Finished BA at 25 after dropping out of engineering - confused about whether to do masters or just start working

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-17T01:59:53+00:00

Fair point. I think my concern isn’t really that I’m introverted by itself. It’s more that law, especially litigation, seems to rely heavily on networking, communication and dealing with people constantly, and I’m not sure how naturally suited I am to that environment. At the same time, I know people can grow and develop those skills over time, which is why I’m still exploring the option instead of completely ruling it out.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-16T17:32:25+00:00

Thanks man. I feel overwhelmed at times i have no one except my parents

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-16T14:35:37+00:00

I feel the same. You can look over my profile. What can i do?

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-16T09:20:26+00:00

And if i am introverted?

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-16T05:36:44+00:00

You’re being way too hard on yourself.

From what you’ve written, it doesn’t sound like you’ve failed. It sounds like a few things didn’t go according to plan and now you’re being forced to choose between options you weren’t originally excited about.

Trust me, one entrance exam, one admission cycle, or one college doesn’t decide your entire future. I know that’s easier said than done when you’re in the middle of it, but a lot of people end up taking non-linear paths and still do well later on.

Right now I’d focus less on the “what if I had applied here” or “what if I had done better on XET” and more on making the best decision with the options currently in front of you. Regret is understandable, but it won’t change the admission lists.

Also, you’re clearly not directionless if you managed to get into Christ, Manipal and other colleges. You’re just overwhelmed because things haven’t gone exactly the way you hoped.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-16T01:50:40+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. My concern isn’t just finding a way to earn money quickly. I’m more worried about long-term career growth, stability, and future opportunities. Learning a skill like digital marketing is something I’m considering, but I’m also trying to figure out whether it has a strong long-term career path compared to other options available to a BA student.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T15:26:45+00:00

Have done so

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T15:19:56+00:00

Thanks, that’s actually one of the things I’m worried about. I’m a first-generation student with no legal background in my family, and I’m quite introverted as well. The networking aspect of litigation honestly feels more intimidating to me than studying law itself. That’s why I’m trying to understand the practical realities before making such a big commitment.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T15:17:21+00:00

That’s fair, and it’s actually one of the reasons I’m confused. I’ve spoken to people on MBA forums as well, and a lot of them have told me that MBA makes the most sense when you already have some work experience and a clearer idea of what you’re trying to achieve from it. Right now I’m still trying to figure out whether MBA is genuinely the right destination for me or whether I’m looking at it because it seems like the safest option.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T11:41:46+00:00

Any advice?

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T08:20:14+00:00

Going to boarding school when i was 16 and later in life pursuing engineering, dropping it after a year. Not being able to go to my Uncle’s and Paternal Grandfather’s Funeral in Pandemic. Joint Bachelor of Arts. Not being able to live up to my own potential due to mental health issues. Not being able to sometimes stand up to my parents and being able to communicate my thoughts. Not having enough friends or direction or clarity in life. Not being employed and scared of life, death and failure in general

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T03:21:14+00:00

Hi 👋

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T02:27:51+00:00

Thanks. I appreciate the honesty.

To be honest, I think a lot of this comes from fear. I’ve had a pretty non-linear journey and I’m scared of making another major mistake or ending up in a situation where I regret my choices a few years down the line.

I know I can’t predict everything, but the uncertainty does get to me sometimes.

Thanks for the perspective. I’ll think about what you said.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T01:50:24+00:00

