Mumbai-based Sakshi Jain, founder of branding agency Viralyze Media, has stirred an online discussion about the relevance of formal education and degrees after sharing a post about her friend’s high-paying internship.
In a post shared on LinkedIn, Jain revealed that her friend, currently studying at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, secured a summer internship in Mumbai with a monthly stipend of Rs 3.5 lakh.
The post gained widespread attention, leading many to reflect on the value of degrees, especially from prestigious institutions such as IIMs and IITs.
Degrees still open doors, says Jain
Jain explained that while there is a growing belief online that “degrees don’t matter,” her friend’s example made her rethink that view.
“Met a friend from IIM yesterday. She’s in Mumbai for her summer internship. And she’s getting paid 3.5 lakhs per month,” she shared on LinkedIn.
“And it kinda hit me – 7 lakhs in 2 months? Maybe degrees do hold some weight after all,” she later wrote on X.
She continued, “We love to say ‘degrees don’t matter’ online. And honestly, I’ve believed that too. But sometimes, you come across these moments that make you pause. Maybe degrees don’t matter everywhere. But sometimes, they open doors you never knew existed.”
She concluded by acknowledging that there are different paths to success and that each one is valid in its own way.
Internet reacts: mixed views on degree value
Jain’s post on X has gone viral, with over 1.5 million views and hundreds of comments. Many users shared similar experiences, especially involving students from top Indian institutions.
“Met some IIT students recently. One of them got a 2-month internship for 25 lakhs. INR 12.5 lakh per month for an internship,” claimed a user.
Another user commented, “This is the truth at the end of the day, people can make noise and be part of the ‘MBA doesn’t matter’ bandwagon but IIM A/B/C are in a league of their own and that tag stays with you for life – gives you a serious head start.”
“It’s a matter of pride that the IIT/IIM league exists in India, and stands among the world’s best!” one user added.