Comments on: Is Getting an MBA Worth It?

By: InvestmentPlayground

InvestmentPlayground — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:13:07 +0000

I agree that MBA can prepare for your corporate executive positions one day, but it also can teach you a lot about managing small businesses. Finances, marketing, advertising, HR, people management, even entrepreneurship are definitely discussed in depth in your MBA program. Even if you’re going on your own one day and starting your own business – Rob said it right that the network you gain is really important. And that’s useful in corporations, entrepeneurships, volunteer work, or drinking buddies.

By: anupam

anupam — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:10:40 +0000

Some slog to rise to the position of top executives, some do mba.

Which one would you choose?

Anupam,
PR Head,
Managementparadise.com

By: ScreamingDespair

ScreamingDespair — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:57:27 +0000

It depends. Is getting a lobotomy worth it?

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:34:42 +0000

I do have an MBA and it was very worth it. disclaimer – if anything sounds funny it’s because I’m ill right now and drowning in cough medicine

Can you learn the same material without going to a formal MBA program? Yes. Is the quality of the material and it’s presentation, the interaction with seasoned professors and classmates going to be as high quality? Probably not.

There are two other white elephants in the room here that make a PMBA nearly worthless in the real world….

1) Much of what you get with your MBA is the alumni association and the network of fellow grads. Looking for a partner, funding, a job – simple truth is that working your alumni network is extremely powerful.

2) When I can put MBA Wake Forest University on my resume, that carries clout – whether it should or not is another debate…the fact is, that it does. If I were instead to say, completed JoeBob’s PMBA 2.0 at http://www.mba-for-free.biz, well…you get the idea. (which was hinted at in the article)

I did the night class thing. It was a huge sacrifice for me and the whole family. But work picked up most of the tab so there was nearly no opportunity cost involved. Check with your employer – a lot of them have education reimbursement policies that aren’t widely advertised.

End result? I’m making 40%+ more than I was 4 years ago and hold a VP position. Worth it? Every minute I spent on it, absolutely.

By: B Smith @ Wealth and Wisdom

B Smith @ Wealth and Wisdom — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:48:02 +0000

I think it depends on what you are looking to accomplish. Before I enrolled in a MBA program I would decide where I wanted my career to take me.

The MBA prepares you for a life as a corporate executive. Does this fit your overall goals? Are you willing to make the personal and family sacrifices this career path requires? If so a MBA may be a good investment. Then again you need to consider how long it will take to recoup the money and time required. Chances are that it may not be worth it.

Are you looking to branch out on your own? If so don’t waste your time or money. Most college based business programs are designed by academics who have little real world experience. Formal education won’t help you start and run a successful business.

By: NashEntLaw

NashEntLaw — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:42:14 +0000

I’ve been pondering this very question . . . been practicing law for about 5 years. When I was in school, I started the joint JD/MBA program but was too anxious to get out to finish the last year for the MBA. I see so many schools offering MBA programs, and so many people graduating with the degree, it hardly seems worth the investment (personally, I’m looking to move in-house someday).