B school: Why do I need to go there ?

With the growing educated youth all across the globe especially in developing nations like india and china, going to a B-school for a masters degree like MBA has become a growing fashion.

I can literally count off people of my generation (those born in 1980's) who havent been to or havent thought about going to a B-school for further studies. This sample size may be skewed to urban city dwellers but it gives some perspective of the issue. What is it about a B school MBA degree which attracts so many young minds ? Why does one need an MBA degree ?

A Generation Paradigm:

Gone are the days when one would settle down in a steady incumbent government job. Todays youth wants dynamism and fast growth up the corporate ladder. It is a general perception that with an MBA one could climb up the corporate office and work on the 100th floor with a beautifull view of the city. This city could be New York, Shanghai, Mumbai, London or any other world city.

An escape from the current Job:

Most people do not land up in their dream job fresh out of collage. Some do not like their work profile, some have problems with their bosses, some are concerned with their paychecks, and some like me just dont see themselves sitting in their boss's chair in a few years. After a while one feels that the current job is not what he/she signed up for. As an escape, B-school appears to be the safest option as it would open avenues to newer positions and profiles.

Peer Pressure:

MBA has become a fashion. If you dont have one, you may not be considered well educated among your friends and family. This is a general growing perception atleast in countires like India.

Desire to learn:

More and more young minds are not satisfied with a mere undergrad degree and seek to enhance their skill set. This may be the most cliched reason which one often writes or talks about in an admission application/interview but to think about it MBA is just another academic degree where the primary purpose is to enhance the knowledge base and the skill set. Career shifts and high paying jobs are results of knowledge enhancement.

It is very important for every individual to discover the right reasons before even thinking about attending a b school. You do not want to invest time and money into something which you really do not want.