Career Advice Executive MBA or Full-Time MBA (Older/Old Applicant)

Hello All,

I'm an Indian H1B professional working in an IT Services Company.

I'm want to do an MBA. I'm Currently almost 36 yrs old. If I apply for the next year, at the time of Graduation, I will be 39.

Why an MBA now?, I see two paths for myself in my professional future, either start my own company/business or continue up the professional org chart for a satisfying salaried career. As of now, I want to take the path of being a salaried professional . I think I'm not ready to get into a business although it is a strong ideal. I don't want to become an entrepreneur just for the sake of becoming one. I want to take the plunge only if I have an idea that I have strong belief that it will succeed. As of now I have no such strong ideas. So keeping that in mind, in the Salaried professional career path, I would like to get an MBA as I feel it will help me go into Senior Management a few years sooner, I see this very clearly and I am very confident about this, otherwise, my chances of getting into Senior Management without getting an MBA appear bleak . I'm also timid about this option because ultimately I would like to setup my own business and I think it is a waste of effort to get an MBA. But still I would like to get it because I want to continue as a salaried profession,I'm not enjoying what I'm doing, almost to a point of finding life depressing or like Bill Murray in groundhog day. Although money is OK,I don't find it exciting because I have professionally stagnated in my field in the past few years because of personal constraints ( some growth opportunities required re-location and I couldn't do that). I can afford the MBA because of a few investments I made over the years. I can go to my grave with a decently comfortable life without an MBA and by just continuing what I'm doing right now.I can imagine scenarios where through hard work ,smart moves and some good luck where I can get to senior Management without an MBA, but I still have strong inclination to do it as I feel it will open up more opportunities and also make reaching that goal more secure. Especially if I can get into a Top-25 US or Europe MBA. After the MBA, I'm also excited thinking of consulting opportunities if they are in one of the Top 10 companies.

My reasons for getting an MBA - Securing a Superior Professional Career, Get a Solid Business Education, Meeting New People and make myself more Business savvy by Immersing myself in a group of people who will talk and breathe business.

If I do an MBA, which MBA do I get into considering my age and constraints?

1 Year MBA (I hear 2 year MBA Programs in Top25 being Brutal, are 1 year MBAs extra brutal?
2 Year MBA ( Will I be too old to be in a Full-Time MBA class?, But I seem to have no option but the full-time)
Executive MBA ( Need to secure a long term H1B assignment, very unlikely)

Executive MBA Issues:

The Nature of IT Projects in my company are dynamic, a Project or Position is not guaranteed to last for 2 years even if it is so on paper. I do have accumulated experience of 6 years in the US but it was not continuous, it was like an average of 4-6 Months every year.I might be sent back to India ( I travel back and forth often) or might be Re-located to a different city in the US. This will make the Executive MBA option risky for me. I cannot resign and continue with my classes because my H1B Visa would become invalid.

What would you suggest? Any Career advice is much appreciated. Thank You.

 

I don't see a reason why you would be considering a 2year MBA. Honestly, you're the exact reason EMBA programs exist. Someone with money, who is looking to stay in their career, but is looking for quicker progression within their company, perfect EMBA candidate.

Second choice would be 1 year. The pro of a 2 year is the summer internship, since you aren't changing functions or industries; it may not be needed...

If you were looking to do a 180 with your career I'd say try for the 2 year, there are a few people in their mid-late 30s in most MBA classes.

 

I believe that certain MBA programs can benefit you, regardless of which of these two paths you decide to take. For example, I attended a challenging Babson College MBA program that focused on entrepreneurship. I was able to improve my position at the company I had been working at for 5 years. Then, when I decided to begin my own company, I had the education, experience and contacts necessary to be successful.

 

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