution toolkit developed through years of group projects and case competitions—creating clean PPTs quickly, writing structured reports, building pitch decks, and developing basic financial models. These skills are second nature to most IPM students and translate into a clear advantage throughout the MBA.
so is ipm+mba better than a tier2/3 engineering + mba?
For me it was a definite yes. Depends on your interests/context.
No questions. Insane acads 🙏
Congratulations, Dhruv Bhaiya.
I have been preparing for IPMAT and CUET alongside my board examinations. However, over time, I realised that I underestimated the importance of consistent question practice and ended up spreading myself too thin by participating in many competitions. By the time mid-terms arrived, I found myself underprepared for boards, CUET, and IPMAT.
Although pre-boards have passed and I am trying to regain momentum, I am still not at the level I used to be. I have been a school topper for the last three to four years, so this phase has been particularly difficult to process. I am unsure whether the papers were especially tough or my preparation was lacking, but the results were disappointing.
At the moment, I am focusing more on CUET, with SSCBS as my primary target. My pre-board performance has made me realise that my Mathematics and Accounts have weakened significantly. While I am confident that I can work my way back in Accounts and I am relatively strong in Verbal Ability and Business Studies, I feel genuinely unsure about how to rebuild my Mathematics and Quantitative Aptitude for the CUET GAT section. There is also a constant thought that troubles me that if I do not improve in Mathematics, many of the colleges I am aiming for (IPM Indore, sscbs, srcc or for that any top DU college) might just fall like dominos.
I apologise for the long message, but I wanted to be honest about where I stand. I would be extremely grateful for any advice or guidance you could share on improving Maths while balancing board preparation and CUET.
Thank you for your time for reading this.
What you’re experiencing is very common. This isn’t a lack of ability—it’s dilution of focus. Maths weakens fastest when practice drops, but it’s also the most recoverable. Prioritise boards first; they rebuild confidence and overlap with CUET. For Maths, there’s no shortcut: daily problem practice, sectionals before full mocks, and a small formula book revised every day. Narrow your focus, stop catastrophising, and work incrementally. You’re not behind—just scattered, and that’s fixable.
Thank you bhaiya.
I have been practicing maths daily now for a few days and will keep on itt now!!
Also if you remember could you tell me about your strategy for the accounts and maths boards
Like what did you do in the last month and how and when did you start prev yr papers/macks for boards and cuet ?
I started serious IPMAT preparation after taking the boards. I had PCM (ICSE board), so I could never balance both boards and entrance prep. I did my complete IPMAT prep mostly in the last 20-21 days. One mock every day + analysis, some sectionals, along with 5-6-hour marathon lectures on different Math topics. My Indore results came before my CUET exams, so I stopped studying and never went to the exam centre to appear for it.
Oh thank you so muchh!!
Wow, what was your profile, also why iiml over fms ? crazy career path .
This decision was very context-specific and not a generic ranking call.
Bhaiya , I am currently in class 12 and preparing for IPMAT(mainly indore) , and my preparation is going good and really good mock scores too (except VA where I usually get appprox cutoff level marks , I attempted 2025 ipmat indore paper mock and scored 117 in VA where cutoff was 112 , and 52 in QASA and 66 in QAMCQ) , in mocks and sectionals I attempted ,I usually get 48 or above in QaSA with lowest score of 40 ever , in QAMCQ I usually score around 80 in mocks and even higher in sectionals sometimes going 100+(but I feel that is inflated and due to some repeated questions ) and going lowest to around 60 in harder tests , in VA sectionals i generally get approx 120 , rarely going 130+ or 140+ and a minimum score of 98 in one of the mock tests .
