Serious question…what is the point of an MBA for a B.Com grad in terms of increasing business education ? Isn’t someone with a Bachelors in Commerce just repeating the same classes over again?..maybe an MBA has a few more case studies and the teachers treating the students more like future decision-makers rather then just lowly students, but is there really any academic value to an MBA ? (I am not talking about the increased network, reputation, social status, increased job opportunites…that I agree will come with an MBA)
You asked what the point of an MBA was, outside of you know…the point. The point of an MBA, for the vast majority of people, is network/career opportunities. I’ve never heard people complaining about the academic rigor of business school.
Why would a bio major need an MD? After all, they’ve already learned anatomy before?
Well bchad, I would argue that the classes are pretty different between a bio major and an MD. That’s like comparing a mechanical engineer to a mechanic…they are totally different things… So is that what you are saying…that an MBA is totally different then a B.Com ? Or that if you major in Finance for your B.Com, then maybe its a good idea to specialize in something else for your MBA just to have a little variety…
- Get a label on your resume 2. Get access to the career network and recruitment events 3. Absorb the attitude of superiority that will outwardly increase your confidence (i.e. become a smug SOB) That’s about it.
I’m guessing you have a B.Com and are looking at an MBA. Why not list the courses available at a school you are targeting and take a hard look at whether or not you think they appeal to you from an incremental value perspective. Talk to faculty and students and see if you think it is rigorous enough. B-school is what you make of it. If you want academic rigor and you are attending a top school with challenging courses (especially research universities), you will find it.
From a learning perspective, good MBA schools do offer some more advanced courses (compared to undergrad) should you choose to take them. But, if you majored in finance in undergrad it’s not worth the money to take more finance classes purely for learning (especially if you are doing CFA too)…it’s all about the resume…
Typically MBA programs are very flexible. If you don’t feel challenged, you can take PhD level classes. If you are still not challenged, you have to apply to another school. If you are still not challenged, ask your professors for an advanced problem to work on.
i had MBA students in three of my BBA classes. don’t waste your time, unless the MBA is from a top 10 (i.e. you’re networking with people who know millionaires).
quote ^ (I am not talking about the increased network, reputation, social status, increased job opportunites…that I agree will come with an MBA). Career considerations dominate the discussion. It seems ridiculous to remove them from the discussion…BUT The top MBA prorgams have some astounding professors. You can also take some pretty advanced courses in your curriculum. You can also take PhD level classes. You can work on outside projects with your professors. The core courses will be a waste but that lets you devote the first to the job hunt. As someone with Business training, you will be in a group with engineers and military guys and other people who will be mystified by business basics at first. You will develop management skills in the program. If you go to a top school, you will take the lead in groups filled with some very impressive people. A lot of entry level people have been spreasheet & ppt b***s for their whole career. The MBA gives you a chance to develop management and teamwork skills and allows you to learn from mistakes that would kill your career. The presentation skills you will develop will help you more than anything you will learn in undergrad - Bizcom or otherwise. Is this enough to justify $100K in tuition? NOOOOOOOO!!! MBA is about money and the opportunity to switch careers. But, there are some educational benefits that go along with it. Another thing: I don’t care what you did in your rinky dink undergrad curriculum East Cow$h1t State - You can learn plenty at UChicago about finance. Or you can go to MIT and concentrate in Manufacturing Operations Management. Or go to Kellog and learn about marketing from the best marketing people in the world.
I agree with the general sentiment on this thread that it is pointless (unless you go to a top ten). But it may be a good way to rebrand yourself if you want to get into a different field. Finance guy wants to get into advertising etc.
> I don’t care what you did in your rinky dink undergrad curriculum East Cow$h1t State - You can learn plenty at UChicago about finance. Or you can go to MIT and concentrate in Manufacturing Operations Management. Or go to Kellog and learn about marketing from the best marketing people in the world. Sure…I can learn more doing finance and operations managmement at the MBA level…but it doesn’t have to be a name-brand school…its a common misconception that you will learn “better” material just you go to an Ivy…its the same books and a prof who is a aritculate communicator is more important to me then how many titles/honors he has received
CFAMaven Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well bchad, I would argue that the classes are > pretty different between a bio major and an MD. > That’s like comparing a mechanical engineer to a > mechanic…they are totally different things… > > So is that what you are saying…that an MBA is > totally different then a B.Com ? > Or that if you major in Finance for your B.Com, > then maybe its a good idea to specialize in > something else for your MBA just to have a little > variety… I’m saying that someone who thinks that they don’t need/aren’t able to learn any more about their chosen field because they’ve scaled the immense heights required to get a B.Comm. from somewhere probably needs to get their head examined.
be careful making sweeping generalizations (as business people tend to do) about MBA being worthless, even from a lower tier school. it is all on a case by case basis.
Education is always useful in some degree or some way. An MBA is useful but it just depends what your end goal is. There is a posibility that some education could be redundant and not a wise use of time/money but again that all depends on your individual situation or goal. It also depends on how you use the opportinities presented during the process. Anybody thinking that they can just go out and get a degree or designation and then they are set are mistaken. It all depends on who you are and what you do with it.
why do people torture themselves with the GMAT and wasting time with a MBA? Just go to professor websites of top MBA schools, copy syllabus for courses and teach yourself. This combined with networking and ass kissing and you will be in the same place as most top MBAs grads with all the knowledge and no debt. I’ve done this a few times and actually contacted the professors with some questions and were very glad to help me.
quote: "This combined with networking and ass kissing and you will be in the same place as most top MBAs grads with all the knowledge and no debt. " Except you won’t work for Wellington or PIMCO or Bain Capital or Goldman. Look at the Wharton MBA employment report. Some of the best companies in the world hire at Wharton by the dozen. It’s hard to break into these places without an MBA.
joemontana Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > quote: > "This combined with networking and ass kissing and > you will be in the same place as most top MBAs > grads with all the knowledge and no debt. " > > Except you won’t work for Wellington or PIMCO or > Bain Capital or Goldman. Look at the Wharton MBA > employment report. Some of the best companies in > the world hire at Wharton by the dozen. It’s hard > to break into these places without an MBA. Sure right off the bat they wont hired, but there are still a lot of top firms that would once you prove yourself with your self-taught knowledge. Once you have 100% proof that you are a performer I guarantee even those top firms you’ve listed will hire you even without top 5 MBA. MBA is a complete waste of money and only fools enroll in MBA programs
timotimo, what is your job and education? You must be a rockstar to be speaking about these things with such certainty.
timotimo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > joemontana Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > quote: > > "This combined with networking and ass kissing > and > > you will be in the same place as most top MBAs > > grads with all the knowledge and no debt. " > > > > Except you won’t work for Wellington or PIMCO > or > > Bain Capital or Goldman. Look at the Wharton > MBA > > employment report. Some of the best companies > in > > the world hire at Wharton by the dozen. It’s > hard > > to break into these places without an MBA. > > > Sure right off the bat they wont hired, but there > are still a lot of top firms that would once you > prove yourself with your self-taught knowledge. > Once you have 100% proof that you are a performer > I guarantee even those top firms you’ve listed > will hire you even without top 5 MBA. > > MBA is a complete waste of money and only fools > enroll in MBA programs The last statement is complete bunk.