Part time MBA + Full time work or Full time MBA and no or part time work

Currently I'm attending Fordham University doing my MBA there on a part time basis. Right now I'm only taking two classes because I thought it was going to be harder than it is, it might just be because they're the beginner classes for the MBA and no really in depth and because I'm working full time.

As I've said in other posts, my fiance wants to move back to Michigan ASAP, but I want to at least finish my MBA here. If I stay part time, I'll finish in 3-4 years, but if I switch to full time, I'll be able to finish in 2 years (including the current semester).

If I switch to full time I won't be able to work full time anymore and will have to cut back to part time work or no work at all. With this I would have to take out additional student loans to cover my finances throughout the year, so ~25k a year in extra loans. I'm currently paying for all of my tuition and books through students as well.

My current job is an hourly job with no benefits so it's not like I would be losing health insurance benefits or anything like that, just my pay. It is in the finance industry so it is a small bonus to my resume but not critical as it is trading, and that's not what I want to do in the end, but if I can switch to full time, I can do a part time unpaid internship for the resume bump.

I've been in talks with some firms in Michigan about employment when I move back, but they mostly hire need based and the entry level employee isn't really needed so I'd want to get as much experience as I can while I'm in NYC.

So, fellow monkeys, what would you do in my situation?

 

How hot is your fiance?

0-5.99/10, dump her, continue part-time 6-7.99/10, continue part-time 8-10/10, switch to full-time

Frank Sinatra - "Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy."
 

How much value will a PT MBA from Fordham have in Michigan? Why are you looking into entry level jobs as an MBA candidate? Why not just pursue an MBA in MI if thats where youre moving to?

 

I'd imagine that an MBA from Fordham would hold more weight than an MBA from one of the local schools in Michigan. I wouldn't go to U of M due to it still being an hour away from where I live and I'm not making that commute. It's weird, 45 minutes to an hour by subway is nothing, an hour by car is annoying as can be.

Also, even though the firms are in Michigan, pretty much everyone that works at them didn't go to MI based schools for undergrad or graduate school.

One option that we are considering is that we move when our lease is up and I transfer schools to a Michigan one though. I'd rather stick it out here though and finish what I started here.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

What td12 said, why don't you try and get into a decent FT MBA program in/near Michigan?

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

Troy ish.

I know that those are the only two worth while. Which is why I'd rather stick it out at Fordham, they're not top 15, but they are ranked like 55.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

If you can get into Ross, then Id reconsider. If the only thing standing between you and Ross is one hour plus you have plans to live in Michigan, no doubt its going to be time and money better spent than a PT Fordham MBA. Nothing against Fordham but we all know programs outside of T30ish are regional.

 

Well I wouldn't be doing a PT MBA at Fordham anymore. I know for sure that the fiance will not be down with staying here for that long. It'll either be FT Fordham or move home in August and school in Michigan at not Ross.

After talking yesterday the decision is no longer part time school + full time work or full time school and part time work, but full time at fordham or move home in August and finish in Michigan at a non Ross school.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

FT/PT doesnt really matter if the program is Fordham considering on where youre moving to. Why is Ross out of the equation. Is it the commute or do you not have the stats/experience?

 

Troy isn't that far from UofM (45 min to 1 hour), but you could potentially do your part time MBA at Ross. It is less a hurdle to climb, with an average GMAT of about 650. You can do the weekend program for 2 years and have full access to OCRs. Try to find a buddy to stay with on the weekend. My 2 cents, Ross is totally worth it, especially since your fiance wants to move back so soon.

 

Ross is out because; 1. I don't want to do the commute. I have done a 40 minute commute in Michigan with no traffic, I don't even want to touch that with traffic. 2. I didn't do as good as I wanted to on the GMAT... actually pretty much bombed it. and my undergrad wasn't too hot.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 
Skinnayyy:

Ross is out because;
1. I don't want to do the commute. I have done a 40 minute commute in Michigan with no traffic, I don't even want to touch that with traffic.
2. I didn't do as good as I wanted to on the GMAT... actually pretty much bombed it. and my undergrad wasn't too hot.

Why not consider the weekend program at Ross, like TwoThrones suggested? You would only have to commute once or twice a week, plus your supposedly low GMAT score wouldn't matter as much, right? Unless you have a legit reason for wanting to avoid an hour commute, (like disability) why don't you man up and do what it takes to open as many doors as possible for you long term? And I have no idea where you commuted to Fordham from, but having lived in NYC, 45 min commute shouldn't be considered long. And as for the GMAT.... what stops you from studying and getting a better score?

 

It takes me a half hour to get to Fordham from my work, and home. And like I said before, a 45 minute commute via subway, is worlds different than a 45 minute commute driving a car.

Also, instead of trying to get me to go to Ross, you could be more constructive.

Also, Michigan isn't where I will be at permanately. There is a possibility to move back here, or somewhere else in the country in future years. I've also been to the Ross OCR, it's not that great. I know it is most likely in part due to location, but Fordham's kills it.

