Second-year, tier 2 IIM, placed. Classes are 3-5 hours a day, with three holidays a week. On paper, this is the dream. In reality, I've never felt this unproductive in my life.

My whole life has been "next milestone" energy: 10th scores, JEE, UG, a job, CAT, a good call, summer internship, placements. Now I've reached the end of the checklist and the game just stopped giving me quests. Sure, I could chase better grades or get really good at my company's domain, but it feels like grinding for XP after the final boss is dead.

So I'm trying to become a person with hobbies:

Gym ✅ (attendance: emotional)

Badminton ✅

Drawing and painting (not post worthy)

Crochet ✅ (the yarn is doing great, sitting there looking pretty)

I also read a lot (mostly spicy romance, no judgment), binge series, and sleep. Days are flying by. Even hanging out with my great friends has started feeling like a rerun.

IIM life is only busy until you get placed. After that, all that free space pulls you into a loop.

So, honest question for anyone who's been here: do I change my thinking (stop needing a "next milestone") or my schedule (find something that actually demands something from me)?

Bonus points if you tell me what you did after your big milestone ended. Also, please tell me crochet is worth it so the yarn doesn't go to waste.

Plz do something else, Everything has better salaries and ROI, like Software Engineering, CA, CS, CMA, ACCA, CPA,

also many govt jobs have better salaries like banking jobs, SSC, UPSC, regulatory body exams, PSU jobs, scientist jobs, and many other

even Studying Abroad has better ROI, if u r willing to spend so much money on MBA, plz spend it abroad, u can even get scholarship and along with part time job your cost will become very less

if u r doing MBA apart from Tier 1 and low fees Tier 2, u r just burning your money, u can definitely do something better in your life

MBA is definitely not worth 20-30 lakh if its not from Tier 1, your 20s will just go in paying loan nothing else

Hello everyone first post here so apologies if I write something wrong. So my profile is 24M (9/8/8) btech from tier 2.5 college with 1.5 yr exp. I working as a central govt employee with pay level 7. I earn around 85k soon to be 1lpm+(8th cpc). However I feel I am under utilised here and I'm thinking of giving CAT. I have strong foundation as I have cleared ssc CGL. I come from middle class family so FMS is my only option. I just wanted to know is this a good option to leave this govt job and go for FMS as the career progress and salary is slow in this job. I'm willing to work as much is needed in corporate job. My main goal is good money and little bit wlb.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some honest perspective from folks who have transitioned from design/tech into product strategy, consulting, or leadership via an MBA, or anyone familiar with how B-schools view non-traditional design profiles.

1. My Background & Academics:

26M

Degree: Bachelor of Design (B.Des) in Product Design from a Tier-2 design college (graduated May 2022). 
Academics: 10th: 91% | 12th: 75% | Undergrad CGPA: 6.5. (I know the 12th and UG grades are on the lower side, which is one of my biggest concerns for shortlists).
Work Experience: ~4.5 years (will hit 5 years mid-next year) as a UX / Senior Product Designer. 
Current Compensation: 30 LPA.

2. What My Work Actually Looks Like:
Currently, I work as a Senior Product Designer / UX Consultant via a global design consultancy, deployed on contract at a massive global investment banking / asset management firm ($18T+ AUM). 
At my current client, I’ve led 0-to-1 experience strategy across 5+ enterprise compliance and supervisory platforms serving 2,000+ global leaders

I co-founded the org's UX AI practice (1 of 6 founding members), authored their prompting frameworks, led M365 Copilot enablement across a 50+ person design org, and facilitated HCD workshops for ~100 practitioners while governing design consistency across 3–5 cross-functional squads.

Prior to this deployment, I led global generative AI and behavioral research projects for Big Tech clients (including Google Workspace/Search and Meta Ads Manager), connected-car ecosystems (500k+ users, Red Dot Award), and AI behavioral platforms (Paris Design Award)

Extracurriculars/Leadership: Former Student Council President in college (led a 50-member team for an 800+ attendee global virtual fest).

3. The Core Frustration (Why I want a change):
I love working across teams: product, engineering, compliance, and business analysis. I naturally gravitate toward systems thinking, behavioral intelligence, and product strategy.

However, I’m hitting a ceiling in how design is treated in the Indian ecosystem. Too often, core product and business decisions happen upstream, and by the time things reach the UX team, the product is already finalized and we are brought in at the tail end just for "beautification."
I’m tired of being an execution layer. I want a seat at the table where the actual business, roadmap, and P&L decisions are made.

4. My Dilemma & Questions:
At 30 LPA and nearing 5 years of experience, the opportunity cost of a 1-year or 2-year MBA is huge:

1. ROI & Role Elevation: Will an MBA (1-year executive in India like ISB/IIM A-B-C PGPX, or a 1–2 year MBA abroad) genuinely help a Product Designer break into high-level Product Strategy, Product Management, or Strategy Consulting? Or is there a better way to pivot without the degree?

