Is attending a top US B school worth it for an international ?
Hey,
I'm a long time reader of this forum and wanted an opinion on something that I know a lot of international students think about:
Is it still worth attending a top US business school as an international ?
My thoughts:
-- Most internationals want to work for a few years in the US, gain some experience, clear their debt and go back to their home country (or at least most that I've spoken to).
-- An MBA was great while finance and consulting were doing well but they're not now and things don't look like they're getting better.
-- Details: Lets limit the discussion to the M7 schools and assume it costs $150k total for the degree. If you don't get a job in the US and have to move back east (China, India, Singapore etc. etc.) even with all the hype, salaries are still a fraction of the US ($50k approx for India from what my friend got) and you could spend years repaying your loan. Isn't it better to just attend a school in your home country (ISB, HKUST, NUS, insert you're favorite Asian B school here, all of which cost WAAAY less than an American degree) and invest the rest ?
-- B schools make a lot of noise about brand, alumni etc. but in Asia unless you're from H/S/W you won't get much of a premium for your degree (in short, recruiters prefer a top grad from a good school locally to someone from Columbia cos they figure they both could do the job and the local guy won't want as much money as the guy from Columbia).
-- As an international, you attend school on a student visa; this results in recruiters favoring local students (can't blame them really) and networking / perseverance pays off less for us since you may be able to impress recruiters but you can't get around immigration so "hustling" doesn't help as much.
What do you guys think, is it still worth it ?






stop asking stupid f**ing
stop asking stupid f**ing questions
imo, no, 'valleymonkey'. ;)
imo, no, 'valleymonkey'. ;)
ERGOHOC wrote: stop asking
stop asking stupid f**ing questions
cunt
apparently the OP has done
apparently the OP has done something douchey in the past that i'm missing here, but i think this is an interesting question and brings up some important points. i am surprised at $50k, that is a pittance
bortz911 wrote: apparently
apparently the OP has done something douchey in the past that i'm missing here, but i think this is an interesting question and brings up some important points. i am surprised at $50k, that is a pittance
In comparison to other third world incomes, that's quite a lot actually.
seedy underbelly wrote: In
In comparison to other third world incomes, that's quite a lot actually.
This is what we have to look forward to? Earning 'quite a lot'.... 'in comparison to other THIRD WORLD incomes'??
bortz911 wrote: seedy
In comparison to other third world incomes, that's quite a lot actually.
This is what we have to look forward to? Earning 'quite a lot'.... 'in comparison to other THIRD WORLD incomes'??
lol, that's the US govt's plan for the last generation
just kidding
no....no, I'm not, that's the plan dude
YOU JUST GOT TROLLED
http://www.troll.me/images/red-foreman322/dont-you...
^ You two, read OP's post
^ You two, read OP's post again:
If you don't get a job in the US and have to move back east (China, India, Singapore etc. etc.) even with all the hype, salaries are still a fraction of the US ($50k approx for India from what my friend got) and you could spend years repaying your loan.
:)
seedy underbelly wrote: ^ You
^ You two, read OP's post again:
If you don't get a job in the US and have to move back east (China, India, Singapore etc. etc.) even with all the hype, salaries are still a fraction of the US ($50k approx for India from what my friend got) and you could spend years repaying your loan.
:)
uhhhhhhh, oops?
OP, it's highly unlikely that you go to a top ten school in the US and end up in a call center in India. Take an honest look in the mirror and ask yourself if you're the fobby fucking geek that no one wants to work with and start from there. If you're cool...you're cool, but if you're the math genious with no social skills then brace yourself and prepare to be sent to the salt mines.
Or just make an effort to be personal and professional, and you'll be fine. ALSO: try to marry an American citizen while you're in school and that should solve about 90% of your problems. Just kidding. Sort of.
The bottom line is this: if you realistically fear being unemployed at the end of a top ten program, you might have interpersonal communication issues that need to be worked on. I sincerely doubt that a NYU/Columbia MBA grad will have a hard time breaking $50K in the US upon graduation...if you don't, then YOU are the problem, and you need to figure out how to rectify this. You may not get the $200K job, but if you're unemployed, then you need to get serious about life.
YOU JUST GOT TROLLED
http://www.troll.me/images/red-foreman322/dont-you...
he mentioned singapore...
he mentioned singapore... seriously, $50k USD in singapore? singapore is NOT like bangladesh ... if anything it's more like tokyo
"I sincerely doubt that a
"I sincerely doubt that a NYU/Columbia MBA grad will have a hard time breaking $50K in the US upon graduation...if you don't, then YOU are the problem, and you need to figure out how to rectify this. You may not get the $200K job, but if you're unemployed, then you need to get serious about life."
-- did you read the original post ? my question applies to students who've not got jobs and are moving back to their home country NOT to those students who've secured employment in the US (who are paid as much as US citizens generally).
-- as far as your theory about "interpersonal skills" go, I have news for you - if company XYZ says they're not going to employ internationals (and plenty have in the recent past), it doesn't matter how eloquently you talk, whether you look "fobby" or are a math nerd, you're not getting a job, capiche ? I don't work for a wall street firm, I'm guessing a majority of the people on this forum do, the goal of this post was to figure out what the environment is for foreign students i.e. are companies still receptive to hiring them.
It depends on your country
It depends on your country (or countries you can work in) and the school you get in to.
If you are able to work in Singapore, Hong Kong, the wealthier countries in the Middle East, or are open and able to move to a developed country then the cost of a top 5 programme shouldn't be that big an issue long-term.
However, if your only options are your home country and the "average" wages are low there, then make sure you know what the salaries are for your target jobs there before you make your decision (e.g. consultant, Investment Banker, junior management roles, etc...).
Also, don't forget about scholarships. If you can get a big enough part of your education covered, then it makes sense to get a brand name MBA.
Other options. An executive MBA programme, like Columbia/LBS or INSEAD provide might be an alternative if you are working as you won't incur the opportunity costs.
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
bortz911 wrote: he mentioned
he mentioned singapore... seriously, $50k USD in singapore? singapore is NOT like bangladesh ... if anything it's more like tokyo
-- don't have exact figures for Singapore but I've heard it's around $70k-$80k, the $50k number was for Mumbai, India.
you tryna take our jabs?
you tryna take our jabs?
Very few MBAs 'want' to go
Very few MBAs 'want' to go back home and work. IMO the vast majority want to work and stay in the US. Returning home is something they would maybe think about doing 5 years down the road, at the earliest.
The numbers don't really 'work' if you finance your MBA with debt and return to India.
International students face more challenging recruiting for US jobs, as there can be language and cultural issues.
If you want to work in Singapore, why not just save the $$ and go to a school you claim is a standout in that region. Who knows if you would even be accepted at a top US b-school? You don't have good odds at gaining admission.
valleybandar wrote: "I
YOU JUST GOT TROLLED
http://www.troll.me/images/red-foreman322/dont-you...
I want to get my MBA in the
Check out my Blog
OP, it's highly unlikely that
|| But feeling good and enjoying life are prerequisites to success, not by products of it- Midas Mulligan Magoo ||
Yeah, the above poster is
Let's clear up a few
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
At my MBA something like
interested in this as well,
I just don't get why people
pptbeeyaach wrote: I just