I scored 96.8% in class 10th and I was very good at maths (I still am) and science , all my teachers and peers had already known that I will take PCM and prepare for JEE , not even guessed or anticipated , they knew but engineering was not my area of interest and business was , my parents supported me with whatever decision I took , I took a bold step and decided to take Commerce+applied maths and prepare for IPMAT, my teachers and peers did criticize my choice because I was really good at maths and science and they felt I was wasting my potential but I stuck with it anyway due to my interest in business and because I wanted to be a businessman , and this is probably why I feel a lot of pressure to perform , to clear IPMAT Indore in first attempt but I always have self doubt(what if I don't make it , what if I mess up on exam day , what if I completely blunder the personal interview , what if I fail the VA section ,what if I don't get in) and this messes with my motivation and studies and sometimes performance, it would be really helpful if you could tell me how to overcome these doubts and any tips to improve VA are really needed , also please tell me about the personal interview round and how should I be prepared to ace it
Your guidance would matter a lot , thank you
yo man our score are quit similar i scored 56,92,98 in 2025 ipmat indore
That's insane bro , 92 in QaMCQ 2025 IPMAT indore is crazy good , that's almost near the topper's score , mine was just 66 bro , I could have gotten a bit more with better time management maybe around 80 still nowhere near 92
Any tips on how to get there ?
Bhaiya i want to move into investment banking, and will be giving ipmat in 2026 . So what things should I do for that ( I was thinking about CFA )
Can explore CFA after you get into college. Try to get internships in finance and figure out if its something you really see yourself doing in the long term.
Was the IIM fee really worth it? An MBA is already an expensive degree, and studying at two IIMs may build an impressive profile—but it also drags one deep into debt. I can’t help but wonder if the brand and exposure truly justify the massive financial burden that lingers long after graduation. So was it worth it?
It’s a very valid concern—and honestly, one you should think about before signing up.
For me, yes, it was worth it. An IIM education dramatically increases the probability of ending up in the top 1% of income earners in India. That doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed, but the odds shift very meaningfully in your favor because of the brand, the peer group, the training, and the access to opportunities.
The debt is real—I’m carrying a large loan too. But I see it as a front-loaded investment in human capital. Given the roles and compensation trajectories that open up post-MBA, I’m confident I’ll be able to repay it in a few years and start building wealth early. By my mid-20s, I don’t expect education debt to be a long-term worry.
It’s expensive, no doubt—but if you fully leverage the ecosystem, the payoff more than justifies the cost, making it an almost no-brainer.
Bhaiya I want to complete my undergrad(preferrably through IPM from an IIM). But as soon as I convert any of these B-schools I want to shift my trajectory towards doing an MBA from abroad(again preferrably from an IVY.Harvald,YALE,etc etc). What I mean to say is I wanna start my prep for GMAT from day-1 of entering into college. But I dont know how will it work, is it even a good idea , if it is what kind of profile would I have to make to even step a foot in the door to these prestigious schools. What kind of certifications, internships, work-ex , social work , ecas, co-circulars would that require? What kind of personality and business accumen are these schools looking for?? Can you please guide me with the respect to these things.🙏🙏
The ambition is good, but it needs the right framing. You cannot do an MBA abroad straight after undergrad or IPM—top schools like Harvard or Yale require 2–5 years of full-time work experience. What is possible immediately after undergrad is a MiM (Masters in Management) through the GMAT, and many students do take that route.
Starting GMAT prep from Day 1 isn’t necessary. Early college years should focus on CGPA, internships, leadership roles, and building a clear story. Certifications matter far less than real impact and direction. People in my batch have achieved almost perfect scores in under 6 months of preparation.
The most useful thing you can do is find people who’ve made this transition on LinkedIn and message them. It’s very doable if you sequence things correctly.
Thankyou so much bhaiya for the guidance. I have gotten far more clarity now 🙏
How did you manage cat prep+ cfa with the already hectic ipm curriculum? I'm a dropper and I cannot even complete my study targets at the end of the day
For CFA, I studied roughly 3–4 hours a week from September to May—nothing crazy. I kept it consistent and that was enough. For IPM academics, I mostly studied just the night before quizzes and exams, while managing PORs and other ECAs alongside.
After my CFA attempt in May, I completely switched off and took a break till mid-September. Then I started CAT prep, prepared for about 1.5–2 months, and wrote the exam in November.
