Part-time MBA vs. Full-time MBA vs. New Job?
Background on me - went to a top-10 undergrad, interned at a $10b mutual fund where I was hired upon graduation as an equity research associate type role. After about a year I was relocated down to trading for the funds due to a severe personnel shortage. As a reward for the trading move, I was voted as the employee of the year (100 person firm).
Fast forward 2 years, still in trading, have passed level II CFA, and am looking to make the switch back to research. Trading just too mundane, not enough of a challenge. Problem is I had such little accounting/modeling experience I was just starting to work through models when I had to make the switch to trading.
So, given the goal of becoming a buy-side equity analyst, the question is which option to pursue:
1) Look for research job elsewhere. Problem being I have limited hard research experience, i.e. I would need some 'schooling' on modeling. There is no opportunity to do research at current firm.
2) Pursue part-time MBA. Continue working in trading to collect a paycheck, go to school part-time and earn MBA over the next 3ish years. Problem is I don't gain any research experience, just the MBA title.
3) Pursue full-time MBA. Opportunity cost of about 90k a year isn't awful, but given I already have research/Asset Management experience, is it worth the total cost since I don't need to break in to a new industry? One of the gains over part-time is being a part of a graduating class and gaining access to on-campus recruiting. Also the greater networking opportunities.
Option 3 has been gaining momentum for me lately because I still feel I have so much to learn, especially relating to portfolio management theory and the like. Would love to hear opinions!