Is it the worst or the best time for planning your MBA?

So, you’ve already begun your CAT coaching or are on the cusp of doing so.

But the lockdown and the negative news about the entire economy has you on tenterhooks. Doomsday proclamations and prophecies abound.

And you are confused about whether this is the worst time to do your MBA. 

On the contrary, if you are in a job and uncertainty looms large, you are wondering if this is the best time to go for an MBA.

Which one of these conclusions is right?

Step back and think:

Whether it is the markets or a career, the worst times are usually the best time to make long-term investments. 

Why? 

Because when uncertainty peaks, and so does fear, the long-term costs and risks are at a minimum. And long-term value is great.

Economy runs in cycles – and a CAT2020 aspirant will graduate in 2023! That’s a good 3 years from now. 

What are the odds that the economy will totally recover from the effects of Corona and much else by then? Pretty good, if you ask me.

That is especially likely to be true for a far more resilient and adaptive economy such as ours.

Chances are that the companies that are laying off people right now will be hiring in 100s, if not 1000s, by then.

Add to that, student loans will be easier (students going to good colleges are one of the safest set of clients for banks to loan out to) and a tad cheaper too (although I suggest you keep your debts to a minimum, and only to the extent necessary, regardless of how good or bad the external circumstances are).

Instead of working during a tough and uncertain economic period, you would be able to derive a great career-long advantage at a Top B-School.

Like 2008, times such as these are often the best to pursue higher education. (Those passing out this year are perhaps a little unfortunate in that sense – but this baptism-by-fire will help them prosper over their careers).

Practically, this could be the best time to pursue your MBA, especially from a Top Indian B-School, where the ROI is among the best in the world.

About the author: Deekshant has sleep-walked through several 100 and 99.9 %iles in practically every section of the CAT. That he is a cricket fan and he writes okay is evident from most of his posts. 1000s of our students swear that he can motivate almost anyone to double his/her percentile through very simple yet powerful inputs. And that’s why every MBAGuru student has direct access to him via mail and Telegram. Oddly, he somehow also finds the time to write songs professionally. And yes … almost missed this … he is an alumnus of IIT Delhi & IIM Cal 🙂