A Historian's Tryst With MBA | Ft. Soumya Talwar, IIM Shillong

They'll say you're not 'fit' to be a part of an IIM; they'll tell that CAT is a hard nut to crack. Oh well, after pursuing a degree in History, why opt for an MBA at all? Wait, don't you feel you need some career counselling?

You might be overwhelmed by what "they'' say about your decision to pursue an MBA, but don't deter from your choice. Many people pursue a subject in their UG but don't really want to make a career out of it. They might have taken it because it intrigued them or maybe because of an uninformed choice straight out of school and later they might have felt that it was not a "career-ready degree", right? The likes of you and me? MBA gives us that break from where we can change our career trajectory, utilizing what we've learnt until now and applying it in a new world - the corporate world!

An MBA opens up the liberal arts graduates to job opportunities in many fields - HR, operations, finance, marketing – you name it! You just got to have those skills and passion for learning, which will help you steer the wagon of your career in the direction you want. In a gist, I'd say that there's a lot to learn and a plethora of opportunities which an MBA has to offer you. Just don't feel discouraged thinking you don't have the background knowledge necessary for it.

Because nobody really has it! at least not completely.

Diversity Matters!

Today, more than ever, top B-schools want their students to be from diverse academic backgrounds, especially liberal arts. It helps not only in cross-disciplinary exchange among students but also aids classroom discussions to be wholesome by adding different dimensions to a situation at hand and also helps widens one's perspective. It's not the dichotomy between humanities and technical subjects but the well-rounded learning experience that opens up new opportunities and helps develop offerings that respond to human needs.

The day you get to apply your knowledge of France' and Britain's Industrial Revolution and relate it to CK Prahalad's Bottom of the Pyramid theory, or when your professor relates Chengiz Khan's war tactics to business practices or when you could understand the trends in economic repercussions of COVID pandemic because you are well versed in economic history, you'll realize the truth of these words. At that point, you'll gain complete confidence in your contribution to the class discussions and also in your decision to pursue an MBA.

Pro tips to handle the bumps ahead

Let's talk about academics first. Every head will seem smarter than yours, everybody a genius! Some with those incredible number-crunching skills, others with fantastic presentation skills. For people like you and me, there'll be a lot to learn. Seniors (and many of your batchmates at times) will hold many KTs throughout the term. (To the uninitiated- KTs are Knowledge Transfer sessions where some generous people share their knowledge about the topics they're good at).

If you're versed with your weakness and make it in time to seek help, either by attending these KTs or taking the aid of any batchmate, you'll soon be at par with others. Networking will be your virtue to live up to here. Though you're also advised to learn some basic accounting and excel before joining the college. (Pro tip- start that once you receive your joining letter)

Extra-curricular events are something every DU student knows the vibe of. Still, to couple it with rigorous academics is something many aren't used to. This is how a B-school tests your endurance and moulds you for the corporate life ahead. Keeping up with preparations for case-based discussions, your club/committee work, participation in coveted corporate competitions and practising for that fest at your college, you've got to handle it all at once. An MBA will teach you multitasking at its best, and you will come out of it as a bolder, better person.

Summer Internship Placements Season will be another challenge. The period is a time of worry, exhilaration and whatnot, but you'll sail through it once you build faith in yourself and have the right set of domain options. All you've got to do is to show them how you relate to them, tell them your story and connect it to theirs, tell them how you are 'fit' for their firm as well as the role, and you're good to go. (Well, that's what worked out for me!)

So, should you pursue an MBA after a degree in Humanities? Is there any scope? I suppose you've got your answer by now.

In all, the journey won't be a cakewalk, but definitely, it is a path worth traversing. It will be something you'll cherish in the years to come, not only for the numerous opportunities you'll get out there but also because you'll come out of it as a polished person.

Soumya Talwar is a History grad from KNC, DU, currently pursuing MBA at IIM Shillong. She took Frost’s words about "The Road Not Taken" quite literally and landed up raising many brows throughout her life. Nonetheless, she's trying to make the best out of all she can and is expecting to seek more surprises that she has to offer to her life.