2. Academic Hurdle: How badly will my 75% in 12th and 6.5 CGPA hurt me for Tier-1 Indian programs (ISB/IIMs) vs. international B-schools, assuming I pair my profile with a 650+ GMAT Focus score? Does the "diversity factor" of a B.Des + Big Tech/FinTech portfolio offset low undergrad grades?

3. India vs. Abroad: Given that design leadership and strategic product roles are more mature abroad, does an international MBA make more sense than staying in India, especially considering my current 30 LPA base?

Would love to hear from designers who took the MBA route, PMs/strategists who work closely with design leads, or anyone who evaluated a similar ROI equation. Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone, I need some genuine career advice.

I'm 27M, a B.Sc. Math (2020), currently working in Indian Railways at Level 5 with around 6–7 years of experience. My current in-hand salary is around ₹50–55k per month, and it may increase after the 8th Pay Commission.

The main issue is that I feel stuck in my current job. There is very little work, limited career growth, and promotions are slow. Although the job offers stability and a decent work-life balance, I don't see myself growing professionally over the next 10 years.

I'm interested in math, statistics, I've been considering options like an MBA from a top institute such as IIM, FMS or MSc in Math/Stat

Coming from a middle class family, financial security is important to me.

My main goals are good money, long-term career growth.

1. Is it worth leaving a secure government job for an MBA from FMS or another top B-school?

2. Considering the rise of AI, would Mathematics/Statistics, or an MBA offer better career prospects over the next 10 years?

3. At my age and with my background, which path would offer the best combination of salary growth, job security?

4. If you were in my position, would you stay in Railways or take the risk of switching careers?

I'd really appreciate advice from people who have experience in these fields, especially those who have transitioned from government jobs to the private sector.

I am looking for an honest, realistic, and practical opinion on pursuing an MBA. Consider a candidate with a regular commerce degree and approximately seven years of professional experience in operations, primarily in accounting and finance. Is preparing for CAT and pursuing a traditional two-year MBA a sensible decision at this stage of their career? Do IIMs accept candidates with such profiles, and how realistic are their chances of admission and securing good placements? Would their work experience be an advantage or a disadvantage compared with younger candidates?

Alternatively, would a one-year MBA or an executive MBA from a reputed institution be a better option for an experienced professional? Which programmes and institutions offer the best combination of admission feasibility, placement opportunities, career growth, and return on investment?

Considering the tuition fees, and future earning potential, which pathway would be the most practical for someone who wants to accelerate their career and significantly increase their salary? I would appreciate an honest assessment based on industry realities rather than generic motivational advice.

Most discussions around colleges involve placements, averages, and rankings, which is understandable as they are quantifiable metrics. However, I always wonder about factors beyond that, which are often not openly discussed, yet define the two years the most

I am referring to the peer group, faculty, and alumni network. While talking about factors affecting the quality of education, people most often mean the academic curriculum. But the actual learning curve is steeper when one has the right mix of people around them. For instance, one’s peer group determines who they will form study groups with, who they will room with, who they will partner with for case competitions, their first job referrals, co-founders, future colleagues, etc. A strong and well-rounded peer group can motivate one to put in extra effort to perform better and expose them to areas of interest they may not have thought about. A very competitive or skewed peer group, on the other hand, might end up being extremely taxing. How much did your batch influence your learning trajectory and career path? Did the diversity in terms of background and professional experience matter as much as people say it does?

Speaking of faculty, the teaching methodology and credibility of faculty members differ across colleges, which is hard to judge from the outside. Some people have mentioned that the best teachers were those who had industry experience and could better relate to the nuances of frameworks and case studies

While others found that the faculty’s true impact was visible outside the regular syllabus, such as through project mentorship, office hours, and extra-curricular activities. How easy/difficult was it to connect with the faculty at your college? Did you feel like you could approach them authentically, or did you always feel like you were in the presence of someone who had earned their stature through years of effort?

The alumni network is the third pillar I feel is critical to one’s journey in an MBA/PGDM. While most colleges will boast about their networks during the recruitment process, it is hard to quantify someone’s actual experience. For example, when reaching out to alumni for informational interviews, how responsive were they? Did the connections help one get actual referrals, jobs, and career guidance, or was it just a LinkedIn ‘connection’ that never bore fruit? I feel this varies from college to college, city to city, and is often dependent on how active the alumni association is.

Aside from the factors mentioned above, what other intangible aspects affect one’s experience in an MBA/PGDM programme? The workload, stress around placements, extracurriculars, the value of clubs and committees, internships leading to full-time employment, and the importance of location are some factors that need consideration.

In your experience, while studying for an MBA/PGDM, have you felt that any specific aspect was underrated before enrolling and turned out to be critical? If someone were to re-do their research about to enrol in a B-School, what aspects would you advise them to pay more attention to? Peer group, faculty, alumni, or something else?

I am considering between different management program, among them Vedica Scholars Programme and more traditional B-schools, and have trouble making a choice between them. Apart from the obvious differences, such as reputation, cost, and placement statistics, I am unable to assess which of them will provide me with more value in the long term, for example, practical knowledge, industry connections, mentorship, networking opportunities, career advancement, etc.

