A young professional graduates from an IIT, joins a multinational company and starts earning a respectable salary.
Two years later, someone asks, “What's next?”
“I am preparing for CAT. Hopefully, IIM Ahmedabad.”
A few years later, another question follows.
“Have you considered Harvard or Stanford?”
And the journey continues.
One prestigious institution after another. One qualification after another.
But somewhere along the way, an important question gets lost.
What exactly are we trying to achieve?
When Education Becomes a Status Symbol
In India, education has always been closely connected with family pride and social recognition.
An IIT admission is celebrated. An IIM degree becomes a family achievement. Harvard or Stanford can feel like the ultimate destination.
There is nothing wrong with aspiring to study at outstanding institutions.
The problem begins when the institution becomes more important than the purpose of studying there.
Sometimes, students pursue another degree not because they need it, but because everyone around them expects them to take the next prestigious step.
A Successful Career Is Not a Collection of Degrees
Consider two professionals.
One has degrees from three prestigious institutions but is still uncertain about their career direction.
The other graduated from a relatively lesser-known university, developed strong industry expertise and gradually moved into a leadership position.
Who is more successful?
The answer depends on what success means to each person.
A degree can provide knowledge, networks and opportunities. But it cannot replace curiosity, judgement, professional experience or the ability to solve real problems.
Do You Really Need Another Degree?
Imagine a software engineer who wants to become a product manager.
An MBA could help develop business knowledge and provide access to structured recruitment opportunities.
But could the same professional move into product management through internal projects, mentorship or relevant work experience?
Possibly.
Now consider someone who wants to move from engineering into international management consulting.
For that person, an MBA from a business school with strong consulting recruitment could offer a valuable pathway.
The important question is not whether an MBA is prestigious.
It is whether an MBA is necessary and valuable for your particular career transition.
Parents Have an Important Role
Parents naturally want their children to have secure, respected and financially rewarding careers.
But career decisions become complicated when family expectations are driven primarily by university names.
A young professional may be genuinely interested in entrepreneurship, research, public policy or technology.
Encouraging that person to pursue an MBA simply because it carries prestige may not always be the right decision.
Sometimes, the most valuable support parents can offer is the freedom to explore a meaningful career direction.
The BIDYUT Perspective
After years of working with students and professionals, one thing becomes increasingly clear: university reputation matters, but individual career fit matters more.
Before choosing another qualification, understand your current strengths, career aspirations, professional gaps and available alternatives.
Ask yourself whether the next degree will develop capabilities you genuinely need or simply add another impressive name to your CV.
At BIDYUT, our philosophy is simple: Student's Future First.
Education should be a strategy for building a meaningful future, not an endless competition for prestigious qualifications.
Because the ultimate achievement is not how many famous universities appear on your CV. It is what you accomplish with the education you receive.
BIDYUT – Global Education Advisory
Strategy. Admission. Future.