Drop a year for IIM BLACKI only if your previous CAT score was 95+ percentile, you have clear analysis of what went wrong, and a structured plan to push to 99.5+. The OP described the drop-and-retake journey: "I had a decent job, and going to an average B-school wouldn't really change my trajectory. I decided to prepare seriously for CAT
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- English had always been my strength, and in mocks, I consistently scored 45+ in VARC." A drop year worked because the gap between previous score (calls from IIM K and I, no conversion) and target (BLACKI) was addressable through VARC optimization, mock discipline, and interview prep. Bad reasons to drop: "I didn't try hard enough," "I got unlucky this year," "My friends also dropping." Good reasons to drop: "I scored 95 but failed sectionals and I know exactly how to fix them," "I'm earning Rs 6 LPA at a dead-end job and BLACKI can unlock Rs 30 LPA trajectory," "I have a concrete study plan with mocks and coaching." Financial math: Drop year costs Rs 3-5L (coaching + living) + Rs 6-12L opportunity cost = Rs 9-17L. If you lock IIM A (Rs 27.5L fees, Rs 35.22 LPA avg) vs baby new IIM (Rs 16L fees, Rs 14 LPA avg), the career delta is Rs 20 LPA x 5 years = Rs 1 crore. Drop math clearly works if you can push percentile by 3-4 points. It does NOT work if you'll drop and improve by 1 point. The OP confirmed "spent more time on interview prep than CAT itself" worked, so drop year should include GK, mock interviews, coaching (Rs 18-20K investment). Don't drop twice without serious re-evaluation. Check your eligibility at collvera.com/eligibility