Why MBA
Wrote this as a e-mail to the student of T.I.M.E.My two cents on the answer to the quintessential question :
Hi,
I am sure the most painful question in your life these days is 'Why MBA'. Well, when all & sundry these days would be doling out advice concerning the same in truckloads, I decided a 1-page mail by me couldn't possibly add to your pains. So, here are my two cents on why I think an MBA is worth slogging all out for.
As I look back at the time when I was preparing for my CAT, I used to act blasé telling myself and all the nervous friends around me : Its not the biggest exam of your life. I did believe that it was just another exam for just another degree.
But today, almost 6 months out of my MBA, changing 1 job and moving to another country; I am tempted to say... It is the most important exam of your life. No, I am not trying to scare you even more. I'm trying to give you an insider's perspective on why you should strive to be at a b-school - Why it is an experience worth striving all out for.
I am sure all of you have a myriad aspirations & expectations from your MBA – that angelic million dollar job, social welfare, starting your own venture, learning more about business etc. etc. And you should have them. However, in my opinion, the best intention to enter b-school is purely to come out a new person. Because that is exactly what an good b-school can do to you - a good b-school, mind you; not necessarily the degree attached to it.
To quote a friend : 'A b-school is actually like learning 2+2. It is about starting with a clean slate...... Apart from imparting the necessary technical skills, the 2 year gestation on campus – with its demanding schedules, diverse subjects, and eclectic mix of people – ensures that you walk out with razor sharp confidence to take on any situation, in any part of the world. '
I can go on and on about what all can you learn being among amidst the sharpest brains you will ever meet, the close knit family of people who besides being immensely talented have one thing which is so precious - passion. About something, about anything. But it is something you can only experience.
And this is where you need to start to be among them - be like them. Find your passion, and then let nothing stop you from doing what you believe is needed to own it. Much like the mythical Arjun seeing only the eye of the parrot & working ceaselessly to score the perfect hit! This I believe is the keystone to success at the CAT, or for that matter, most other exams that lie ahead in your lives
People would say I am the lucky one - went to an IIM, had a ball of a time, did the most coveted work during the 2 years, got the job which I wanted [ well half my batch wanted it too ;) ] and earning that dollar salary [ notice the lack of the word million there !]. I would say that too. But for reasons entirely different - for finding who I want to be during my counseling sessions at TIME, for discovering my potential & its yet unexplored reaches, for being responsible for fulfilling aspirations of 3 batches, for finding a passion that now drives my life, for living amongst the craziest people, for falling in love with one of them.
Life has a strange way of working itself out the way you want it to. You just have to know what you want. Go ahead – Dream on. Strive to see them fulfilled & have faith.Wishing you all the best of luck.
Thank you.
posted by Incredibly Indian @ 8:13 AM
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