UPSC CSE NOT-SUCCESSFUL-YET PAIN STORIES !

I have never understood the logic of people who have not made it into the list asking advice from people who have made it to the list. They have made it. But We hold all the important lessons. Totally appreciating this initiative.

This was my 5th attempt , 3rd mains and 1st interview. I was pretty confident I'd be in the list - atleast somewhere near the bottom. But I wasn't. The uncertainty of this exam is too huge and the risk we take is equally humongous. I'm sure that failure in this exam doesn't measure who I am . Same applies for victory in this exam too.

Opportunities for decent jobs are available. But I have decided to give one more try at this exam. Definitely UPSC is not going to be my only focus this time. I'm going to focus on opportunities that give me job security simultaneously. The pandemic has closed many job avenues. Prelims is 50 days away. And this kind of makes my choice easier.

My advice to younger aspirants would be to have a pragmatic approach towards this exam. It's just another job. We can adore it ; but glorifying it is not gonna help you. High chances of getting caught in this never ending vicious cycle.

Make every attempt your best attempt. Get in soon or get out soon.

All the best!

This was my 3rd attempt, wrote all 3 mains of CSE and Ifos, appeared in 4 interviews (2 cse and 2 ifos). I was very sure of getting into final list of Cse this time, but dint, For 2 days I still believed that result is yet to come and my name would be there. I don't know what to do and how much more effort would I need to put in. There is a sense of exhaustion, disbelief and numbness. In earlier attempts I made mistakes in optionals and ethics but this time I have worked really hard for that. Interview has never been my forte and is one of the reason for my rejections. But this time I have never felt that satisfied before.

Regarding future, I don't know how to proceed. But deep inside I know I could do it and I will do it. 

#downbutnotout 

#bestrongcomrades 

#weshallovercomeoneday

I have appeared in 3 attempts. First could not clear pre. Then next attempt I cleared pre but could not clear mains( by 100 marks). This time it was third attempt. I cleared mains but failed in interview. Since marks have not come but I expect that my marks were +20 cutoff. Journey has been a learning experience. Hopes are high for cse 2020.

My advice to younger aspirants is that study less but focus on quality aspects.150-200 words answers does not require extensive knowledge. Clarity of topic is required. If this approach is followed then aspirants plug the loopholes in subsequent attempts instead of preparing new and exhaustive sources where I failed. 

Last but not least- you all want a responsibility which requires patience. Upsc exam journey is best to inculcate this quality . 

I have seen few examples which show attempts don't matter

1st attempt-Irs but could not upgrade service even after 2 more attempts

2attempt ias being upset about cadre

4th attempt first selection with ias and home cadre. 

All the best. 

Wow! This is a very important initiative. Kudos to Yo Yo. Always admired his ability to empathize. Here are my 2 cents.

Although I was fortunate to cross the line this year, I speak this from past experience. There will certainly be a feeling of hollowness but accept it. If toppers make tall claims, take it with a pinch (maybe, even a bucket) of salt. Preparation for this exam takes time, effort, and energy. It's not a cakewalk.

1)SELF: Do not be too harsh on yourself. This exam doesn't determine your worth.

2)DON'T BE IN ISOLATION: Talk to friends/family. Do not self-isolate. Avoid staying indoors for too long. Go out for a walk. Get some fresh air.

3)NO COMPARISONS: Refrain from comparisons as each one has a different starting point.

4)NO MAJOR DECISIONS: Do not take any major decisions in haste. More often than not, you may not have thought through it properly.

5)GAIN PERSPECTIVE: Many others are in a far worse situation (our migrant workers during the lockdown, refugees in West Asia, victims of the Beirut blast, families affected by the pandemic, etc.). You are in a much better situation.

6)PRACTICE GRATITUDE: Be thankful for the smallest of things. Are you in good health? Are you able to eat 3 square meals a day? Do you have a roof to stay under? Do you have a family? Do you have access to electricity, clean water supply, internet etc.? Well, count yourselves lucky! Many others don't! Also, treat this as a welcome break because you also get more time to spend with your family. Tomorrow when you get selected, you won't have this luxury.

7)BOOKS AND MOVIES: Read good books (Viktor Frankl's story, Sapiens, Guns Germs & Steel etc.) and watch inspirational movies (Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump, Good Will Hunting, October Sky, M S Dhoni etc.). Some examples I could think of. Others may add more.

8)EXERCISE: Exercise regularly at least for 30 mins/day (Nike Training app is excellent; do burpees, squats, push-ups etc.). Include meditation too (10 mins mindfulness meditation on YouTube serves the purpose. There are apps too).

