Would it look bad to quit work to go for a master's before getting an MBA?

Hey guys. So I have an otherwise strong profile - 3.5 years of marketing experience at IBM, one promotion, 750 GMAT, graduated Georgetown University with a 3.82 GPA in English. I have decent ECs. However, I was just offered admission into Harvard's Graduate School of Education in its Technology, Innovation, and Education program, with a hefty scholarship to boot.

I want to go into education technology, creating my own startup in that arena. My plan originally was to straight go into a t15 or M7 MBA with my profile. However, would it hurt me to quit work and do this Harvard education master's (1 year long), and then apply to MBA programs while I'm at my masters? Or should I just go directly to applying to MBA programs, as continued WE looks better?

Thanks!!

3 Comments
 

I've seen at least a handful of people getting an MPP from Harvard Kennedy and then going straight into MBA. I think it just hurts you to be doing nothing, but if you're in school you're fine.

Harvard never hurts. Neither does your GMAT or work experience or GPA or UG school. You are looking good.

 

Congrats, but beware the "Ed" school tends to be viewed as a softer discipline in any school - don't ask me why, it's how markets think, and e.g., definitely so when compared to a hardcore engineering degree.

Aside from that, if you have an immediate use of Ed degree before MBA, go for it. Otherwise you may have too many career disruptions, and the "why MBA after your last master" will always haunt you a bit.

[quote="M7 MBA, iBanking. Top MSF grad. AntiTNA. Truth is hard to hear! But... "] [/quote] [quote="DickFuld: Yeah....most of these people give terrible advice."] [/quote]
 

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