The key wasn’t long hours—it was consistency, sequencing things instead of doing everything at once, and being okay with “good enough” on some days.
Bhaiya what was your daily routine, when you were preparing for ipmat and tips to improve qa in all aspects. And your work experience is mammothly impressive keep it up bhaiya..
Bhaiya, how did you measure fee worthiness of ipm in this ai era (after already knowing that the jobs won't get totally replaced, they will get modified and ppl will have to gain new skills BUT IS IT STILL A GOOD CHOICE TO TAKE HUGE LOANS TO STUDY IPM AS IMAGINING SCENARIO AFTER 5 YEARS)
this is a huge concern and indore perhaps look worthy of it but how can someone persuade himself to study ipm in college like iim amritsar as they all are great in academic structure but the only big concern is about fees and some students even leave indore to study in srcc for this only. Also the new age ug programs at iims are insanely expensive like iimk charging nearly an ipm fee for it's 4 year bms. HOW SHOULD A STUDENT THINK ABOUT THIS MATTER AND MAKE DECISIONS APPROPRIATELY?
**
**
AI won’t replace thinking, judgment, or reasoning. What it replaces is execution without understanding. IPM, at its best, trains you in critical thinking, structured problem-solving, argument building, and using frameworks to analyze messy, real-world problems. Those skills are exactly what don’t go out of fashion, even as tools change.
For newer or non-flagship programs, you should be more cautious. In those cases, options like SRCC or top DU colleges can be very rational—lower cost, high brand value, and more flexibility. That’s why some students even move from IPM to DU.
For expensive new UG programs, the question to ask isn’t “Is the curriculum good?”—most are. The real question is: does the expected outcome justify the debt if things go only reasonably well, not perfectly? If the answer feels uncomfortable, that’s useful signal.
Think in terms of optionality vs cost, not hype. If IPM meaningfully increases your probability of landing in a Tier-1 MBA or top career track, the loan can make sense. If it doesn’t, cheaper high-quality alternatives may be the smarter play.
Hello Dhruv bhaiya, I am currently in DU (BBE) from a very unpopular South Campus college. I will be giving the August'26 CFA L1 attempt. I was a dropper so I am 1 year behind my actual batchmates. For some background context my acads are 78/88/? and I have no outstanding ECAs. My end goal is basically somehow go abroad in a safe ticket not just with a heavy loan at my back.
Currently I have purchased classes for L1 but haven't started. That's basically it if I look at the core of my problem.
Started college 5 months back, I feel I have just wasted my time in societies with no real development, just in the namesake of finding people and a friend group (even that wasn't really accomplished considering).
Here's where my head is at for the next few months (and possibly for my whole UG):
CFA
CGPA (low 10th and 12th makes me want to ace my UG BUT that rigor comes at a huge cost of my time and I am willing to make that purchase)
Building projects and my portfolio in finance (learn excel and powerpoint with it)
Internships (I want to do these but feel lost on where to start, or what to present myself as)
Case competitions (if you could recommend any names that are prommient and I should keep my eyes on, maybe a summit or anything else)
I have 1 more idea about a platform I want build for people in DU. Is that something anything encouraged in the eyes of corporate?
All of this doesn't if I am not willing to start and put effort. If you could give me a general comment on what I should keep in mind for my career trajectory. Tysm!
I’ll be direct—you’re not late, and your college or being a dropper doesn’t cap your trajectory. What matters is how intentionally you use the next few years.
Prioritise UG CGPA—it carries real weight in CAT shortlists and PI conversions, especially with your 10th/12th scores. CFA L1 is very manageable with DU’s light schedule, so start early and stay consistent. Use internships and small projects to explore different finance roles; don’t overthink the first one. Build Excel, PPT, and basic valuation skills alongside.
Do a startup/platform only if you’re genuinely passionate. Your career can go anywhere—just remember, you’re in control of the steering wheel.
the platform isn't paid, it is just a leadership initiative i would say
any tips for finding people with same mindset and actually connecting with people and not just linkedin requests and fake conversations?
