Dating in b-school: feeling overwhelmed :(

I'm a 26-30 F at IIM Calcutta, and it seems like a lot of my classmates are already in relationships. It's a cliché that you might find your partner in B-school, but seeing others dating makes me anxious. In my first year, I was all about academics, which turned out to be tougher than I thought. Now, I'm gearing up for placements, which should be my main focus (luckily, I have some interviews lined up!). But I can't shake the feeling that time is slipping away, and I get FOMO watching friends having fun and meeting new people. I know it's a privilege to be in an MBA program, especially at IIM Calcutta, but there's this nagging feeling that I'm missing out on the social side. Plus, I wonder if it's worth dating when people might move away for jobs after graduation. Do people use dating apps while in the MBA program here? I tried apps like Hinge and Bumble but didn't see many fellow students. With all this, how do people date post-MBA in big cities? I'm not into dating apps or the bar scene. How do you meet new people?

Kendall Lee

Stealth

2 months ago

You are too qualified for most men. You will settle only for someone who is higher and better than you. And you are beyond your biological prime, so the cream among this crop of exceptionally restricted pool size of men will unlikely go with you. In other words, you are in a royal mess. And I totally get what you are experiencing now. I guess corporate glory is the only thing that can salvage you. If I were you, I would double down on this because the other options are very very limited.

Jordon Denver

Student

2 months ago

Dude what's wrong with you?

Kendall Everett

Accolite

2 months ago

Ohh, please. Just because you are not in your biological prime, that doesn't mean you'd berate someone for not having a partner and label them as not being in their biological prime. Poster only meant having FOMO clarified so this reductive narrative is not helping anyone. @IncompatibleCook being someone who went through the same situation, I can assure you, focus on the networking and the placement process. You'll have a somewhat aspirational life in some city and you'll have company. You still have a lot of time and sure, your choices will be limited but it will reflect all the choices and sacrifices you have made for your future - you'll find people and you'll get a partner. You need to market yourself according to your brand. So create the authentic brand first and get started. Campus is just campus - it's a bubble, once you get out of there you'll see a lot of truths unraveling. In the grand scheme of life, this is just one of the things. Have your feet on the ground and then aim to shoot the shot, level by level.

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Kendall Lee

Stealth

2 months ago

Your objective should be to find and make friends. Dating will happen when the time is right. Until then, build your circle and relationships with friends, classmates, even old school and college friends. Become an extrovert - https://share.gvine.app/tGsDuNV8YiPvfsGe7

Blair Carmden

Stealth

2 months ago

Not much point getting into relationship while in MBA because placements and jobs will throw people in all kinds of directions and trajectories.

Matilda Denver

Student

2 months ago

wow — good comment

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Coy Vernon

Stealth

2 months ago

I know it might seem counterintuitive, but you can expand your circle beyond Joka bois, no? Aren't the people who go into IIMs like really competitive and toxic. Do you want to date such people? Calcutta seems like a big city to have some form of dating culture. I remember during my MBA days, we used to have vigorous sex (it was our professors fucking us over). I don't have an answer to your exact question. But a data point: - A small portion of the couples ended up marrying ( 35%). Rest are either married to different partners or still figuring stuff out for themselves. Also, people who got together during the last portion of MBA, won't have the mindset to think long term - They think 3 months and we are off to our separate ways. So, they will look for a quick fling, no (G-) strings attached. My limited and stupid advice: Finish your course, make good friends, get a good placement - Go to a new big city and start your dating scene there.. You will have your batchmates in your city to start hanging out with, and they can recommend friends or singles in the same boat.

Anise Carmden

Stealth

2 months ago

Lol this looks like a reddit post I saw just yesterday. Went from M7 to IIMC😂

Kalan Carmden

Headout

2 months ago

Lol, I read the same post! I just searched for the reddit thread and found it - https://www.reddit.com/r/MBA/s/bx8cSVaAm9 OP, I think there'll be a big difference in the advice you get for Wharton vs IIMC :P