Aravind MenonIt’s hard to beat Aravind Menon. The final year chemical engineering student at the IIT Bombay has scored cent per cent marks in the Common Admission Test (CAT) to the premier management study institutions in India. Being in the top 20 in a test attempted by about 2 lakh students, the 21-year-old just has to walk into the IIM of his choice. But he has other plans.
Menon said that he planned to continue with his job in Amsterdam’s Optiver for another two years before pursuing an MBA degree. The Dutch company recruited him directly from the campus. He has his eyes set on a career in financial management.
Menon cracked CAT without any coaching. “You just have to master your course. The knowledge you build and the skills you amass will help you in the test,” said the Mumbai boy.
“It’s a must to practice with previous question papers. That will help you increase your speed and improve your accuracy.”
“Improve your English proficiency. Understand the concepts of logical reasoning. If you are well versed in the concepts, you can answer the questions faster.”
“Attempt only the questions you are sure of, or you will get negative marks and lose time. I had answered only 18 questions in the logical section.”
“You have to look beyond books. Your personality is as much important as your academic excellence when you attend interviews to companies or IIMs.”
Menon’s father Prasad Menon, chief of operations with Mukund Limited in Mumbai, traces his roots to Kozhikode. His mother Rukmini Prasad is from Thiruvananthapuram. His brother Anirudh is a 12th class student.
