MPA vs MBA - URGENT HELP!
Hello all,
I currently work for an electric utility and I want to advance my education. I have a bachelor of engineering (environmental/chemical) and I have environmental engineering consulting experience before working for the utility. I currently work in electric operations and I manage people working in the field. My company pays for part of the degree, I just have to dish out 40% . I am currently contemplating an MPA from Columbia or MBA from NYU. I applied to the MPA program and got a decision after a week, I haven't even submitted the NYU app but I have a strong feeling I'll be accepted [haven't taken the GMAT yet (got a waiver for the GMAT from Columbia) but I have strong work experience, extracurriculars, and GPA]. The decision is due in a week and a half.
It has been my dream to attend Columbia but I don't want to be blinded by the name for the quality of the degree and education. My goal is to move up in my company and if I decide to leave, I still want to stay in the energy/oil/gas industry. The MPA mixes both policy and management classes which sounded interesting but would I be limiting myself? Should I go for the MBA since it's more broad? I just don't know how much weight NYU holds outside of NY. I think I'm paying for the network more than anything and it would be a hefty price. Everyone in my company goes to NYU because hey, it's the best and if the company pays a good amount, go for it. My company doesn't care what you have to move up, as long as it's a Master's degree and doesn't matter where it came from.
Assuming I got into both: what should I do? I can defer my decision to Columbia but I loose a good $2k. Or do I decline and take my chances with NYU because that is what's best for me? I don't want to limit myself but I also don't want to drop all these thousands for a degree that A) doesn't matter or B) puts me in debt. MPA is $75K, MBA is $125K total.
Thanks!
Added notes - 1) If you have potential, the company will send you to a management program to advance your management skills, assuming I stay there for the long haul. I have like 10 years before that happens. 2) I was looking for part-time programs. Leaving work for a full time program is not an options. 3) I'm 27.
How did u get a deferral for the GMAT?
The MPA gave deferrals if you proved you had a strong quantitative background and because I'm an engineer, it was granted to me
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