CAT aspirants lowest in 12 years

The number of applicants eyeing the CAT this year seems to have dropped tremendously. With just 241,582, candidates having applied for the elite examination, the 1.8 percent decline from previous highs is the lowest ever in 12 years.

While 246,000 candidates had taken the test last year, the numbers this year are not very encouraging. The CAT has been seen as a pass to the top most business schools and the drop in the number of applicants, where there has always been an increase in the past; reflects upon the aftermath of the economic meltdown.

The recession sure had its effect on the campus placements of even the top most colleges across the country. With companies refusing to recruit and batches suffering, despite being in premiere colleges, the job markets have become quite uncertain.

People with jobs do not want to give them away for an admission into even the top most colleges. The reason is clear, with the current job market situation, a low profile job in hand is still preferred as compared to taking a plunge yet again into the unsure placement scenario.

Economic slow down has had its effect on the salaries and employment both. There was a 32 percent fall in the average salaries offered in IIM-A also this year. Similar was the fate of many colleges across the country.

This probably is the reason why the halo around the CAT seems to have faded off.  While the exam is going online from this year, 28 November onwards, the drop in applications is the first ever since 1997.

Going paper less is another reason being cited by authorities? The applicants had the choice of visiting the CAT website, checking eligibility and courses best suited and then filing applications; this too is suspected to result in a fall in the numbers.