How an Environmentalist and Scientific Officer, Kanika Mehra cracked XAT 2022 with 98.32%ile to get into XLRI Jamshedpur

With a few days left for XAT 2023 exam, which is scheduled on Sunday, January 8, 2023, MBAUniverse.com approached XAT toppers studying at XLRI Jamshedpur, with a view to provide motivation and suitable guidance with last minute tips for XAT aspirants. In its series of articles on XAT toppers, we bring before you success stories of XAT toppers who cracked XAT with high score and have joined XLRI Jamshedpur with their own devised preparation strategy. The first in the series of XAT toppers is Kanika Mehra, an M.Sc in Environmental Studies was serving as Scientific Officer at International Water Management Institute while preparing for XAT 2022. Kanika cracked XAT 2022 exam with 98.32 percentile and has joined PGDM 2022-24 batch at XLRI Jamshedpur.

A full time working professional as a Scientific Officer at International Water Management Institute, Kanika had to discharge multiple roles and had to balance between full time work and preparation for XAT. As such, due to time crunch, she devised her own XAT preparation strategy. Kanika had earned 2+ years of work experience before joining XLRI Jamshedpur.

With a firm confidence and planned preparation strategy, Kanika overcame her weak areas and utilised the unique Decision Making section in XAT to boost her score. MBAUniverse.com invited Kanika to share her preparation and XAT day strategy, how she cracked XLRI Jamshedpur final selection process and more.

Q: What was your overall and sectional score & Percentile in XAT 2022?
A: My XAT overall percentile was 98.32 at an overall score of 45.26 marks. My sectional percentile and score for three core sections in XAT 2022 was:

Section	Percentile	Score
VARC-LR	99.96	74.22
Decision Making	97.19	41.12
QADI	65.71	21.48

Q: Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your academics and work experience?
A: I belong to Delhi and my parents are working professionals. I did B.Sc. Analytical Chemistry from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi and M.Sc. in Environmental Studies and Resource Management, TERI. I worked  as a Scientific Officer at International Water Management Institute for 2+ years before joining XLRI Jamshedpur. I have won many awards in College and University Debates. I love reading and have keen interest in Yoga

Q: Why did you decide to pursue an MBA program? What were the key motivators?
A: To upskill myself, give my career a push. I decided to take a career break after working for a few years, to prepare for Civil Services examination. However, it did not pan out as I expected. I wanted to go back to the job market with renewed skills.

Q: Is prior work experience important for MBA? How does it help in MBA program?
A: Prior work experience is very important. It gives you a practical experience of how things work in real life, and what are the real challenges that managers face. With your prior work experience, you understand the nuances apart from the textbook knowledge.

Q: How do the Academic & Gender Diversity help in Management Program?
A: I belong to a very unique stream, in fact, there is practically no one in my institute with a profile like mine. I am able to bring to table very unique ideas, and my knowledge horizon is a lot more wider and diverse than my peers. So, in group projects, we are able to infuse a lot of new, creative ideas. Peer learning is enhanced.

Q: What role do the Extra curricular achievements play in MBA admission process?
A: Very important in developing your holistic personality. There is a lot more to people than just good academics, and good academics are not the best indicators of wisdom and success. A lot of management skills are learnt on sports ground or in passion projects. Some of my young peers are already published writers!

Q: What was your overall XAT preparation strategy?
A: My overall preparation included following strategy:

• Utilise my strength to my advantage to increase my overall score.
• Score enough in my weak section to get an interview call.
• Use DM to my full advantage as it’s a level playing field for all.

Q: Please share your sectional preparation strategy for XAT?
A: My Sectional preparation strategy for key sections in XAT exam was as below

• VARC: It is my natural strength, as I am an avid reader and writer. Focused on solving sectional mocks/PYQs everyday to increase accuracy and score.
• Decision Making: I practiced all PYQs and tried to understand and implement the underlying theme in solving those questions. Never be unethical, and try to do maximum good for maximum people. Try using a simple decision tree to solve the problem.
• Quants: It was my weak point. Decided to only focus on topics that I can do justice to and score well enough.

