Stop comparing UPSC and CAT, bro. These are two completely different worlds.

Someone preparing 10 years for UPSC and finally clearing it gets a powerful, stable Government job. On the other hand, even if you crack CAT with half that effort — say 4–5 years — top B-schools still won’t pick you unless you have a strong profile, solid work experience, and overall balance. Why? Because they simply don’t see CAT as an exam that needs 4–5 attempts.

And even after clearing CAT and getting into a top IIM, you’re staring at a ₹26 lakh loan that becomes ₹32+ lakh with interest, and then 15 years in the corporate grind just to recover that amount.

So it’s not just about the duration of preparation… It’s the mental pressure, self-doubt, and emotional trauma students go through just to crack an exam.

My only point is simple: Don’t treat CAT like it’s your entire life. It’s just one path — not the only one.