Advanced education is always worthwhile. It provides experience with a variety of people, teamwork skills, presentation skills, critical thinking skills and many other benefits. It's not just about a piece of paper to increase wage, or prestige, or even knowledge in the field.
I also wonder how going for the MBA is different from and undergrad. Is the class style a lot different? Is the homework and exam structure different?
I also wonder how going for the MBA is different from and undergrad. Is the class style a lot different? Is the homework and exam structure different?
What's motivating you, and where are you in your career/schooling?
If in school still, an MBA is fine. If out of school, I think the value drops, I'd be more cautious about where I would invest that time/$, the older the less value (obviously). If you're in management and want to go further, in some companies/industries it can be a good play (as long as you have about 10+ years left in work?).
Education is a good use of time, but there are hopefully later in life, many good things you can do with your time, and there is an opportunity cost. If you can juggle work and family and school...heck why not. Otherwise, i think it's good to evaluate it first.
And if you're starting a business and already known in industry, it's got next to no relative value when you factor in opportunity cost. You can hire one or three if you think you need one. Although as ecofarm alludes to, if you do go MBA, don't treat it like a piece of paper, because that's a choice. Milk the entire experience, get to know the faculty and other students and get involved, even if you're not a people-person. The time and energy having good connections can save is sometimes more valuable than the degree itself. Having fun while doing it will be a cherry on top.
From my experience (MSc, PhD(c)) and conversations with other grad students, these are the main differences:
1. No multiple choice tests. It's all essay.
2. A group project in every class.
3. A presentation, generally powerpoint, (to the class, based on paper written by oneself) required in every class.
4. Massive amounts of reading.
It's highly focused on understanding (as opposed to memorization), formal academic writing ability, teamwork, presentation ability and ability to communicate complex concepts. It requires critical thinking in a way beyond undergrad work.
Undergrad "homework" is expected to be 3 hours for every hour of class. Grad "homework" is 6 (? not sure) hours per hour of class. 12 credit hours is full-time undergrad, 9 credit hours is full-time grad.
This is good advice. I am thinking about it, but I may not need it. I am actually thinking of changing my career path and getting a new job. I am an accountant considering going from public to industry.
One great thing about grad school: everyone wants to be there. Everyone is interested, motivated and driven to gain knowledge in the field. Everyone wants to talk about stuff from class in social circles. It's not like undergrad classes where half the people are there because their parents forced them.
Is anybody here an MBA?
Or does anybody have an opinion on the MBA?
One great thing about grad school: everyone wants to be there. Everyone is interested, motivated and driven to gain knowledge in the field. Everyone wants to talk about stuff from class in social circles. It's not like undergrad classes where half the people are there because their parents forced them.
Sorry if it's like that at UF or whatever, but none do that at my undergrad. People are very passionate about their field. The only difference is not *every* class relates to that, a lot of gen ed requirements.
Is anybody here an MBA?
Or does anybody have an opinion on the MBA?
My undergrad (private and public schools) had classes with plenty of people that didn't give a crap about the subject. They considered it a necessary evil for their degree. Some were flippant about classes in general and some were just so about certain classes.
In grad school, there are no flippant students. There are not "this doesn't matter" or "this teacher is a moron" clowns. In grad school, class information is the topic of conversation in social circles (no beer bongs for me after undergrad at a very expensive private school). Everyone is happy to go over a concept, idea or bit of information from class.
As far as student commitment and passion for the subject are concerned, it's different worlds.
you clearly didn't go to a top 20 undergrad. Whining about the teacher i've only seen once, because the guy in his damn 80s kept losing focus. You don't think grad schools ever have a problem with old timers clinging to tenure?
The big difference is a lot of PhDs choose a program based on certain professors they'll work on dissertation and research with, but you still can run across *some* instructors you don't care for
Also, in a typical MBA, there's absolutely filler classes that don't transfer well to the specific field of interest, and plenty of people are there just for $, obviously. Some firms even offer a raise upon completion. Not every grad school program exists for pure research and knowledge
I deal with the public in my city's business district, and meet a fair amount of finance guys - usually investment bankers, financial analysts, or traders.I don't but one of my brothers does and I was seriously contemplating getting one-to the point of applying and being accepted into two of the top programs.
When I was in my twenties-the MBA was a hot degree. Lots of my college friends graduated college, worked a couple years, and then pursued an MBA. several were lucky and were able to get their employers (usually big bucks wall street investment banks) to put them through big name MBA programs.
However, according to several friends of mine who have MBAs from the 70s and 80s, the degree is not as valuable these days if you aspire to big time corporate USA. Lots of firms figure MBAs are over priced and figure they can hire a college graduate straight out of school and teach them more about their business than an MBA program will and it will cost the business far less. And remember, unlike law-where you need a law degree in just about every state to practice law and the same with an MD for medicine, there are plenty of extremely successful businessmen who don' have MBA degrees.
My niece graduates Williams in a few weeks with a strong GPA. she was recruited and accepted a job with a top consulting firm. the work hours are expected to be brutal and I asked my brother if she planned on doing the same thing he did-work a couple years and then go the MBA route as he did and he noted its an option but its not nearly as clearcut as it was 30 years ago when he obtained his MBA. She's lucky, she doesn't have student loans to deal with but that is another factor-are you going to make up what it costs-both in terms of tuition AND lost wages-to get that MBA?
I don't but one of my brothers does and I was seriously contemplating getting one-to the point of applying and being accepted into two of the top programs.
When I was in my twenties-the MBA was a hot degree. Lots of my college friends graduated college, worked a couple years, and then pursued an MBA. several were lucky and were able to get their employers (usually big bucks wall street investment banks) to put them through big name MBA programs.
However, according to several friends of mine who have MBAs from the 70s and 80s, the degree is not as valuable these days if you aspire to big time corporate USA. Lots of firms figure MBAs are over priced and figure they can hire a college graduate straight out of school and teach them more about their business than an MBA program will and it will cost the business far less. And remember, unlike law-where you need a law degree in just about every state to practice law and the same with an MD for medicine, there are plenty of extremely successful businessmen who don' have MBA degrees.
My niece graduates Williams in a few weeks with a strong GPA. she was recruited and accepted a job with a top consulting firm. the work hours are expected to be brutal and I asked my brother if she planned on doing the same thing he did-work a couple years and then go the MBA route as he did and he noted its an option but its not nearly as clearcut as it was 30 years ago when he obtained his MBA. She's lucky, she doesn't have student loans to deal with but that is another factor-are you going to make up what it costs-both in terms of tuition AND lost wages-to get that MBA?
I deal with the public in my city's business district, and meet a fair amount of finance guys - usually investment bankers, financial analysts, or traders.
Because my kid is studying undergrad finance, I now sometimes chat them up about it. I was blown away to hear some big firms in my city are taking guys right out of undergrad, and tossing them into I-Banking at around 80K to start.
Now they have to have a great G.P.A., but they do go directly into I-Banking at a reasonably decent just-out-of-school salary, with the same opportunity to double & triple their income quickly - just like the traditional M.B.A.s do.
In the '80's when I was looking at grad school, an M.B.A from a reputable school was pretty much de rigueur to get into a decent investment banking firm. It seems no longer. So yeah, something seems to have changed (in I-Banking) lately, at least in my city.
(these guys did claim an M.B.A. was good to get for higher levels as time went on, but it was not required for entry - or even at all)