What would you, someone who has already gone through the selection process, advise me to pay attention to while considering different programs?

What was it that helped you get the most out of your chosen B-school or management program? Does anything specific stand out in retrospect?

​

Hi everyone! I'm a fresher from Tier 1 DU (B.Com Hons), with decent academics (9/9/8), good internships, single and double-digit AIRs in national entrance exams, and national/international-level extracurricular achievements.

I've recently secured a US Tax Associate role involving HNWI taxation, investments, capital gains, real estate and tax-planning research.

My long-term goal is front-end Investment Banking or MBB consulting after an MBA from a top Indian B-school. I'm also considering CFA Levels I and II before my MBA.

With an otherwise strong profile, could I still get shortlisted, or might the nature of my experience itself get me filtered out?

Would appreciate honest insights, especially from people familiar with Indian MBA placements!

I am from ahmedabad in my early 20's and stuck in career. I completed my b.com statistics from a good college in 2025 and took a drop year after that and started a clothing (athleisure) brand but failed also now due to that in a dept of 8 lac to my father. And started pgd in data analytics which will end in 2027 march. Now I am confused my age is 22 will be of 23 in Dec 2026 and i think like am a failed person. Like I don't have a real experience no job and also no certificate to start with a job. I did applied to many for marketing role also got selected but then I declined the offer as marketing was not for me, I found that in college I did some marketing gigs also did for my clothing brand too. Now I am looking to start from scratch and want to start for a finance career. I am thinking of doing cfa L1 and also start my prep for CAT or GMAT. I need a mentor who is already in this field and done something like this CFA or given CAT and got good percentile and also converted good uni/ institutes. Also saw today that xat, nmat mahcet forms are still open so anyone can help with the prep

​Hi everyone,

​I'm in a pretty stressful situation and need some realistic advice and resources from anyone who has navigated this or has a background in business/management.

​I recently got admitted into an MBA program, but I joined very late compared to my peers. While they've been attending lectures for the past 3 months, I have just joined, have 0 background knowledge in most of these subjects, and have about 20–30 days of study leave before my 1st Semester exams start.

​My Background:

​Undergrad: B.Sc in Hotel Management (non-finance / non-quant background).

​Current Status: Absolute zero starting point for accounting, economics, and quantitative methods.

​My 1st Semester Subjects & Syllabus Units:

​Accounting for Managers

​Units: Financial accounting basics (Journal, Ledger, Trial Balance, P&L, Balance Sheet), Cost Concepts & Cost Sheets, Overheads & Inventory Valuation, Marginal Costing & Break-Even Analysis, Budgets (Cash, Flexible, Production).

​Mathematics and Statistics for Managers

​Units: Matrix Algebra, Linear Programming (Graphical & Simplex), Probability & Bayes Theorem, Descriptive Statistics, Probability Distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Normal), Sampling & Hypothesis Testing (ANOVA), Correlation & Regression.

​Managerial Economics

​Units: Utility Functions & Demand, Production Functions & Cost Minimization, Market Equilibrium & Pricing (Monopoly, Oligopoly), Keynesian Micro-foundations, Indian Macroeconomic Policy (Monetary Policy, GDP, Inflation).

​Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour (MCOB)

​Units: Planning, Organising, Directing, Controlling, TQM, Individual Behavior (Personality, Perception, Learning), Group Dynamics, Leadership Styles, Conflict Management.

​Managerial Communication

​Units: Communication Barriers & Process, Business Correspondence (Letters, Bio-data), Non-verbal & Listening Skills, Report Writing, Conducting Meetings & GDs.

​Environment and Ethics in Business

​Units: Sustainable Development & Environmental Management (ISO 14000), Workplace Ethics, Ethics in Accounting/Finance, Ethics in Marketing, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

​Event Management

​Units: Principles & Feasibility, Proposals & Crisis Management, Sponsorships & Event Logistics, Marketing & Media Tools, Post-event ROI & Evaluation.

​What I need help with:

​Where do I start from scratch? Since I have zero accounting/math background, what are the best high-yield YouTube channels, playlists, or crash courses for beginners (especially for Accounting and Stats)?

​Day Priority Strategy: Which topics should I prioritize to secure passing marks/good scores in a short timeframe?

​Answer Writing & Study Tips: How should I approach theory subjects like MCOB, Communication, and Ethics vs. numerical subjects like Accounting and Stats?

​Any recommendations, crash course links, or advice on how to structure my next 20 days would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Graduated from a Tier-1 college in 2024. I am currently earning around 90k a month with around 2 years experience. It will soon cross 1L+ after pay scale revision. But I feel like I am wasting my potential here and I can do so much better.

Should I leave my current job in order to pursue an MBA? How will the pay and wlb be after an MBA compared to my current job? I am already working for around 50 hrs every week here. I feel like I can handle 5-10 more hours with a much better pay.