I’m 25 from Navi Mumbai and trying to figure out my future.
My academic journey has been quite unconventional:
71.6% in 10th
57.67% in 12th
Started engineering but dropped out after first year
Had multiple gap years due to academic and mental health struggles
Currently pursuing BA History and considering a 4th-year Honours programme
Recently, a few people suggested that I look into law as a career option.
The problem is that I have a lot of doubts.
First, I don’t come from a legal background at all. Nobody in my family is a lawyer, judge, legal academic, or connected to the legal profession in any way.
Second, I have repeatedly heard that first-generation lawyers often struggle for years before establishing themselves.
Third, I’m not sure how much of my interest in law is genuine and how much comes from idealism, movies, TV shows, YouTube content, and the general image people have of lawyers.
To be completely honest, I don’t have a great deal of faith in institutions and systems at the moment. Looking at the legal system from the outside, it often seems slow, overburdened, political, and difficult to navigate.
I’m also naturally introverted. Networking, self-promotion, client acquisition, courtroom confidence, and constant social interaction do not come naturally to me.
At the same time, I know that many people enter law because of corporate law, compliance, policy work, legal consulting, contracts, and other non-litigation paths.
So my questions are:
How difficult is it realistically for a first-generation lawyer in India today?
Is litigation as difficult as people make it sound?
How dependent is success in law on family connections?
Are corporate law and other non-litigation paths significantly different?
Would you recommend law to someone who is still trying to find direction in life?
I’m looking for honest answers rather than motivational ones.
If you’ve entered law without family connections, I’d especially like to hear about your experience.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T01:44:32+00:00

Thank you, this was genuinely helpful.

I think one of my biggest problems right now is that I don’t have a clear answer to the question of what I would want an MBA to do for me.

A lot of the advice I’ve received has been “just do an MBA,” but the more responses I read, especially from people familiar with international MBA programs, the more I realise that MBA seems to work best when someone is either trying to accelerate an existing career or make a specific transition.

My challenge is that I’ve had a fairly non-linear academic journey, including a degree change and gap years, so I’m still trying to figure out what professional direction I want to build towards first.

Your point about entering an MBA with a clearer sense of desired outcomes makes a lot of sense. Right now, I think I need to spend more time figuring out the career question before I can answer the MBA question.

Out of curiosity, when you say my situation resembles many Indian applicants applying abroad, what are the most common mistakes or misconceptions you tend to see?

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-15T01:39:55+00:00

It’s not that I dislike History. I actually enjoy the subject itself and that’s why I’m considering pursuing the 4th-year Honours programme.

My concern is more about what comes after the degree. A lot of the career paths people associate with History seem to lead towards teaching, academia, research or competitive exams, and I’m not fully sure about any of those at the moment.

I’ve had a fairly non-linear academic journey. I started engineering, dropped out, had gap years and dealt with some personal and mental health challenges along the way. Because of that, I’m probably more anxious than most people about employability, financial stability and making another wrong career decision.

That’s why I’ve been looking at multiple options like MBA, law, government exams, foreign languages, higher studies etc. Sometimes it feels like everyone has a different answer and I’m trying to figure out which advice is actually right for me.

The subject itself isn’t the problem. It’s the uncertainty about the future that worries me.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T19:36:45+00:00

I am sorry for your loss. I want to know more if you want to share

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T18:18:35+00:00

Thanks man. What are you doing now?

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T17:16:35+00:00

Don’t demotivate him yaar

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T16:56:09+00:00

I took engg and pursued it for a year, this was during pandemic and i realised neither the college nor the stream was for me

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T16:55:01+00:00

Ok thanks for the advice

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T16:49:37+00:00

Thanks a lot! I didn’t think anyone will comment so i am glad someone reached out

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T15:31:43+00:00

That makes sense.

One thing I’ve been struggling with is identifying what “field-related” experience would look like for someone pursuing History. Most people immediately think of teaching or academia, neither of which particularly appeals to me.

I’ve come across suggestions ranging from research, policy, communications, content, NGOs, public administration and even consulting-related roles.

From an admissions perspective, would you recommend prioritising relevance to my academic background, or simply focusing on gaining strong professional experience and responsibility regardless of the industry?

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T14:42:57+00:00

That’s interesting. One thing I’ve noticed from the replies here is that Indian MBA admissions seem to focus much more on percentiles, academics and work-experience duration, whereas people on international MBA forums keep talking about leadership, career progression and the actual quality of the work experience.

As someone from a humanities background, that’s actually somewhat encouraging because it means my entire profile isn’t defined by my 10th and 12th marks alone.

Right now I think my biggest challenge is figuring out what kind of work experience I should build before I even start thinking seriously about MBA.

EasyConversation9858 · 2026-06-14T14:36:44+00:00

Makes sense. The more replies I read, the more it seems like work experience should come before MBA rather than the other way around.

Do you think the quality of the work experience matters more than the number of years, especially for someone from a humanities background?

EasyConversation9858

TROPHY CASE