Too many alternatives exist for it, work only if you truly want to dedicate the time/resources and make something that actually stands out and can comptete in the cluttered market. At the end of the day its your call on deciding the priorities of your life.
sheesh. good for you man.
are you enjoying lucknow as a city?
(pls zyada khrab mat bolna😔)
Haha, honestly yes — it’s been great being back in my hometown. I’d forgotten how good the food is, and that alone is a massive upgrade.
oh sick you're from lko too!
lucknow food over indore food?!
Everyday of the week
Are you still active?
Hi this sounds incredible. Let's say a student at christ university, what would you have done to land these oppurtunities from a disadvantaged pov, since you're not at an iim. Namely these internships as well as with cfa.
Congratulations bhaiya!
Bhaiya,what are your views or have you heard about ISBF,Delhi?(Indian School of Business and Finance).If yes,how is it?
Thankyou!
Hey bhaiya....got inspired reading this but i'm just so confused on how to manage this,I hv started the prep today and approx just 100 days left for ipmat exam can i clear it?I will also have my boards btw these days so is it really possible to clear with just a month prep
as you mentioned
I am in my first year (second semester) pursuing Economics Honours. I see many of my peers doing internships, but I feel I am not yet skilled enough to secure one. I plan to prepare for the CFA program and want to build relevant skills and certifications that align with this path before applying for internships. I am currently confused about which certifications to pursue and would appreciate your guidance.
Hello bhaiya, I will be appearing for the 2027 exams(I am a commerce with math student). please guide me. I will use takshzila self-prep course where Nishant and Chandra sir teach so I think this will be great and sufficient, along with afterboards bundle, and for VA, should i purchase any course like VARC1000 or watch YT videos (Gejo speaks, pls suggest some of them more)and read books like WPME and Wren&Martin for grammar and how should i read newspapers and essays or magazines and how frequently should i read them? Apart from this, as IPMAT Rohtak and JIPMAT have LR and DI a bit as well so can I follow Elites grid EG yt where Gourav Kapoor sir teaches or any other channels? Lastly, how to manage boards, CUET, IPMAT Indore & Rohtak altogether, and thank you so much for your time
Okay hi everyone I know this is of topic and I am just coming on someone question but I just need some urgent advise so I am a very average student but from very beginning I just new I want to do something from maths because I like maths and I like problems solving and leadership and all so I blindly to PCM and went to the most known route J and you it was not simple but it was just most known to 16 year old Aparna but Sona started to suffer because I hate science and still I had the audacity to choose Physics in chemistry it was just really brilliant of me I can say like even in 10th I was scared of science but I the only options I had was PCM or PCB parents so I opt for my love and fell into the depth of depression and started asking myself various things like who am I what am I doing why did I did this I drop coaching and after mid 11th failed in almost Physics in chemistry get into 12th and the fear was insane I did not take attempt one exam in 12th my attendance was afford I had to pay fine and all in order to even have my preboard and tomorrow is my keyboard now I just want to have 60% at least in my boats my maths is good and I am not kidding I just charge if it this this is what I like suggest an exam for me and the first exam was ipmat Till they are not even heard about this and I don't even care if I clear it or not because at least this exam will give me a direction help me fall in love with maths again give me a purpose and also with this I have picked up my few hobbies again like content creation which I had like 300 subscribers when I deleted my YouTube channel out of spite in 11th which I put my 3 years of hard work in but that's another day story I know maybe it's too late but someday I have to just start so why not right now I am just starting to prepare for my boards I am just doing simple NCERT because I don't have much time left I am preparing more for like English and phe to score 90 plus( I like already have covered syllabus in June something because these are the only to subject that I could study without getting a headache )and just want to pass chem phy and maths i will score decent i know even if I pass boards I will be thankful to God because honestly there are no signs right now I am just hoping like I just want to live again like back in the days when in 10th I used to enjoy studies enjoy the rigour enjoy giving exams i just want my life back but I can't I know that I cannot go back in pass but I can be impresent so I am trying to rebuilt my life trying to wake up early eat good be present in movement do my task and I am starting this exam preparation for IP mate just because I want some direction and I just want to give life another short( 😭) and all the topics really interest me like these are the things that I really will I want to study I have looked into IPM program and it allines with my goals and future and my interest so I am really giving it a short I know it is competitive but I just want to try so if any of you have tips to wear I can look for letters I am not buying any bad as much as I want to because that I have bought like 3 batches in the past 2 years and I am not study leave in one lecture from them maybe in my I will buy mocks but right now I need to just complete you know topic lectures so if any of you can guide in how much time I should start or cover my lectures where I can get the best lectures free on YouTube and free questions and resources and when should I start appearing for marks and the PI I don't even think I will to make it that but please some advise
Bro any strategy to ace quants as it was really hard for me now to study both ipmat and boards if you have 2 months to prepare for ipmat what will u first do?
