The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) 2011 results have been declared. PaGalGuY met up with some of the toppers to know their plans for the future. The boys, who obviously studied hard to reach the top, have a series of ‘want-to-do-things’ now — some of these include buying new mobile phones and laptops to taking tennis lessons and just chilling out with friends.

Bhavin Jain

University Rank: 1

State Rank: 2

Written Score: 153/200

Final Score: 184/240

Written Percentile: 99.99

“Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) was always my dream, and I have achieved it,” says Bhavin Jain, this years topper. For Bhavin, written test preparation began a month prior to the test date. His worked on specific questions for the first 15 days and then attempted a mock test every day. It used to take 2.5 hours to attempt a mock test and one hour to analyse it. I never studied more than 4 hours a day for the test.

Bhavin prepared for GD-PI without joining any coaching institute. He vouches for technology as a life enhancer, because the mobile phone was one his most important resources for GD-PI preparation. My mobile phone helped me a lot during my preparation. I have a very good network of friends who are either pursuing MBA or preparing for it. We used to have a lot of discussions about current events and that kept me abreast with lots of immediate information,” says Bhavin.

The topper adds that he also reads newspapers inside out, especially the opinion section to know the latest views and thought-trends. When asked about who motivated him, he instantly replied, My dad was my greatest motivation. Whenever I used to worry that there were just 40 seats in the JBIMS open category, my dad pumped up my courage.

Bhavin also credits Parag Chitale from CPLC classes and Vivek from Catalyser institute for helping him throughout. Bhavins GD-PI centre was JBIMS. He wasn’t as tense during GD-PI prep as he was bored. The CET results were released on April 11. I had scored good marks in the written test which boosted my confidence. I had my GD-PI on May 24. There was a long gap between the written test results and the GD-PI and I wanted this to get over as soon as possible.

The only thing that bothered him was not being tuned in with general knowledge. I had heard that a lot of GK questions were asked at the GD-PI. But I was lucky to have been asked simple questions.

Bhavin believes that group studying is the best way to score good marks and preparing for tests alone is boring. I never isolated myself from family get-togethers or my friends during CET preparation. I feel that when you have to attempt any test, just stay cool. The post-success story? Bhavin is planning to buy a new mobile phone and a laptop. He is throwing a party on Sunday for friends and family. He is also planning to visit Goa with friends this month. I will be working really hard once I join JBIMS. So, I really want to party hard this month. says CET topper.

Parth Dedhia

University Rank: 2

Written score – 152/200

Written percentile – 99.99

(Currently we have no additional information about Parth except that he has bagged rank 2. Below, we have reproduced excerpts from an interview PaGalGuY had published in April when the written scores were declared.)

This Dadar boy was so shy of publicity that he had refused to send us his photograph in April. Parth had then attributed some of his success to luck as well. My intent and efforts, correct coaching and a bit of luck are the reasons for my score. This was my first attempt at MH CET and to get such a score is for me a pleasant shock.

The unconventional CET paper, with a strong focus on reading comprehension helped me a lot as comprehension has been my area of strength, Parth had explained to us. He did not have a specific strategy for the paper, and just solved questions set by set. I solved all the questions of a particular passage in one go and I marked them on the answer sheet. This ensured I did not miss out on areas of my strength and ultimately contributed to the good score.

Prathmesh Dembla

University rank: 3

State rank: 4

Written Test Score: 152/200

Final Score: 183/24

Written Percentile: 99.99

He was celebrating his success at the hill station of Lonavala when PaGalGuY reached him. Prathmesh has decided to join JBIMS this year.

Prathmesh followed a very strict timetable while preparing for CET. He had started preparing for the CAT in May 2010. The CAT preparation helped him to understand basic concepts of standard aptitude test sections. Talking about test strategy, he explains, I used to attempt 2-3 mocks daily. Sometimes I isolated myself from others. Neither did I watch movies nor attend any family functions or parties for three months. But all that was worth it since I am now joining JBIMS.

His GD-PI centre was KJ Somaiya College, Mumbai. He prepared by tuning into business news but was taken aback when the GD topic given to him was based on politics. My group was not aggressive so we ended up having a good discussion. This was not one of my best GDs. For the interview, he chose microfinance and rural India as a topic. He was prepared to face standard MBA admissions interview questions.

His father was his greatest motivation during CET preparation. He also gives credit to the faculty at his coaching institute for his success. Ever since the results have been declared, Prathmesh has also been checking every congratulatory message received on Facebook. As of now Prathmesh has decided, I am going to buy a Blackberry mobile phone and a laptop. I am going to party this week and will search for a place to stay in south Mumbai.

Gautam Iyer

University Rank: 5

State Rank: 6

Percentile: 99.98

When PaGalGuY called him up, he was about to leave for a dinner outing, yet he spoke for a few minutes. I started preparing for the CET starting December 2011 and did not join any coaching institute. But I used course material of T.I.M.E. coaching classes and attempted at least one mock test every week.

Preparing for CAT helped him a lot during CET. His GD-PI centre was JBIMS and he joined Quoin Academy for GD-PI preparation. Mock GD-PIs helped him to convert MH-CET. “I used to read newspapers daily and that added to my overall general knowledge,” he says

His parents work at senior positions in insurance companies and they are the ones who inspired him throughout the CET preparation. Gautam loves sports but stayed away from any during CET preparation. I am also working. Working, Studying and playing sports was impossible.

Regarding his post success plans he says, My mother wants me to visit Badrinath (a religious shrine in Uttaranchal). I may go there and I am also learning swimming. In some time, I will take up tennis classes too.”