Masters?

[gear02]

I feel like I need to continue my education somehow in order to get to where I want to be. I've been thinking abou getting an MBA or something and I came across this:

http://www.som.gmu.edu/techman/index.php

What do you think?

On another note, do you think it's better to get a Masters part time(would take 2.5 years) or to go to school full time?

[ray]

what part-time MBA program allow you to get your degree in 2.5 years?
MBA is typically 3 years.

[coleslaw]

I could get my MBA in a single year if I went full-time at UC. I think part time is like 2 - 2.5 years, so that sounds about right.

[ray]

uhh, that's one hell of an accelerated program. I know Boston College's and Boston University's full-time MBA programs are 2 years long. Hmm.

[coleslaw]

Originally posted by lilbigblue
uhh, that's one hell of an accelerated program. I know Boston College's and Boston University's full-time MBA programs are 2 years long.

Yeah, it is pretty accelerated. Here's a link to the schedules:

http://www.business.uc.edu/?/mba/academics/options

I think if I did get my MBA, my focus would be in MATI (http://www.business.uc.edu/?/mba/academics/curriculum/mati.aspx) (Management of Advanced Technology and Innovation). :)

[GilbertsGrape]

you can do it in a year or maybe it was 1.5 yrs at sulivan only going to class for like 10 or 12 hours on saturday cost like 10k thought

[GraingerGuy]

Originally posted by coleslaw


Yeah, it is pretty accelerated. Here's a link to the schedules:

http://www.business.uc.edu/?/mba/academics/options

I think if I did get my MBA, my focus would be in MATI (http://www.business.uc.edu/?/mba/academics/curriculum/mati.aspx) (Management of Advanced Technology and Innovation). :)

You would become a pointy haired boss wouldn't you....:hehehmm:

[brainsmile]

you can complete a masters in business admin in approximately 2 years or less here.

[hoey222]

i would say if you are recently graduated from college, like last year or 2...i'd go full time and do it now...you are still in the college mentality, how to study, etc. a masters could also help in getting that first job. you have more education. higher pay rate....:D

[NuTs62]

Originally posted by hoey222
i would say if you are recently graduated from college, like last year or 2...i'd go full time and do it now...you are still in the college mentality, how to study, etc. a masters could also help in getting that first job. you have more education. higher pay rate....:D

wouldn't that also depend on the Masters program you're entering, and the requirements? The one here @ SJSU for MBA requires a few years management experience, along with the decent GPA, etc.

[gear02]

Does the quality of the school matter with MBAs?

[ray]

A 1-year MBA program makes it difficult to compete for jobs with people who went to a 2-year MBA program. Why? The 2-year programs obviously include more courses, usually more in depth courses.

Almost ALL MBA programs look for applicants who have work experience, typically 2-3 years. Though it's not necessarily a requirement, you will find it easier to get into a grad school with the work experience.

An MBA degree without work experience is pretty much useless. Also, I have been told by many graduate students and professors...if you're not in one of the top 15 business schools, don't even bother getting your MBA. You're probably better off attaining a JD or some other Master's degree where the knowledge will benefit you more than the piece of paper that says you have an MBA.

[dbax791]

Originally posted by gear02
Does the quality of the school matter with MBAs?

Absolutely. Some companies "tier" MBA schools when they recruit and pay you more based on the school you went to.

To answer your original question, I think it is much better to go to a full-time 2-year program. You should have 3-4 and preferably 4-5 years of full-time work experience.

[gear02]

SO I guess me going after 11.5 months of working is out of the question...

what should I do in the meantime to "educate" myself?

[mcs328]

really? I didn't know MBA only took a few years. I never thought about it because well the huge amount of money which still applies AND I thought it would take another 4-5 years of my life.

Hmmm...interesting. To me an MBA would be a hobby...how hard could it be? :shrug:

[whitak24]

Originally posted by lilbigblue
A 1-year MBA program makes it difficult to compete for jobs with people who went to a 2-year MBA program. Why? The 2-year programs obviously include more courses, usually more in depth courses.

Almost ALL MBA programs look for applicants who have work experience, typically 2-3 years. Though it's not necessarily a requirement, you will find it easier to get into a grad school with the work experience.

An MBA degree without work experience is pretty much useless. Also, I have been told by many graduate students and professors...if you're not in one of the top 15 business schools, don't even bother getting your MBA. You're probably better off attaining a JD or some other Master's degree where the knowledge will benefit you more than the piece of paper that says you have an MBA.
:stupid:

a big reason a 2-year program is to your advantage is because you typically do an internship in the summer between your two years. this usually leads to a solid job offer (unless you're a moron).

as far as whether going to a top school matters, absolutely. MBAs are more about networking than learning anything. if you don't go to a top school, you're not going to have anyone to network with.

on the other hand, it depends on what you want your degree for. if you're currently at a job where you can't get promoted to a higher management position without an MBA, then it doesn't matter where it comes from. or, if you know for a fact that there's small/midsize companies that you'd like to work for that just want someone with an MBA, then an MBA from a low school will serve you fine.

but if you want the MBA because you just know you want the opportunity to compete for top-notch business management jobs, then you need to go to a top-10, top-15, or top-25. people will disagree on the cutoff because it depends on what exactly you want to do. if you want to work for bain or mckinsey, then you better look at harvard, kellogg, or wharton. if you just want to get into GM, a top-25 school will probably get you there.

[kimchicowboy]

my friend's been taking his sweet old time getting his MBA over the internet. been at least 3 years.

[dbax791]

Originally posted by gear02
SO I guess me going after 11.5 months of working is out of the question...

what should I do in the meantime to "educate" myself?

