Going to B School mostly just to party?
So I'm 1 year in to PE now and have deferred admission to a T5 MBA. My family is well established off so I am mostly working just to have something to do and learn before I transition to the business. My parents want me to do the MBA and to be honest I could use 2 years off. I am not really focused on the job placement part of the MBA, I do look forward however to meeting a lot of successful/connected people, travelling, taking cool classes, etc. But tbh I just wanna get in really good shape again and go out 4-5 times a week. Is it wrong to think this way?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's what you need to know:
Unique Experiences: An MBA offers invaluable life experiences that you might not be able to recreate later. This includes meeting spouses, business partners, and lifelong friends. You could end up with insane stories, like driving through the Jordanian desert with 50 Jeeps in a fleet or partying in Prague and Aspen.
Networking: The MBA is a great opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds, which could lead to career-defining deals or business ventures. Even if you're not focused on job placement, the connections you make can be incredibly valuable.
Social and Professional Network: If you feel your current network needs expansion, an MBA can help build it further. Being social in an MBA program can help enormously, especially if you are not particularly social otherwise.
Fun and Relaxation: Many people semi-regret not taking full advantage of the fun and relaxation aspects of an MBA. Seeing peers partying in another country every week while simultaneously benefiting their careers can be a significant draw.
Career Reset: An MBA can serve as a great reset button, providing a chance to reflect and explore new opportunities.
Opportunity Cost: While there is a high opportunity cost, if the social and experiential aspects resonate with you, it might be worth it.
In summary, while it might seem unconventional to focus on the social and experiential aspects of an MBA, these elements are integral parts of the MBA experience and can provide significant personal and professional benefits.
Sources: Am I Thinking About an MBA Wrong?, Non-Target hustled like hell, got offer at BX/Apollo/KKR, but feeling urge to get prestigious degree?, Current Value of MBA for Highly Successful Young Professionals, MF PE is Paradise...LOL, Keen for views on MBAs
Isn’t that what everyone does
I mean, money isn't an issue, career isn't really an issue, and MBAs are mostly about branding/networking anyways. So truthfully you seem like the ideal candidate for business school.
As much as it sounds like you could probably goof around and do nothing, I would encourage some general type of a plan going into business school. Even if traveling/partying is going to be the crux of what you want to get out of school, I do think that trying to achieve something beyond the networking element helps to guide the experience.
So for you, you're going to optimize heavily on social, but I'd think about groups to join that might benefit your family business, maybe an internship or two that would help with branding, for example, maybe you recruit for consulting so you can have MBB on your resume? Or maybe you've always been curious about, I don't know, luxury brands, and want to aim for an LVMH internship. To me, there's so many cool experiences that a top MBA can afford somewhere, and you're in an even more privileged position if you don't need to optimize for paying off debt or getting a specific job post business school.
And if career orientation isn't necessarily your thing, then even just getting in the best shape of your life, picking up a new hobby, etc can be fulfilling. I got a ton done during my B-School years, but I probably could have gotten even more personal stuff done if I had been more deliberate about it. Probably could have become a sick salsa dancer, learned a new language, etc if I had really put my mind to it.
As with many things in life, having some intent going into it will serve you well, even if it doesn't' exactly play out like you planned.
Best of luck with the decision and hope you enjoy your B-School experience.
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