Why I decided NOT to go to B-School

In general, most of my ambitious undergraduate friends are going to Law school or B-School (Macc, MSF, MBA) because they can't find job that suits them and/or they just want to have a masters, just to "Have a masters". All the while these programs are cash cows for the Universities so of course they recommend it. This kind of thinking worries me...

 Personally, I am lucky enough to have a <a href="/guide/finance-development-programs-an-overview-of-acclerated-corporate-finance-careers-fldps">corporate finance</a> job lined up already, so I value the work experience over the degree. Originally, I was dead-set that I wanted to "stand out" by getting a specialized one year masters, and then use that as a catalyst to get into one of the better B-Schools after I get my work experience. But now I'm reluctant, especially with the possibility of a double dip.

 So here is how I see it: Students are rushing like stampeding cattle to get into a masters program while assuming it will get them a job. The principle that you can assume that value will consistently be added sounds familiar somewhere...

(I realized that a masters at a top 25 school will have different value than a lower tier school. I am assuming that these are lower tier masters level programs)

So am I being a "Chicken Little" by saying the sky is falling? Or are these students taking a huge risk, with out the huge return?

What do you think?

YellowRanger

10 Comments
 

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I'd be careful declaring what you decided NOT to do...at 22. You don't know shit, to be quite frank. Neither did I when i was your age. If you had told me that 5 years later I'd be in b-school after 4 yrs in finance, I would have said you were out of your effing mind, on both accounts.

Great job or no, no one should think about an MBA straight out of undergrad.

 
CartwrightI'd be careful declaring what you decided NOT to do...at 22. You don't know shit, to be quite frank. Neither did I when i was your age. If you had told me that 5 years later I'd be in b-school after 4 yrs in finance, I would have said you were out of your effing mind, on both accounts.

Great job or no, no one should think about an MBA straight out of undergrad.

I don't think I clearly got my point across. Everyone has a different situation where a masters may or may not suit them. I plan to go back and get my MSF and/or MBA at some point in my career.

My question is, "Is now the right time to risk debt/loss income if there may be another recession on the horizon " Especially, if you don't go to a top 25 masters program or if you don't have previous work experience.

 
Best Response

you'd be a fucking moron to get an mba at 22 years old, unless it was hsw or something clearly top 5.

mba allows you to change careers, and opens up doors that would otherwise be closed to you. if you want to stay doing what you are doing for the next 40 years (or more) of your life, there is unquestionably no reason to get an MBA.

 

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