Getting rejected from IIM A at 99.3 percentile despite clearing all sectionals is brutal but not rare because IIM A uses a composite score that heavily weights academics (10th, 12th, UG marks), gender/academic diversity, and work experience along with CAT. The thread had a non-engineer (arts) candidate with 9/9/8 acads and 99.
3 percentile getting rejected, which shows IIM A demands total profile excellence. For non-engineers in arts, the 10th/12th cutoff is around 85+, 12th 85+, UG 7.5+ CGPA.
IIM A weights CAT approximately 30-35%, 10th 10%, 12th 10%, UG grades 10%, gender diversity 5%, academic diversity 5%, workex 10%, and WAT/PI 25%. Even 99.3 percentile gives only ~2 point CAT advantage over 99.
5 in the composite. IIM A fees are Rs 27.5L with Rs 35.
22 LPA average placement and 99%+ effective cutoff. For GEM (General Engineer Male), the shortlist cutoff hits 99.5-99.
8 because the pool is flooded. Your realistic options after A rejection: apply to IIM B (Rs 26.2L, Rs 34.
88 LPA, 99%+), IIM C (Rs 27L, Rs 34.23 LPA, 99%+), IIM L (Rs 22L, Rs 32.3 LPA, 97%+), FMS Delhi (Rs 2.
43L, Rs 34 LPA, 98%+), and XLRI BM. Do not retake CAT unless you can fix the weakest element; for most candidates at 99.3, repeating CAT to hit 99.
7 is marginal gain. Check your eligibility at collvera.