Online MBA career pivot options

Is getting an online MBA degree from Kelley(#1 online mba program) worth it if I am considering making a switch into consulting/finance from engineering? I agree I m not looking at top tiers but planning on starting with a few smaller firms and then eventually making the jump after experience. Am I being realistic or daydreaming? What are some of the career options that I can realistically consider to make a pivot into in such a situation? Looking for straightforward, honest opinions.

PS: it's online mba in finance and dual ms in information management.

 
Most Helpful

Sorry to pour cold water on this idea, but a few thoughts:

1) No one cares what an MBA is ranked in the 'online MBA program' ranking. The full time program rankings drive everything. 

2) It's going to be near impossible to career pivot from an online MBA program. You don't have the same structured recruiting as a full time program nor the internship option. Even pivoting from a M7 EMBA program is very hard, though ppl have done it before.

3) Engineering to consulting/finance via a full time program happens all the time, but without the interview prep a full time program and on campus recruiting, I just don't see it happening for this specific program. 

 I suggest looking at full time programs or at least top EMBA programs. Both would go a lot further in helping your career change.

Best of luck! 

 

I am actually admitted to the Professional MBA program at UT Dallas(Jindal School of Management) and I have the flexibility to attend online or in-person, part-or full-time however, I work in Michigan with my employer and I being an international, my employer is in the process of filing my green card due to which I cannot think of leaving Michigan to attend the program. Due to some international visa related complications, it might be easier for me to look for a job since I would have more time to look for one whereas if I opt to do a full-time MBA(which is possible in the Professional MBA that I am enrolled into), I would only have 2 months post graduation to look for a job which scares me. Regardless of me doing my MBA remotely, I would have access to all the career services that Professional students would have however, I agree I would miss out on a lot of networking events and would maybe only be able to fly down twice/semester to attend the main events.

My question is that since I am opting for a dual degree program, MBA/MS in Information Tech., would I have a shot at applying to some tech. firm as a start, break in and then maybe think of a pivot into a managerial role probably, 2-3 years down the line? What do you think? 

 

I've always been one to believe you should target T15 (ideally higher) for an MBA or don't do it. If you can't do FT and have too much experience, an EMBA is a fit. Online MBAs are a bit tougher and not offered by many of the top programs.  Most of the programs you've mentioned are not T15 programs by any means. 

A career pivot from an online program and a lower ranked program have two big strikes against you. 

I think you should focus on top FT or EMBA programs for your pivot and forget about these lower ranked programs. 

Best of luck.  

 

Online degrees suck IMO. Phoenix university, one of the pioneers in this space, created a generation of folks in debt with not much to show for. I am sure someone would disagree with me here. Just personal opinion. Maybe for very short term courses, it would make sense, but no utility beyond that.   

 

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