Pls reply
Hello Dhruv bhaiya, i am in my drop year and preparing for IPMAT and i want to know what strategy or timetable that would help me in my** ** **preparation **
[
Hii, firstly a huge congratulations for such an inspiring trajectory of success!
Since you've cleared all ipmat exams, can u please guide us on ur strategy as we know that in JIPMAT they ask mostly on arithmetic and algebra while in IPMAT its more modern maths and algebra. How does one manage all this together given that there are 3 month for JIPMAT and 4 for IPMAT?
(Also we share the same hometown hehe, i too wanna go to iim L for MBA, there's no ipmat unfortunately, the paneer there has my heart)
If you prepare well for IPMAT Indore and Rohtak, you will sail through JIPMAT. The level of difficulty is extremely low in JIPMAT compared to the other two.
But giving 1 hr to arithmetic and 4 to modern maths+algebra seems fine right?
It completely depends on your comfort with each topic. The best approach is to take mocks and sectionals, identify where you’re going wrong—questions you miss, take too long on, or forget shortcuts for—and then tailor your prep around those gaps. Spend more time only on topics that actually need improvement. The single objective should be raising your mock scores, not tracking how much time you spent studying a topic.
Okkk bhaiya thankyou so much!
when is the jipmat exam?
Last year it was on 26 April, not sure for 2026 tho, and from 2021-25 all years have very random jipmat dates to make a prediction, so best we can do is stay updated in aftbs WhatsApp group as they'll inform us regarding any announcement of the same :))
Hello, dhruv bhaiya... How are you doing?
IIM Indore and now IIM lucknow, that's extraordinary bro !
My only question is 'how to handle interviews'. I come from a government school, so I don't have much soft skills, however I have a good command over english and can communicate well. Since I'm giving ipmat in 2027, I have a ample amount of time. How can I utilize my time effectively and build the skills ? Thanks for your consideration!
Try giving mock interviews and work on the feedback you recieve. Worked for both IPMAT and CAT.
Bhaiya first of all congratulations..you are an inspiration to us all...I wanted to ask how much do extra curriculars matter in interview...i have gotten good grades and have a strong academic background but not so much in extracurriculars..how was your interview and what would u suggest for the last month of preperation..That's all ..All the best
They ask about ECAs only if you bring it up, mention it only if you have outstanding national/state level achievements. If you have a strong academic foundation you can sail through interviews without them.
Also bhayia do u think being double dropper is a disadvantage like will they reject if ur a double dropper? Even if u get good scores
If you can justify the drop and show that you were not just preparing for the entrance exam and were meaningfully engaged in something then it shouldn't be a problem.
Hello bhaiya, I wanted to ask about financial careers. I have great interest in it and am confused about how I should proceed. I am currently in class 12(CBSE). Should I go for CA/CMA or start preparing for CFA L1 after getting into college. And please provide tips for CUET and IPMAT. I have also cleared the National Finance Olympiad Level 1 and going to give the level 2 in february 7. I have interest in finance and have taken Applied Maths as a subject. My performance is good in Accounts,Economics and App. Maths and also quite good in others as well.