Q: What was your preparation strategy for DM section?
A: I utilized Decision Making to my full advantage with following preparation strategy:

• Practice all past year mocks.
• Eliminate the two obvious wring choices.
• Between the remaining two, try to identify which one will fetch maximum good for all.
• A basic understanding of utilitarianism, deontology.

Q: What role does GK play in XAT? What was your preparation strategy
A: Although GK score is not counted in percentile preparation, it play important role in XLRI admission. Few things that helped in my GK preparation strategy were:

• My UPSC preparation helped me in that.
• Try reading a newspaper every day, it will help you with your VARC, essay and interview as well.
• Pick up something like The Hindu, Mint or Indian Express.
• Read editorials.

Q: How did you prepare for descriptive Essay Writing Test in XAT?
A: My strategy was:

• Read everyday, so you have some fodder to write. Read newspaper editorials.
• Read AEON essays
• Write simple, short sentences, with no flowery language.
• Have a coherent idea flowing in your essay.

Q: Which section in XAT did you find difficult? How did you overcome and prepare for it?
A: I found Quants difficult, because I was out of touch with it during my working years and UPSC prep. However, I did not try to do full syllabus. Instead, improved accuracy in the limited topics I was going to focus on.

Q: How did you remain Motivated through your preparation journey?
A: Trust the process. It will only make you better. And once you will be past this phase, this drudgery will look very trivial.

Q: Many MBA aspirants struggle with Social Media distractions. How did you manage it?
A: I had disciplined myself in following ways

• During my UPSC preparation, I used to follow strict phone-free hours during my study time.
• I used to keep my phone away in a separate room/cupboard and not check it for hours.
• I used apps that lock away social media.
• If working on laptop, I made sure that my WhatsApp and Facebook were not logged in.

Q: What mistakes the aspirants should avoid during entrance exam preparation?
A: Worrying too much. It is more of a mental battle. Be confident in yourself and things will fall in place. Do not take disappointments to your heart. Failure is a part of the process.

Q: What were the key components in XLRI final selection round?
A: Your attitude during the interview round. You have to be confident, and that comes from having a well rounded personality. Have the ability to hold a conversation.

Q: How did you prepare for the final selection round?
A: My success mantra for preparation for final selection round was:

• Be thorough with what you have done, be it in your studies or work.
• If you are going to mention about some book that you have read/liked, be sure you really have something to say about it.
• Don’t mention things and hobbies just to impress the panel. They can see through all that.

Q: Please share some of the key questions asked in the Personal Interview
A: Some of the questions were

• My PI largely involved around my work experience. They asked me about the ethics involved in conducting Focused Group Discussions or field surveys in rural areas.
• They also asked me about current news items related to Human Resources that created buzz.

Q: Was your PI Round conducted in person or Online? How was your experience?
A: It was conducted Online. It was smooth, although in an offline interview it is easier to understand the non-verbal cues of the interview panel.

Q: Please share Tips for online interview
A: Important tips are

• Be presentable, in a well lit room with minimum noise.
• Look poised and confident, with a smiling face.
• Be coherent in your thoughts and precise in your answers.
• Accept if you do not know something.

Q: What were your key criteria while selecting a B-school?
A: In my view, a B-school is known for its legacy, where I can find an intellectually stimulating peer group. And of course, placement report forms a major decisive factor.

Q: Apart from XLRI, which were the other top B-schools that Shortlisted you?
A: Apart from XLRI, I was shortlisted for MICA, IMT, XIMB, since I focused on XAT colleges.

Q: Which all top B-schools offered Final Admission to you?
A: I was offered final admission by XLRI Jamshedpur, MICA, IMT, XIMB

Q: What motivated you to choose XLRI Jamshedpur over other B-schools?
A: Key motivators were

• XLRI Placement report
• Legacy institute, at par with top IIMs.
• The celebrated alumni network
• The campus itself

Q: Finally, what is your message and tips for candidates preparing for XAT and other exams?
A: Your physical and mental wellbeing on the D-day matters a lot. My CAT exam got ruined because of my ill health.

• Make sure you eat healthy
• Rest enough in the last few days
• Sleep deprivation can severely drop your cognitive skills
• Do not compromise on sleep for last moment exam frenzy!

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