How did you pick your MBA program?

[DesmoLu]

It really all depends on what you want to do with that MBA. Many Executive MBA programs are stupid pricey because they cater to executives whose companies are paying for the MBA program. My mom recently did one of those and the conclusion in that case was that it was not about learning anything or even networking but rather, they simply could not promote her to where they wanted to without her having a graduate degree. This is often the case.

Many people right now are getting their MBA because the job market is so awful, particularly finance professionals. This makes the top tier MBA programs particularly competitive because these folks are all 1)obsessed with titles and prestige and 2)have been banking six figures since the day they stepped out of undergrad and have the money to spend. So do keep in mind that if you want a top program now, it will be hard to get in.

On the other hand, there are some great top programs that do not attract the prestige-school boys simply because of the location or name. UT Austin would be one of those. The value of the degree as actually been appreciating.

My key advice here is that if you really want to make your MBA a solid investment, know with 100% certainty going into it exactly what you want to get out of it. Most MBAs do not return on the investment precisely because the person did not have a sense of clear direction going in. This is critical so that you can make the most of the network while you are there. You will make "friends" differently based on what job you want out of school. Your classmates and professor contacts are the most useful part of your degree.

And if you want the hands-down most practical program that will actually prepare you for running your own company (that you will probably start while in school), than I would have to recommend my alma mater, Babson College.

[hbliam]

I don't agree with that at all.

That doesn't really matter or add anything to the discussion. I live here and when it's said that you have a Masters or MBA from USC it's a big deal.

[cyrus buelton]

That doesn't really matter or add anything to the discussion. I live here and when it's said that you have a Masters or MBA from USC it's a big deal.

I think someone would take a Univ of Chicago, Harvard, or Yale MBA over a USC one.

If they didn't, they other factors were involved, as the three schools I listed are far superior.

[DesmoLu]

I think someone would take a Univ of Chicago, Harvard, or Yale MBA over a USC one.

If they didn't, they other factors were involved, as the three schools I listed are far superior.

Actually, you'd be surprised by the locality factor involved in education. If you want to get a job in a specific area, then a school where most of the students are from that area is going to be more fruitful. There are a lot more USC alumni in SoCal than there are Chicago or Yale alumni, so if you want to stay in USC, it is probably going to have more weight. For example, if you are working in Houston, TX your Rice degree is actually worth far more than a Harvard or Yale degree. Move to Boston and of course, that changes.

[swampduc]

Actually, you'd be surprised by the locality factor involved in education. If you want to get a job in a specific area, then a school where most of the students are from that area is going to be more fruitful. There are a lot more USC alumni in SoCal than there are Chicago or Yale alumni, so if you want to stay in USC, it is probably going to have more weight. For example, if you are working in Houston, TX your Rice degree is actually worth far more than a Harvard or Yale degree. Move to Boston and of course, that changes.

interesting. To what extent w MBA programs are there schools that do well in specific fields? For instance, do certain schools do well in health care administration or in finance?

[hbliam]

I think someone would take a Univ of Chicago, Harvard, or Yale MBA over a USC one.

If they didn't, they other factors were involved, as the three schools I listed are far superior.

You will notice I didn't say Yale or Harvard in my original post. Both of those schools easily would get the nod over USC. Their names transcend region. But here in So Cal, USC is looked very favorably upon, more so then some of your other "top tens". Remember my point had to do with region. Where do you think the guys around here making the decisions went to? yep, USC.

[sbrguy]

definitely know wha tyou want to get out of school before you go in.  with law school you had way too many people going in with no clue as what do when they got out, and some wondered why they were under so much debt getting out.

of course as you mentioned, we all want to goto the best schools but the best school are tough  to get into. obviously if you have a yale degree sky is  the limit, but first you ahve to have the grades and such just to get in, obviously not everyone can get it otherwise everyone would be going to yale.

take the tests and apply to some schools and see where you land then make a decision.  good luck.

[DesmoLu]

interesting. To what extent w MBA programs are there schools that do well in specific fields? For instance, do certain schools do well in health care administration or in finance?

Of course! If you want to work in Finance, for example, New York schools like Columbia and NYU or good-old boys club schools like Harvard are where you need to be. If you want to be in something Econ related, Chicago for sure. NYU is particularly good with international business. UPenn has a niche in management and training future execs. That's where the real research comes in.

I have no idea about health care administration. With the way those companies are run I'd be surprised if they had MBA's...

[ducpainter]

I must have missed the memo.

I wasn't aware I needed one. 

[sugarcrook]

I must have missed the memo.

I wasn't aware I needed one. 

It's certainly not for everyone. 

[sugarcrook]

I've been talking to a handful of people and the general consensus is it's not the alumni network - nobody I talked to reaches out to their alumni.  Rather, it's a brand that matters.  Northwestern has a better brand than SJSU, for instance. 

[DesmoLu]

I've been talking to a handful of people and the general consensus is it's not the alumni network - nobody I talked to reaches out to their alumni.  Rather, it's a brand that matters.  Northwestern has a better brand than SJSU, for instance. 

the people you've been talking to must have a bad alumni network. Its not so much about reaching out to your alumni but about the reputation they have. Where do they go? what do they do? They ARE the brand. They bring their companies to your school to recruit. They are the ones reviewing your resume at the company, going out of their way to get you an interview. You will probably not know it until you need them.

I was amazed by the lengths Babson alumni went through to help our students get a job on Wall Street and also amazed at how much say we had in recruiting and hiring when it came to speaking for Babson grads. Your alumni are essentially your voice in the company, unless you have another solid connection of course. If you don't have any connection or alumni network, chances of getting hired are VERY slim.

[junior varsity]

vandybuilt and smooo aren't too shabby either.

i did the ol' JD route. the kids in business school look happy at bars. the law students are all just drinking to hide their snarls of unhappiness.

[sugarcrook]

vandybuilt and smooo aren't too shabby either.

i did the ol' JD route. the kids in business school look happy at bars. the law students are all just drinking to hide their snarls of unhappiness.

I thought about JD as well, but all of the lawyers I know hate what they do.  And you can always just hire a lawyer. 

[junior varsity]

the lawyers I know (numerous) all seem to enjoy their job, but nobody remotely enjoys law school. Not even a fake smile about it. I have friends that went off to Duke Law, or are at Vandy law (as far as top schools go) and friends at UTK or UGA (I'm at SMU) and the feeling is identical everywhere. You beat your head against books day-in-day-out and the practicing attorneys are quick to remind you that despite all this, you won't be prepared to practice law when you graduate. (sonofapregnant dog).

Getting a masters in whatever your undergraduate degree is (if its a good science background of some type) would be most adviseable from what I see. And more fun. If I had gotten a Masters in Engineering, I'd be almost done, had friends and professors who liked jokes and happiness, and wouldn't have to read a few hundred pages a day, everyday, of bad writing.