Video summary

Why I ditched the IIM rat race

Main summary

Key takeaways

Wellness and Self-Improvement

Key wellness / self-care / productivity takeaways (from the subtitles)

  • Be careful of FOMO-driven decisions

    • The speaker felt pressure to prepare for the CAT even though it wasn’t on their radar.
    • They noticed others were moving “in one direction” (toward MBA/IIMs) without clearly understanding why.

  • Recognize unhealthy competition environments

    • In CAT coaching, the atmosphere emphasized:
      • Rapid question-solving to impress teachers/front-bench focus
      • Herd mentality and constant comparison
    • Result: the speaker felt competition was “very unhealthy,” reducing meaningful learning and focus.

  • Do “reality checks” before committing

    • Rather than relying on salaries/package stories from seniors/relatives, the speaker investigated directly by joining an event at IIM Ahmedabad and staying on campus.
    • They observed aspects like intense attendance requirements and late-night work/research demands (until ~2–3 a.m.).

  • Avoid choosing based only on outcomes (placements)

    • They were concerned about a system where placements became the priority “from day one,” potentially at the expense of classroom learning.
    • They noted the need to accept offers under constrained choice—minimizing freedom after all the effort.

  • Switch to alignment over prestige

    • After one month in coaching, they dropped it because they were seeking something different:
      • More personalized attention
      • Professors connected to industry sectors
      • Cutting-edge topics (data science, AI, analytics)
      • Better match with peers by backgrounds/interests

  • Make decisions that preserve autonomy

    • Even with a very high CAT score (98%), they did not receive top IIM interview invites.
    • Instead of chasing validation, they pivoted to a master’s in Europe, prioritizing fit rather than a single “dream brand.”

Presenters / sources

  • Prabhat (speaker / presenter; international student sharing his journey)
  • TIME (CAT coaching center mentioned)
  • Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (Delhi University)
  • IIM Ahmedabad (event/campus visit mentioned)
  • IIMs / IIM Ahmedabad (institutions discussed)
  • A top-ranked business school in Europe (chosen destination mentioned; no specific name provided)

Original video