It's my humble request to provide guidance about what I should focus on and which direction I should move towards. Please tell about careers in finance and skills required for the same.
Thank you.
CA/CMA and CFA are very different paths, so don’t choose blindly.
First figure out which side of finance excites you more. Your National Finance Olympiad is a good CV signal—keep at it. With your strengths in Accounts, Eco, and Applied Maths, both paths are open.
For now: Boards first, then CUET/IPMAT. Decide on CFA/CA after entering college. Use YouTube and job descriptions to understand finance roles before committing.
Thank you bhaiya
Can you suggest college courses that can pair well while doing CFA/CA.
Get into a college first, you will get plenty of electives to choose from. You can also look into finance internships and case competitions they would pair much better with a CA/CFA instead of any random course from coursera/udemy.
Also can you tell me should I prefer to do BBA or B.com or BFIA or any other
Your interests, context, background, future ambitions, career goals dictate that choice not my opinion
Ok
Hi Dhruv bhaiya,
What is the one thing that a student should focus the most on while preparing for IPMAT? (Did you prepare for JEE, if that helped you with IPMAT too)
And is IIFT a good institute to consider to do IPMAT, since they've recently started offering it?
Boards should be prioritised over IPMAT?
For IPMAT, the single most important thing to focus on is giving and analysing mocks.
I didn’t prepare for JEE at all—I only studied for boards and didn’t even register for JEE. Whatever overlap helped me came purely from board-level Maths, not engineering prep.
On IIFT IPM, I’d urge caution. It’s a non-flagship program at a non-flagship campus, and I haven’t heard very encouraging feedback so far. Please do thorough research—talk to current students—before considering it seriously.
And yes, absolutely: Boards > IPMAT till your last board exam (Doesn't mean it gets completely ignored). Once boards are done, go all-in on IPMAT prep.
thank you!
Hello bhaiya , I heard about NBFA (Need based financial assistance ) What is percentage of scholarship of the total fees i can get from all IIMs offering IPM and UG . I am a general -EWS student(genuine wala) . I have annual income less than 4 lakh , have all those important government documents by which i can prove that i am not rich to handle such fee !
NBFA and scholarships are there, but there’s no fixed % that applies across all scholarships/schemes —it depends on the institute, home state and your verified income. With income under ₹4L, you’re definitely eligible for meaningful fee support, but the exact amount varies.
Also look at state government schemes. For example, Madhya Pradesh has a scheme that can cover almost the entire 5 years of IPM (you mostly pay mess expenses). Other states offer smaller amounts.
Best thing to do: check the NBFA policy of each IIM and scholarships from your home state—that’s where most help usually comes from.
So hi dhruv bhaiya, I have a very basic question to you, so as after completing my studies I don't want to leave my parents alone in the hometown as my elder brother already went pune. I don't want to do the same thing, I will be there in my home town only (have a business there too). Which postgraduate program is best in mba to get a full time work from home job? As per your experience that after getting into an iim. Like consulting, marketing, hr, operations or sales? Where I can find a full time work from home?
I’ll be very honest here, because this is important to hear early.
A full-time work-from-home job after an MBA (especially from an IIM) is extremely rare. In my batch of 550+ students, only 2 people ended up with truly remote roles—and that was more due to company-specific circumstances than the specialization they chose. So it’s not something you can reliably plan for.
Across domains—consulting, marketing, HR, operations, sales, or finance—none of them structurally offer WFH roles at the entry level post-MBA. Most desk roles are based out of the 6 major metros, and many roles involve either office presence or frequent travel. Working full-time from a non-metro hometown is unlikely.
If staying in your hometown long-term is a non-negotiable priority, an MBA should be pursued for skill and network value, not with the expectation of guaranteed WFH. Remote roles do exist, but they’re random, rare, and not specialization-driven—so going in with that mindset can lead to disappointment.
It’s better to assume relocation will be required, at least initially, and plan accordingly.
Bhayia since you have converted all the iims I wanted to ask the ones who have low board marks like in 70s nd if they performed well in exam and interview can that compensate the low board marks?
