Masters in Commerce before McKinsey?

Hey guys,

I'm new to WSO and have a question regarding graduate school before consulting. I'm currently a senior in undergrad and I have an offer at McKinsey's New York office. Through a program I'm involved with, I also have the opportunity to obtain a Masters in Commerce at the University of Virginia. For more information about the program at UVA, see their website: http://www.commerce.virginia.edu/academic_program…
Note: All of my expenses for the UVA program would be covered.

Do you think it's worth deferring my McKinsey offer for a year to pursue this UVA opportunity? I'm hoping to get a MBA regardless, and I realize that a masters in commerce is by no means a MBA replacement; however, I think I'd enjoy the program at UVA (it covers basic business concepts and includes travel around the world).

Thanks for your input!

 
Best Response

I love the MS Commerce program and have spoken to students in the program as well as admin officers. They are very intelligent about what they are trying to do with the program and the results have been amazing. With that said, if you have an offer from McKinsey take it and do not look back. The MS Commerce is more for people looking to gain that broad business/finance exposure and go at it another year. You have the prize, do not delay it for another year.

 

Since you're planning on doing an MBA anyway and already have an offer at MCK, it's absolutely not worth it. If you want to take a year off and do something academic, you might as well do a master's in politics/philosophy or something that you find intellectually engaging that you probably won't be able to study for again in an academic setting.

 

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