Shweta Arora (Mentor) · 2026-03-20 · 2 helpful
Your chances depend on majorly academic scores, work-ex and CAT score - gap years aren't a criteria while shortlisting a student. During an interview, most interviewers don't notice a gap, but 5 years is hard to miss so stay prepared for an explanation on: 1. Why such a long gap? 2. What did you do during that time?
The concern is not how long the gap, the thing they're trying to understand is the reason (whether it is genuine e.g. UPSC prep or starting your own business) and what are your learnings from that time.
To answer your question, yes you can still get in. Some of my batchmates at IIM-A had 4-5 years of gap, they were preparing for UPSC.
The concern is not how long the gap, the thing they're trying to understand is the reason (whether it is genuine e.g. UPSC prep or starting your own business) and what are your learnings from that time.
To answer your question, yes you can still get in. Some of my batchmates at IIM-A had 4-5 years of gap, they were preparing for UPSC.