Student Silhouette
CET Topper:
Varun Khanna
Born to Achieve
Afsha Khan
How does it feel to be the Maharashtra CET topper?
All of us are born with potential. But it is It feels great because once you’ve decided you want to do
only modesty and faith in one’s abilities something, you tend to give it your best shot. This year I gave
CET my best shot. I had taken it last year as well to get a feel
that leads us to success. Varun Khanna is
of the test. Also, I wanted to work for at least another year
one such person who has the attitude and
before applying to various B-Schools. But, this year, I took
personality to achieve success. He
the test with complete dedication. The last time I gave my
definitely doesn’t do this by boasting of
CET, I was ranked at 250 in Maharashtra and around 100-
his academic achievements or by burying
150 in Mumbai. I had finished the exam two minutes before
his nose in management books. Having
time was up. It was then that I realised that this was one of
completed his Bachelor’s in Management
the exams that I WOULD crack the next year because I believed
Studies from Sydenham College, Varun is in myself. More so, my parents’ reaction has been amazing.
currently studying at the Jamnalal Bajaj They are very proud of me and that makes me really happy.
Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS),
How many entrance tests did you give before the CET?
doing his MMS. He is also Director of
I gave the CAT, XAT, FMS and CET. My aim has always
Pegasus Events, a company he
been pretty defined. I wanted to be either in the top 10
established with a few of his friends. He institutes or work. There was a lot about JBIMS that appealed
has learnt everything he needs to through to me. Primarily, it was the legacy, When I say legacy I refer
experience and keeping an open mind. to the last 40 years of the institution, the alumni and the
Despite taking the CET in 2004, and doing faculty. Being at Nariman Point in Mumbai, which is a business
fairly well, he wasn’t content. He dreamt hub, we’re definitely very connected to the corporate sector
of getting into one of the top 10 B- and our guest lectures are brilliant.
Schools in the country and didn’t settle How did you prepare for the written test?
for anything less. His efforts paid off as CET is different from other tests. The exam content is such
he topped the Maharashtra CET exam in that you cannot be good in just one specific area. In the other
2005. All of us can learn a little from tests you have negative marking, so you have to pick and
Varun, who attributes his success to choose what you’re comfortable with. You have to concentrate
positive thinking. more on your strengths than on your weaknesses. But in CET
you have to have a minimum comfort level with everything. I

Student Silhouette
was more comfortable with getting recommend this to anyone, but what well in it. My Event Management
company too gets a little of my time but
through my strong areas really quickly, really works for me is to do all my
I’m most active in the placement
and tried my best to concentrate more important studying the night before an
committee. My primary focus for the
on my weak areas. My weak areas were exam and then directly giving the paper
next two years will be my studies and
reading comprehension and visual without any sleep. Despite the fact that
responsibilities. My vision of an MBA is
reasoning. But with loads of practice, I many people recommended that I get at
that of a challenge and I know I’m going
knew on the day of the paper I wouldn’t least four hours of sleep, I was confident
to be a manager. Ten years down the
take more than 15 to 20 seconds to that I stood a better chance at cracking
line I hope to have a business of my own.
crack each question. Visual reasoning the CET if I stayed up the whole night.
A global MNC based in India! But you
helped me save around 30 seconds for It was a radical decision but I know
can never really tell the course life tends
other questions. Practice, by far, is the where my strengths and weaknesses lie
to take. I might just opt to start a B-
most important factor in taking the CET. and I’m very comfortable with this
School of my own and share my
You have to keep giving Sim-CETs. pattern of studying. The night before the
knowledge with others. It may sound
Primarily what I did was after each Sim- paper I didn’t get any sleep. I took 2
like a Miss India answer but I really do
CET I evaluated and analysed exactly Sim-CET’s after 12 am and spent time
like helping people. That is why I aspired
where I went wrong. And you have to analysing my score and strategies. Once
to take up psychology about 3 years
try redoing the paper and crack it in less again I don’t recommend this, but
ago. I am an absolute dreamer and I tend
than two and a half hours. I don’t believe studying all night has been my technique
to achieve my dreams, come hell or high
in guesswork, which is what most and it has worked well for me.
water. I wanted to do Event
people do, as there isn’t any negative
Are you part of any committees or Management and thus I got together
marking.
extra-curricular activities in college? with a few of my friends and started a
What according to you was the Well, I’m on the placements company. Eventually I want a degree in
toughest section in the paper? committee, which is one of the most law and I’m going to pursue it after my
For me, the toughest section was important committees at JBIMS. The MBA. My future definitely depends on
probably Visual Reasoning. There are a workload is tremendous but I enjoy it a my attitude. I strongly believe in these
lot of ways you can look at Visual lot. I was surprised when, two weeks words, “It is the attitude of a man not
Reasoning and often there can be an into college, I got the maximum number the aptitude that determines his
ambiguous answer. But I worked on that of votes to serve on the committee. The altitude.” As of now, judging from my
attitude, I know I have the ability to
very hard, as I was quite thorough with academics here are great and despite
achieve each and every one of my
my other sections like English and Math. tedious lectures and busy schedules I
dreams.
have skilfully learnt how to manage my
Could you tell us a little about your
responsibilities between placement What is your advice to aspirants?
studying techniques?
committees and academics. First of all, I think everyone must
Once you have studied for other
have confidence in himself or herself. In
examinations and taken numerous tests, What is your mantra for success?
order to build this confidence you have
you hardly get a month or two before “Dream Believe Achieve” This is my
to have a good attitude. Never get
the CET. That one month I made sure success mantra in life. I dreamt of
nervous. If you look at a challenge and
that it was my prime focus. I made sure getting into one of the top 10 B-Schools
decide that you’re going to take it and
that every once in two or three days I of India. I believed in my abilities, set
come out victorious, you actually will
took a paper, then for one whole day I my aims high and put in my best to finally
do just that. If you’re a person who is
sat and analysed where I went wrong achieve SUCCESS!
confident and has the propensity to
and figured out where I could have
smile your way through anything, even
What are your plans for the future?
scored. Mainly I’d say that I stuck to
blunders and mistakes, you’re definitely
As of now, I’m giving my course
my attitude in life. I’ve been an owl for
going to do well, whatever your field.
110%, as I really want to thrive and do
as long as I can remember. I wouldn’t