Yes—low board marks can be compensated, but it depends on the college-specific weightage policy.
Each IIM assigns different weights to 10th/12th marks, entrance exam scores, and interviews. The right approach is to check these weightages carefully, quantify the disadvantage from boards, and then calculate how much you need to make up through an exceptionally strong entrance exam and interview. That helps you set realistic target colleges instead of going in blind.
Also, remember this: even if you don’t convert your dream college now, it’s not the end of the road. Through CAT, several Tier-1 colleges place relatively low weight on 10th and 12th marks, giving you a clean opportunity to reset your profile with a strong exam performance.
So like as you know that ranchi and rohtak have 20,30% weightage and jammu too so can it be compensated?
Might be a bit tough but you can try for other options. Also the choices expand dramatically for CAT
Ik that but like if I scored supposedly in 270,280 with a good interview hopefully it can compensate that been worrying a lot about this since my board marks are haunting me
You can check past year cutoffs, get the formula for composite score and then see how much might be required to compensate to get a PI call.
I did checked and asked anything above 230 is a safe score so I'm hoping even if I get a good score nd had a good interview it can compensate that
Being in an IPM program, what would you recommend for others to do, and things not to do
like how to make the best out of the 3 years you get
and when is a good time to start preparing for CAT, like without getting bored or burnout
What I’d genuinely recommend during the three IPM years is to say “yes” aggressively, but not blindly. Say yes to academics, to PORs, to internships, to case comps, to random conversations. Talk to everyone—batchmates, seniors, juniors. You’re sitting inside an IIM ecosystem; the biggest asset you’re given is people. Build real relationships and a network of friends you can call for help, advice, or perspective anytime.
What you shouldn’t do is optimize for just one thing. Don’t reduce IPM to only internships, only PORs, or only grades. It’s a generalist degree for a reason—use it to build a broad base of skills first. Once you understand what you enjoy and where you’re good, then specialize during your MBA and go all in. That approach keeps burnout away and clarity high.
How would you rate actuarial science for someone who wants to break into finance since I am interested in math and stats, and which course/college would be more suitable to someone pursuing it?
Actuarial science is a legitimate and rewarding path, especially if you genuinely enjoy mathematics, statistics, and long problem-solving cycles. It can lead to strong outcomes, particularly in insurance, risk, and pensions—and I have close friends who’ve cleared multiple actuarial exams, so it’s absolutely doable.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend pairing actuarial exams with IPM. IPM is already demanding, and actuarial preparation is extremely rigorous and time-intensive. Doing both together often leads to dilution rather than advantage.
If actuarial science is something you’re truly passionate about, a DU undergraduate program (because of its flexibility and lighter structure) is usually a better fit. It gives you the time and mental bandwidth actuarial exams require.
More broadly, actuarial science is high-reward but very high-rigor. For finance-adjacent monetary outcomes, there are alternative paths—MBA + finance roles, CFA/FRM—that demand less sustained exam intensity. So it makes sense only if you’re choosing it for interest, not just outcomes.
Hello Bhaiya! First of all, congratulations! That's one mighty impressive career trajectory. I'd be really grateful if you could answer these questions
I faced the exact same dilemma. My parents also felt that engineering was the safer, more conventional route. For me, one thing was very clear early on: I did not want to do engineering. Once that clarity existed, the rest became easier.
What helped in conversations with my parents was not ideology, but data. I showed them placement outcomes of top MBA programs versus the kind of engineering colleges I was realistically targeting. If I had gone the JEE route, I would likely have ended up in a Tier-1.5 or Tier-2 engineering college—not a top IIT. In that scenario, the expected outcomes on the management side were clearly stronger.
That said, this is important: both paths are safe and successful. Neither guarantees anything. What matters more is where you stand within the cohort. If you’re in the top 1–2%—whether in engineering or management—you’ll do very well. If you’re average and uninterested, neither path magically fixes that. So the real question is: where are you more likely to perform at your best?
