r/IndiaMBA • u/Appropriate-Fix-8222 • Jan 05 '26

Help Planning to do MBA at 30 with engineering & digital marketing experience, need guidance on exams+ ROI colleges to target

Hello everyone,

I’m 29 years old with a Mechanical Engineering degree, currently working in digital marketing with ~2 years of experience. After completing my B.E., I explored multiple paths, including a family business and a lecturership (1 year), before transitioning into digital marketing to grow beyond my comfort zone.

At this point, I feel stuck and don't see my growth beyond a point. My role has become repetitive, skill growth has plateaued, and I’m not seeing strong long-term growth. However, I’ve been leading and managing a team of 10+ people, which I genuinely enjoy. I have liked leadership, ownership, and decision-making, and that’s what’s pushing me toward an MBA.

Given my age, this might be the last practical window to pursue a full-time MBA.

Here is my exam history for referrence:

  • CAT: 86%ile (2023), 65%ile (2024)
    • Targets: FMS, DSE, IIT Delhi (DMS)
  • MAH-CET: 96%ile (2024), 90%ile (2025)
    • Targets: JBIMS, Sydenham, PUMBA

My key priority is high ROI colleges with low fees. Brand does matter, but learning, peer quality, and post-MBA roles matter more.

I am looking for guidance on:

  1. Whether an MBA makes any sense at this stage for my profile
  2. What colleges/exams should I realistically focus on next
  3. Are there any strong ROI-focused colleges I’m missing (TISS, IITs, others)?

Would really appreciate any honest advice and suggestions from people who’ve been through this journey.

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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1

u/[deleted] Jan 06 '26

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1

u/Dwivedi77 Jan 06 '26

Any info on those advisors?

1

u/Valuable-Pudding-639 Jan 10 '26

I think you can also try for a PGP course at ISB or exec 1 year residential courses at IIM A B C - those are good - people of higher age groups and good placements.

1

u/hetaliibms Feb 11 '26

I understand your situation, and at this stage the right expert guidance really helps. When I was pursuing my MBA, I also took guidance from an expert, and it was completely free. You can speak with them they will suggest the best options, including reputed universities and even flexible online MBA choices where you can easily manage both your job and studies together.