Currently 26 and will have been working in REPE for 5 years with no intention to leave by this fall. Applied to three local B Schools (PT MBAs at all) only two of which are top 25 schools (Ross/McCombs/etc.) the third is only top 50 but would be essentially free due to the amount my company is paying for... so $80-$100k of debt, is it worth it if I’m not changing company/industry/geography just checking a box and getting an MBA merely as a kind of insurance policy against unforeseen unemployment at this point. I feel like no given how much experience trumps education in CRE but curious.
Thanks.
I would say so I’ve looked at a lot of 7+ years of experience jobs and they all prefer an mba/msre/cfa
Sorry if I wasn’t clear, the choice isn’t really between MBA or no, it’s essentially a free one from a ‘decent’ school or fairly significant debt for a semi-target.
So, to be honest, even IF you were intent on changing jobs, I would still go with the free MBA. You have real experience, you need the "check the box" part of the MBA, and really are not in the position to gain that much beyond it unless you are attempting some "shoot the moon" deal where a M7 MBA becomes rational.
Personally, I think the difference between "top 25" and "top 50" is probably not that much to someone with experience not looking to jump industries. You can network within the industry directly, thus the "alum" network will be of secondary value TBH. Get the free MBA, maintain your optionality/freedom with no debt.
(full disclosure, I was in similar spot over a decade ago, I went with "cheap", and frankly do not feel it really "hurt" my career at all, BUT I do sometimes wonder what would be different had I attempted to go to an M7 MBA, but I never applied as I had zero appetite for debt and not sure I would have stood a great chance of admission anyway).
Great advice thanks, I feel like I’ll also always wonder about not applying to a ‘top’ school too... but honestly the company I’d want and role I want after B school is already what I do only higher up the ladder... so unless I discover some new area of finance in the next few months I doubt that will be a motivating factor.
are you going back to the same firm after?
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