One thing that stops me from getting a great score on the GMAT is the verbal part. I studied like crazy on that and I still did bad on it. I don't see me really improving there that much aside from going to a grammar school, which I don't ever plan on going to. The math part I could have done a little better on because I just made stupid mistakes.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 
Best Response

I understand your decision to stay at Fordham, and probably agree due to the fact that you do not want to retake the GMAT, but I definitely can't believe that Fordham's OCR "kills" UofM's.

http://www.fordham.edu/student_affairs/deans_of_students_an/student_han…

This is a list of the companies that came to Fordham in the past, decent names but very few. And I wouldn't consider Michigan a regional school, it has value everywhere you go. Fordham's is definitely regional, but that's not a bad thing considering you want to do IB/PE.

Check out alumni and see where they went. And if you do end up going to Michigan, the only MBA's I can think of in the area would be Walsh College or OU, both a waste of money in my opinion.

 

Including FT experience during undergrad, I have like 5. Currently I'm working with a commodities hedger as a trade assistant and commodities broker. I would like to get into IB/PE

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

Dude a 45 min commute in the car is nothing, are you serious? Youre about to drop $100k+ and make a career decision over 45 mins. If you do the PT program as mentioned its friggin 2x a week. Your call though.

Like Twothrones said, Ross brand is national, whereas Fordham is regional at best - a region you may end up coming back to in a few years. Nobody is trying to get you to go to Ross. Were just telling you thats your best option based on the details of your situation before you signed the dotted line.

 

I'm trying to get out of it into something else. I have some meetings lined up with some people that I'm hoping will work out for the better.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

Are you saying your plan is to: FT Fordham MBA => Move to MI for a couple years/work whatever job you can get with a it => Maybe move back to NYC => Try to break into IB with the Fordham network several years removed from graduating?

 

I'm not going to just be working whatever job I can get. I'd be working in IB in MI. After working in Michigan I could then lateral to some other place or even go down a position. My fiance will be outpacing me in the income range anyways until I would be at VP level.

make it hard to spot the general by working like a soldier
 

I would say that part-time MBA programs are thought to be less prestigous for the simple reason that they tend to be easier to get into (even though the education may be equivalent). Having said that, I can't speak specifically for Chicago's admissions PT vs. FT.

Author of www.IBankingFAQ.com
 

Understand clearly - if your goal is recruiting for associate positions on Wall Street, do NOT get a part time MBA, if you have a choice.

You're paying "target" tuition rates with "non-target" chances of success.

The only exception would be if you have significant (directly relevant) experience to make up for the lack of internship.

 

I worked part-time (~25 hours a week) and interned (~10 hours a week for 3 months) during my MSF. It's definitely not easy, especially if you like to go out, but it's manageable. I would recommend it if you need to buff up your resume with relevant experience.

“Elections are a futures market for stolen property”
 

I did it during my 2nd year for a semester (basically helped out with the same company that I interned for the summer), and I regretted it. The work was essentially working on analysis, business planning, etc (consultant type of work).

Yes you can juggle school, social life, job hunting, networking, etc along with a part-time internship, but it's a matter of priorities, and in hindsight I didn't find that it was worth it, as I had to trade away time from other aspects of b-school life, even if it was just a few hours a week.

Unless you have the opportunity of a lifetime or the money is so good that you can't turn it down (and for internships they're not going to pay that much anyhow), you are better off not doing it. You have the rest of your life to work, and so much of the b-school experience you can't get while working full-time.

Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com
 

I agree with MBAApply assuming you're at a top MBA program. It is highly, highly not worth it in my opinion. The amount you are paid will be largely inconsequential in both dollar amount and rate compared to your post-MBA job. You're far better off focused on career, network, experiences, and even classwork.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

I'm a pretty big fan of the idea of having my employer pay for my MBA if I eventually go that route, and I'd therefore be cool with PT, but one thing to keep in mind in Boston is that as far as I know, there aren't any outstanding PT programs there (someone correct me if I'm mistaken). In a city like Chicago (Booth/Kellogg) or NYC (Stern), there are pretty reasonable PT options, but Boston surprisingly is relatively lacking, so depending what type of credential you need from your MBA, that may be a consideration.

 

PT programs at top programs are a bit of a sham imo. They teach you the same material, with the same profs, cost the same, and you end up with the same degree. The big difference is, at least at Booth (and I assume other top programs), OCR is separate for the two, social events are separate, and entry into FT is far more competitive. The admissions office will flat out tell you they are two separate products, if you get into a conversation about the difference between FT and PT.

My opinion is that 75% of what you're buying with an MBA is the networking and OCR, so paying the same amount of money for the PT program and ending up with far fewer options than the FT kids is crazy.

 
djfiii:
My opinion is that 75% of what you're buying with an MBA is the networking and OCR, so paying the same amount of money for the PT program and ending up with far fewer options than the FT kids is crazy.

I partially agree with this statement, but I think its applicability depends on your purpose in getting an MBA - if you're a career switcher or on The Track, that networking and OCR is worth the enormous cost, but for most others, the opportunity to obtain some incremental business knowledge, somewhat limited networking, but most importantly, an MBA credential from a Booth or a Stern, while continuing to earn money and paying a fraction of FT tuition (net of employer assistance) can be extremely compelling.

 

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