The current batch of students, who will be joining different B-schools across the country, are having second thoughts. “I am preparing for my group discussion and personal interview scheduled for March. Till last year, I was keen to pursue an MBA in finance but the current meltdown has set me thinking. I have decided to explore other options like HR and marketing,” says Appra Zafarani, a final-year student at UIET, Panjab University. “Finance has lost its sheen due to the current crisis. While some of my friends are still keen on the subject, I am apprehensive. There is no guarantee of placement anywhere,” says Kunal, another engineering student.

Students seeking complete value of money after pursuing an expensive course and those insecure about placements are ignoring the two fields. “Since I will be taking a bank loan to do an MBA, I will definitely like to secure a good package that enables me to repay my loan. If not a blanket ban, at least there is a freeze on jobs in the IT and finance sector. So I have decided to go for marketing,” says Apoorv, a student at PEC.

Experts in the field of MBA echo similar views. “There has been a major shift in the fields prospective MBA students want to choose. After the US announced a ban on granting H-1 B visa, IT has become the last preference. Students are willing to do an MBA in HR which is otherwise considered a ‘soft’ field. Considering the economic situation, they have also become skeptical about finance,” says Hirdesh Madan, director of a local coaching institute. “The flip side of this decline in interest is that marketing has become very popular. There is a new found and renewed interest in this field, so much so that even girls are considering it as an option,” says Kshitij Mehra, a teacher at an institute.

Meanwhile, there are others who would like to differ. “It would be inappropriate to say that IT and finance are completely out of the scene. Students have just become cautious as the on-going situation has reduced their chances of getting a job abroad. Once the economy normalises, things will fall in place,” says Sumit Khanna, a senior faculty member at an isnstitute.