If you want to get into a good school, yes :)

It would be easier to answer your question if I knew your educational background and what you do and what kind of company you work for.

But if you are serious about it, this would be my advice:

- Career-wise, try to get as much broad experience as you can. For example, if you work in IT try to get projects in as many different departments as you can. E.g. work for marketing, sales, purchasing, finance, manufacturing...as much cross-functional experience as you can get

- If you have never taken basic business classes, I'd go to a cheap community college and take financial/managerial accounting, basic finance...e.g. the "numbers" courses that are fundamental for use in strategy and higher level courses. It is a huge advantage to have experience with this instead of having to learn it for the first time in grad school while you are overloaded with other stuff.

- Go get a book like the "portable MBA". I've never read it, but it will give you some exposure to the concepts that you will learn and you can see if it is consistent with your interests.

[LegendKiller]

I have gotten my MBA in 22 months, but I have been taking 16 credits a semester and I am in the top 10% of my class.


There are a few points I would like to make.


1. You do not have to be in a top flight B-School to work for a good company. For example, my fiancee's cousin works for Intel M&A, started at 80, making probably 150 in less than 4 years. Went to Indiana, far from the top flights. My fiancee's dad got his from UW-Osh Kosh, took Shopko public, works as a CFO of a designer clothing store chain.

2. I am finding more and more that no experience + MBA=trouble. I have 3 years of IT, and 3mo of finance (internship). I am having a little trouble finding a job. However, that could also be a part of the economy. For instance, many Harvard or Wharton grads are having a lot of trouble finding positions.

3. I would TOTALLY agree that its not really what you know, but who you know. I was fortunate enough to get a job working directly with the president of my school, who is pretty wired (5 MIT BS', 3 masters, 2 PHD's...plays golf with jack welch). I am probably going to depend on him to help me get a job. These are the kind of connections you need.

An MBA from any school, as long as it is AACSB accreddited AND is ranked by businessweek and others will be valuable. One thing I find funny about people looking at Wharton or Harvard is that they look at the salaries for those starting (usually 110+). However, they do not realize that those people are probably paying 2000-3000+ a month in rent + more in living expenses while they live in NYC or another high-buck place. Sure, they are making decent bucks, but nothing like you really think.

110k in Miami is a lot of money, 110k in San Fran isn't nearly as much (30% cost of living increase), 110k in NYC might get you a 1 bedroom apartment and a bus pass.



LK

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by mcs328
really? I didn't know MBA only took a few years. I never thought about it because well the huge amount of money which still applies AND I thought it would take another 4-5 years of my life.

Hmmm...interesting. To me an MBA would be a hobby...how hard could it be? :shrug:


It can be hard, depending on what your interested in. If you love quantitative stuff, then it will be great for you.

[gear02]

Hmm...that's some very interesting information legendkiller...

in any case it looks like I shouldn't go into B-school after the minumum two years of work experience.

Since many of you say that experience is key, what do you guys think about jumping into different roles? I'm currently a developer for a consulting company. Would it benefical to jump to HR or recruiting after a couple of years or something completely unrelated to programming?

[whitak24]

Originally posted by LegendKiller
1. You do not have to be in a top flight B-School to work for a good company. For example, my fiancee's cousin works for Intel M&A, started at 80, making probably 150 in less than 4 years. Went to Indiana, far from the top flights. My fiancee's dad got his from UW-Osh Kosh, took Shopko public, works as a CFO of a designer clothing store chain.

indiana, according to usnews, is in the top 20. not bad at all.

while you're right -- you don't have to go to a top-flight b-school to get a great job, it sure doesn't hurt. and if you can get a little extra work experience, score a little higher on the GMAT, and do whatever else you need to go to a top-25 school, you're probably going to reap good rewards for your efforts.

[LegendKiller]

Heh, didn't even realize that. I knew they were good, but not htat good.


LK

[ray]

Regarding jobhunting with the relevant work experience and the MBA degree:

If you want to work for a top tier big-name firm (intel, microsoft, ernst and young, accenture, lehman bros, goldman, jp morgan, chase, etc) or basically any company that has worldwide operations, then try your hardest to get into a top tier school.

However, if you plan on staying with relatively small private firms that have good reputations and consistent clients, then a B-school MBA degree would definitely suffice.

In the end, it depends on what career path you choose, how much money you want to make, where you want to live etc etc etc.

[mcs328]

Interesting. I like small companies but if the Big Boys pay me well I can easily be persuaded. I personally think experience is worth a lot more than where you got your degree from. However I agree with LK that a great contact/hookup is much better for getting over half your body in the door. The rest is how good you can sell yourself.

[ray]

Work experience is always a big plus...however, let's say you have 2 applicants both with 3 years of similar relevant work experience.

One guy got his MBA from Stanford and the other guy received his MBA from Oregon St.

Which applicant would you take based on a resume?

[LegendKiller]

Your assuming that the guy from Stanford and the one from Oregon St. are going to apply for the same job. 90% of the time your talking about 2 different markets.

Furthermore, if the person from Standford got a B average and the guy from Oregon was in top 5% of a 500 person class.

Or maybe the guy from Oregon knows a board of director.

Or maybe the guy from Oregon has a CFA (the great leveling certification for busines/finance people), and the guy from Stanford does not.


There are a ton of these "what ifs" that can make a person from Oregon much more attractive than somebody from Standford.

I do not have all of them, but I have a few.



LK

[ShawnLee]

When talking about work experience, I wonder how relevant different work experiences are. Private sector vs public. Technology-development company vs traditional "business" environment. Do these things affect admissions?

Also, are there schools that have programs designed for non-profit administration?