Why Is The First Year Of MBA So Stressful?

Lack of sleep and the overwhelming work induces tremendous pressure on the students. Some of the students even question their decision of joining IIM. Some will endure the pain and still keep going. Is it all worth it? Let's see.

To me, all the proximate causes are external stimuli. Of course, the students have a choice to respond to all these circumstances in a more balanced way. But I didn't see much of that happen with my classmates and neither with me. So, the question bothered me, why did we choose to take this kind of stress?

Here is my theory; you are free to challenge it. When you get selected into IIM or any premier B-School, it is probably a big deal, and expectations of your family, friends and yourself are high. Fresh from one of the most significant victories of your life, when you reach the campus for the first time, you are quietly confident, ambitious, and ready to conquer the world. Well, guess what, there are 250 people - all thinking the same. Hence, the competition is too much intense, and the environment in the B-School only adds Ghee to the fire. Not everyone can give their best in a regulated environment. Some students can perform better if more autonomy is provided to them. Hence, it takes a couple of terms - and some heartbreak - for people to get used to their place on the normal curve and relax about it. Similarly, after the summer placements are over, students are more relaxed.

The pressure cooker does not run forever. Or maybe it does, when you enter the corporate world. Targets, deadlines, performance appraisals and so on. Corporate is a deadlock as if one is in an infinite loop. Maybe or maybe it is not.