9)THINK BEYOND THE EXAM: Tomorrow, you will face bigger challenges as a civil servant. Whatever you are going through is only making you stronger and more resilient.

10)MOVING ON: Even if you have decided to move on, don't have any guilt or regrets. You have given your best. In an exam where there is enormous competition, luck also plays a part. Your energies can be put to better use elsewhere. There are so many opportunities awaiting you. Just look around. If anything, preparation for this exam has given you greater exposure. You can take decisions more wisely.

Good luck! We are unique and special. And we have to truly believe that. This will transform our mindset. Life will surely reward us. It's only a matter of time. 

PS: For those giving Prelims, it's around 50 days away. Nice way to forget everything and focus all the energy there.

It's not regarding this attempt but this feeling of mine got strong after result . Since last 2-3 days I have heard success and failure stories, I have came across people who have written multiple mains and multiple interviews still not able to make to the finals and here I am failed in 2 prelims itself . I feel I stand no where in the competition . 

For people who failed to clear their first interview (after 2-3 attempts)..it is natural to get disheartened. But remember that you guys made progress.

The only way you can succeed in your upcoming attempt is get out of that numbness, quickly understand your mistakes, focus on process and look forward not backwards.

When I failed to clear my first interview in 2nd attempt(in 2018), I felt really cynical about the exam. I thought I had given my best and yet process is so unfair.

I was in that negative state and it reflected in my efforts, due to which I failed to clear mains this time.(2019) and my journey took a different turn all together.

This exam has its own set of complexities, but to have a decent chance of clearing it in next attempt (if you are planning to give), try to get rid of the cynicism..be optimistic and enthusiastic, reflect the urge to improve on some short coming u can think of (trust me even rank 1 guy before the results can list his weak zones) . 

I know it's one of the toughest thing to do, after we find years of efforts failing to yield any conclusive result. But there is no other way

All the best to all. 

I've heard this type of story once, on YouTube channel named Hardworking Human. Mr Manish aced all the three exams upsc pre on 17th, rbi gr-B pre on 18th and cfa level 3 within a month, that too working full time in Deutschland Bank Mumbai.

If I'm not wrong u asked for question pprs of exms like cds,capf etc conducted by upsc few days back(such questions r mostly asked by freshers). If u were selected at 21 and failed 2 prelims thereafter thn by now u must be no longer eligible fr cds and a upsc cse qualified candidate hardly cares abt capf after getting selected in upsc...also ur bio says aiming to clear pre 2020 which is what freshers aim fr when they enter the game

So u r most likely a fresher. 

1.Last year's AIR 9 cleared Prelims for the first time in her 3rd attempt and went on to get quite a good rank.(In her own words- She even expected failing to clear Prelims in 3rd attempt also)

2. I remember Pooja Ranawat Mam failing 4 continuous Prelims. Then she cleared with a decent rank and being PSIR topper that year.

3. This year's topper Pradeep Singh started in 2012. He failed in his first 2 Prelims and stopped preparing for UPSC. Joined Police as a normal inspector. Then came back for 2017 attempt to first clear IRS and then get AIR Rank in the next attempt.

Aaagey to@Yo_Yo_Choti_Singh bhi btayenge. As he says- Ham honge kamyab ek din.

+1

This year Rank 6 is also 2 prelims fail then 3rd time m sidha 6th rank... 

#Unpredictable_PSC it is :)

Hmm your story justifies your high essay score. 

Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

Along with these can we also share our learning from each consecutive attempt, any rookie mistakes which other people could avoid.

Thanks!

I am as old as Gandalf in cse prep years and I have something to add.

Back in those good old days, I started off by making notes online. NCERT, eco survey, budget, newspaper, things I got wrong in prelims test series, anything you name I have made notes online. I have even made notes on niche topics like urbanisation, social empowerment etc also online. What happened as I have only now realised was that there was no connection between me and the notes that I made. Just like how ecom companies have alienated us from our local sellers I have alienated myself from my work. I could not feel it.

You know that feeling one gets when one comes across a question and vaguely remembers seeing it in his notes because of some peculiarity like he may have corrected a spelling mistake or may have underlined it, I never got it. My mind's eye was blank. Add to these the fact that the internet was and is a rabbit hole, my efficiency was always very low. I could not also sense the scale of material I have been accumulating.

Anyway, now I have nuked most of my online notes and started with pen and paper note making sitting away from the internet. I am getting printouts of most monthly news compilations instead of underlining them online. It feels good for now and the coming days will judge if I made the right decision.

I advise newbies to experiment soon with different media and stick with whatever is comfortable. Veterans can try pen and paper notemaking if they have wasted enough time online like me.