Online vs. Part-Time MBA
I have an engineering degree working for an engineering firm. Currently looking into doing an MBA to get into investment banking. Some of the schools I'm looking into are Carnegie Mellon (online), UNC (online), UT (part-time Houston), and Texas A&M (part-time) Houston. My question is: from a recruiting stand-point, is there a negative stigma associated with doing an MBA online vs. part-time?
I would also be interested in getting thoughts on an on-line MBA. I am required to get one to become a senior analyst and the MBA programs in my area are not that great. I don't really have the ability to do a weekend one in a nearby city because of kids.
The best on-line MBA programs I have seen are Duke, Carnegie Mellon, UVa, Indiana, Cornell and Johns Hopkins.
Are the on-line programs any easier to get accepted than the traditional full time/ part time programs? My undergrad grades sucked but I have 10+ years of work experience in AM and other areas. Also hold CFA charter, but not sure that helps out at all...
Thanks in advance.
Duke, Cornell and UVA do not have online MBAs.
Im an engineer myself working in one of the BB and broke into Banking Finance recently. From what Ive garnered speaking to senior executives who were engineers and have a part time MBA is that, even though you lose out on social life totally for about 3 years, you gain by actually attending classes and building a network which is more important than the degree itself. It might seem insignificant considering the fact that people would want to go back to the same company, but it would help in the long run. Also, 'part-time' sounds better than 'online' anyday
This is a great point cnuabhi. My problem is this: If I decide to go the part-time route but don't get accepted into UT. This leaves me with A&M's Mays Business School given my current location. This is obviously pretty good by itself. Now, if I got accepted into Carnegie's or Duke's online MBA and A&M part-time MBA, which one would you go for? Would part-time still be better than online?
Posed a similar inquiry about an online MBA (http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/should-i-consider-mbaunc</a">(thread link). I keep hearing that a pure industry switch (i.e. Enginnering to IB) would be far better with a 2yr FT MBA, while staying in the industry with significant work experience merits a part time or distance MBA. Not sure for my own purposes however, jumping from hospital industry to health consulting.
Perhaps consider the 1yr FT MBA too. Cornell Tech may be a good option for you, and Kellogg. But willing to bet you'd need the 2yr on-campus to get internships for IB.
As far as I know, for a FT MBA, the brand works since you would depend on their placements after your MBA. But for a part-time, it doesn't unless you wish to try at a different firm. Also, the scales tip towards part time just for the fact that you develop a good network with your peers which might not happen in an online MBA program. Now this is a very broad, macro view. But its your choice at the end of the day and also majorly depends on the culture at your firm/company. Ask around your workplace. Cold call your seniors for a coffee and you'll get your answers
Why would you not consider Rice? Their part-time program has historically done fairly well placing people in IB.
That being said, career switching is always easier doing full time... but easy isn't always everything (like if you have kids)
Switching into a good IB shop will be difficult from the part time programs, but a few make it each year. PT is not necessarily the best platform for switching careers. Further, the programs you listed are not great target / core MBA programs for IBD (UNC / Duke / Cornell / UVA a bit, UT for Energy IBD).
Are you looking to get into an energy / oil & gas investment banking group? Also, are you currently working in the O&G engineering sector?
There is a negative stigma associated with online programs from an investment banking recruiting standpoint. There is also a stigma with full time over part time programs, but the best part-time candidates tend to do well making the transition anyway. Also keep in mind what schools are core for your desired location and group.
The overall hierarchy is Core FT > Core PT >= Non-core FT > Non-core PT >>>>> Online. For example, if you were trying to do energy banking in Houston, a part-time program at UT or Rice would recruit better than a full-time at a non-core school like CMU. If you were recruiting in New York, it might be reversed. If you're doing an online program, it practically doesn't matter if you are doing it at Harvard or Stanford, I have not seen anyone from an online program in banking. Not a knock on any of those programs, banks just have so many candidates from the traditional routes that they don't have bandwidth to consider a more fulsome group of applicants.
I would like to move to New York after getting an MBA.
Then you need to go full time to a program that will give you a decent shot e.g. a T15 or better.
I completed an in-person part-time MBA. I would have to say that there were a lot of drawbacks when it came to recruiting. The biggest problem you will face is when you go through OCR and someone wants to interview you and then they find out you are currently employed full-time. In most, if not all, cases they will immediately rescind the interview invitation or halt the recruiting process.
One thing to look out for with an online program is the access to OCR and the university's career center. Some programs reserve those benefits for full-time students.
That being said, I was able to get into a better part-time program than any full-time program I would have qualified for. Also, I genuinely do not think I would have my current position without going to business school and having a better brand on my resume.
Help me decide between online or part-time MBA (Originally Posted: 02/14/2017)
I'll be finishing up my JD with no debt (employer-paid), and I don't think I want to become a traditional attorney. I'd much rather get involved in the business end of things. However, I am a liberal arts undergrad with no real business education. Here's my predicament: I can attend Rutgers part-time on campus at a cost of around $15K (with employer assistance), or I was looking at Florida State's MBA online at a cost of $31K (with no assistance). After going to school four nights per week for the past 4 years, the online option sounds attractive. Additionally, the online option would give me more flexibility since I would be free to change jobs. I would also like the flexibility it gives me because I'm likely to get married within the next few years, and attending class in person while juggling a family will be tough. I know Rutgers is a better program, but I would have to stay in my current job for at least another 4-5 years in order to take advantage of my employer's tuition assistance. Further, I'd like to end up in Florida eventually. I'm not sure if an online MBA from FSU will help me relocate, but I figure it can't hurt. Basically, is it worth the extra $15K to attend FSU online for the flexibility even though it's not as good a school?
Any chance you know anything about Booth's Part time MBA?
Why not do the UF MBA?
I know UF is a better program, but I'm mostly concerned about the debt. Is UF worth $60K?
this is impossible to answer. what area of "business" are you trying to break into? And as a rule of thumb - when you are transitioning to a completely new career field, you will need to attend a full-time program, likely from a top-25 program depending on which field of "business" you're trying to break into.
I'm not looking to break into banking or anything. I would like to move up the management ladder from my current position in middle-management. I am an accounting supervisor where I oversee the accounting for a relatively small department. I would like to get more involved with the day-to-day business decisions like budgeting, strategy, and finance, whether it be at my current employer or elsewhere.
depends on how much value there is in the $15k thing. Honestly, would it sell for $15,000 if you can get even $50,000 out of it? Is the market stupid?
Food for thought
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