Five confessions of an MBA student
MBA—is it the biggest myth of Corporate India or the biggest boon of liberalised India?
Difficult to answer that.
But what we do know is that an MBA graduate (especially from a top management college) is a force to reckon with. Credited with innovative and out-of-the-box-thinking, management graduates have shaped a firm’s growth and market value.
Yet, like all other students, an MBA student is laced with doubts and challenges. But none of them are vocal about the problems. Read Shiksha Opinion on Why are B-School grads sworn to secrecy?
In an attempt to unearth some secrets, we spoke to current MBA students from top B-schools across the country.
Here are five confessions of MBA students:
1. Brand is bigger than experience
“The B-school tag is mightier than your B-school experience. Good, bad or ugly – the experience is now a part of the legacy that is to be protected. Fiercely protected. Whatever happens in campus, stays in campus. Loyalty to your B-school brand comes foremost,” says a MICA (Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad) student, on condition of anonymity.
2. Commando course
“First day of college, and our Academic Chairperson tells us that MBA is like a commando training. Man, he was so right! The first year is crazy! If we don’t sail straight, the boat will sink forever,” says an IIM Ahmedabad student.
“There are so many surprise quizzes, that the surprise element ceases to exist. Everyday, at 1.45 pm, we are informed about the surprise quiz. Be ready to slog it out to the extreme,” says Gyanvardhan Gupta, a student at IIM-A.
3. Fairer sex, weaker sex
“No one will admit it, but the fairer sex is often treated unequally, especially in the IIMs. You’ll find very few women on the placement committee or other important groups and activities,” says an IIM Calcutta student.
“Things are not that bad in XLRI. Deserving women are given equal opportunities. But there’s always an insinuation lurking behind. During placement season, we often get ‘Tu to ladki, tera to kuch na kuch ho jayega (You are a girl. You’ll get something). That’s so unfair and unprofessional. Grow-up guys!’ says a current XLRI student.
4. Start-up kings and queens
“Everybody has an idea. Everybody wants to be an entrepreneur,” says Farhan. The idea to be an entrepreneur is not so novel anymore. Almost every MBA graduate wants to start their own new set-up. What really makes the difference is how innovative or successful is your idea.
5. The bad year
“Placements are a bloodbath sometimes. Year 2013 was one such year – 20% of the batch didn’t receive placements. However, 2014 placements went very well. You never know how the market behaves. Be prepared for the consequences. MBA degree even from a top institute cannot guarantee an awesome placement,” says an IIM Lucknow student.
