Every year, thousands of aspirants struggle with one question: Should I drop a year for CLAT? The fear of being left behind, the pressure of expectations, and the uncertainty of outcomes make the decision overwhelming. But some journeys prove that clarity is more powerful than fear.
Meet Gaurav Bishnoi, a student who secured admission to GNLU Gandhinagar in his first attempt, yet chose to drop out and reappear for CLAT — not out of disappointment, but out of ambition. His dream was clear from the beginning: NLSIU Bangalore. In his second attempt, he secured AIR-18 in CLAT 2024.
This interview is a rare, honest insight into the mind of a drop-year aspirant who made a bold decision, stayed mentally strong, rebuilt his reading habits from scratch, and transformed himself from a non-reader into someone who finished 30 books in a year.
Gaurav’s story is a reminder that one year of focus can change the next five years of your life.
Do check All India CLAT 2026 Toppers.
About Gaurav Bishnoi, AIR-18 CLAT 2024
Gaurav comes from a grounded, deeply supportive family in Rajasthan, and his educational journey reflects clarity, courage, and conviction. He appeared for CLAT, secured admission at GNLU, and still chose to withdraw and attempt the exam again — solely because he wanted NLSIU Bangalore. The decision wasn’t impulsive; he spent months thinking through it, discussing it with family, and observing the opportunities his sister received at NLS.
A non-reader initially, Gaurav pushed himself to build a reading habit that ultimately transformed his comprehension, vocabulary, accuracy, and confidence. His CLAT preparation focused on strong mental conditioning, consistent newspaper reading, and deep immersion in thriller and horror fiction. His journey stands as a practical, realistic example of how clarity and consistency beat pressure and fear.
Interview of Gaurav Bishnoi, CLAT 2024 AIR-18
Law Prep: Welcome, Gaurav! You travelled from Bhilwara today, right? But you’re originally from Bikaner?
Gaurav: Yes, ma’am. I travel a lot these days. I’ve just completed my 12th and finished CLAT again, so I’m completely free right now.
Law Prep: I remember calling you at 3 PM last year and you were still sleeping! You seemed so relaxed.
Gaurav: (laughs) Yes, ma’am. Since I didn’t have school, my routine was different. My full focus was CLAT.
Law Prep: You got GNLU last year, took admission, and still dropped out. Why?
Gaurav: Because my goal was very clear — NLS Bangalore. I had decided months earlier that I would give myself one more attempt. I wasn’t confused; I believed I could do better.
Law Prep: Students struggle with the “drop or not” dilemma. How did you decide?
Gaurav:
First, take 10–15 days and think.
Once you decide, don’t go back.
My clarity was strong — NLS or nothing. That made the decision easy.
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Law Prep: Your sister Priyanka also scored AIR 30 with us. Did her NLS journey influence you?
Gaurav: Absolutely. Seeing her campus life, exposure, and opportunities made me realise what NLS offers. That inspired me a lot.
Law Prep: Did you fear being “left behind” when friends moved ahead?
Gaurav: Not at all. My family said, “If one extra year gets you your dream college, take it.” I wasn’t comparing myself with anyone.
Law Prep: What changed in your preparation this year?
Gaurav: Mental toughness. The first CLAT mocks this year was shocking — tough GK, lengthy QT — but I didn’t panic. I told myself:
Easy paper? I’ll do well.
Difficult paper? I’ll still stay calm.
Law Prep: How did you approach comprehension and GK this time?
Gaurav:
- I started reading newspapers daily
- I built background knowledge
- I strengthened fundamentals instead of shortcuts
- GK became meaningful only when I understood events in depth.
Law Prep: You weren’t a reader earlier. How did you start reading?
Gaurav:
I got bored initially. I tried Sapiens, couldn’t continue. Then I picked a genre I liked — horror and thrillers.
My first book was Five Nights at Freddy’s. I read 30 pages daily. Slowly, I built the habit. By the end of the year, I had read 25–30 books.
Law Prep: How did reading transform your CLAT performance?
Gaurav:
- Faster comprehension
- Better vocabulary
- More accuracy
- More confidence
- Stronger logical and critical reasoning
- Reading changes everything.
Law Prep: Your family seems extremely supportive. Did that help?
Gaurav: A lot. They never pressured me. Never said, “Study this many hours.” They trusted me.
My siblings are all doing well academically, so the environment at home was very motivating.
Law Prep: Your final advice to CLAT aspirants?
Gaurav:
- Be 100% clear about your goal
- Take time before deciding to drop
- Once you decide, don’t doubt yourself
- Prepare for the toughest possible paper
- Read every single day
- Don’t compare your timeline with others
- One year is nothing in return for your dream college
Know more about Law Colleges & Universities in India:
| List of NLUs in India | CLAT Colleges in India |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | NLU Prayagraj |
| NLU Jodhpur | NLU Delhi |
| NUJS Kolkata | NLIU Bhopal |
| MNLU Nagpur | IIULER Goa |
| NLU Ranchi | RMNLU Lucknow |
| NLU Shimla |
Watch Interview of AIR-18 CLAT 2024
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