Profile evaluation: 3 yrs IT, 9.1 CGPA, average extracurriculars

✓ Accepted answer

The short answer: your EC gap at 3 years of IT experience is not a dealbreaker, especially because IIM shortlisting is heavily quantitative at the screening stage. How the shortlisting actually works: top IIMs score applications on a composite that typically weights CAT percentile most heavily (50–60%), then academics (CGPA, 10th, 12th scores), then work experience quality, and finally diversity factors. ECs barely appear in the shortlisting formula — they matter at the PI stage, not the call stage. What to focus on for a call: 1. CAT percentile is everything at stage 1. A 98.5+ with a 9.1 CGPA gets calls; a 95 with the same profile may not, regardless of ECs. 2. Reframe your IT work for the PI. 3 years in IT services — have you led a module, mentored a junior, managed client communication, or owned a deliverable end-to-end? These count as leadership. Prepare 2–3 specific STAR-format work stories. 3. One current EC makes a meaningful difference. Even one active commitment (teaching, a community initiative, a consistent creative or fitness achievement) gives you something credible when 'tell me about yourself outside work' comes up. Bottom line: strengthen your CAT score first, then craft your PI story. Don't add hollow ECs — the panel can tell.