I didn’t quit CFA—I just slowed it down deliberately. I’ve registered for CFA Level II for the August 2026 attempt. During IPM, I didn’t want to singularly optimize for one credential and miss out on campus life, internships, and leadership roles.
That said, it’s absolutely feasible to pursue programs like CFA, CRM, or even the IIT Madras online BSc alongside IPM. People in my batch did it, and juniors are doing it now. It comes down to time management and priorities. Many IPM students finish CFA Level II by the end of three years. There’s no single “correct” pace—go at a speed that doesn’t burn you out or narrow your learning.
I took an education loan for both my undergrad and my MBA. Paid internships help, but realistically they don’t cover a significant chunk of tuition—they mainly take care of living expenses and give you some breathing room.
Yes, the loan amount is large, and that’s something you should think through carefully. But I view it as an investment in human capital. You’re betting on yourself—your skills, your learning, and your ability to create value post-MBA. If things go reasonably well, it’s a loan you can pay off in a couple of years after graduating.
Thank you so much bhaiya for taking the time to read and answer my queries! Your answers gave me a lot of clarity.I'll try taking the same route as you to convince my parents. All the best for your future !!
Thank you for this opportunity bhaiya.
For a career in Equity Research, will Bachelors from DU + CFA + Workex + CAT make more sense than IPM program at IIMs? I know i shouldn't be asking this before exams ( i will be lucky enough to convert any of them ) but still.... Also i feel if undergrad is solid, it might provide me with more shots which an average aspirant might need unlike IPM which honestly feels quite rigid or maybe i can't work that hard.
This is actually a very sensible question, and you’re thinking about it the right way—by starting with the end goal and working backward.
For a career in Equity Research, both paths can work extremely well. There isn’t a universally superior option; the right choice depends on how you expect your own behavior to look over the next 5–6 years.
If by DU you mean tier 1 colleges like SRCC, SSCBS, or LSR, then yes—DU + CFA + work experience + CAT is a very strong and well-trodden path into equity research. In fact, many people consciously choose this route because it gives them more flexibility during undergrad: more time to pursue CFA seriously, do internships during the year, build startups, and gain early work experience. Some students even move from IPM to this route because of that flexibility.
The real question is this: do you trust yourself to fully utilize that freedom?
That path works best for people who are self-driven, disciplined, and proactive—because no one is structuring your life for you. If you do use that time well, it can give you more “shots” at building a differentiated profile.
IPM, on the other hand, is more structured and compressed. You trade some flexibility for early access to a Tier-1 ecosystem, consistent academic rigor, and a shorter, more predictable path to a top MBA. For many people, that structure is actually a feature, not a bug—it reduces the risk of drifting or underutilizing time.
So the choice isn’t really DU vs IPM. It’s:
If you’re confident you’ll grind, explore, and build intentionally—DU + CFA + workex + CAT can make a lot of sense. If you want a more guided route that still leads to the same destination, IPM is a very strong option.
Thanks a lot for such a detailed reply bhaiya. Other people charge money for this advice while your ethos and of people here at Afterboards is to guide students for free. Wish I had discovered this platform sooner!
[deleted]
[deleted]
Finally found someone as interested as me in stocks, would love to connect!
same here buddy! Did u yet start anything?
Yes I have interned at a family office. Have you done anything?
Here's my reddit id - u/Melodic-Drop-1926
I haven't done any real groundwork so can't help in that but I have been learning a lot like an academic so can help you in that respect.
Hello, I am interested in this field. I would like connect as well. I am currently in Class 12th
share reddit id
Discussion related to the coachings, options in the market, if you should grab AfterBoards... our team answers all your doubts about the AfterBoards offerings.
Create an account to join our community and participate in discussions.
Verified. Dhruv is an amazing guy and a really good friend. I'm so happy seeing the progress you've made from Day 0. You're someone who has maximised the IIM ecosystem, very proud of you!
Means a lot, truly.
You were the one who pushed me at the exact moment I was leaning toward taking a drop. That 20-minute conversation changed my trajectory more than you know. Forever grateful for that nudge and for having friends who believe before you do