Hello:
It has been a long time since I posted here. It is hard to explain how much life went into “fast-forward” as soon as I broke into Asset Management. Since the last time I posted I have made great strides in obtaining my CFA (taking L3 soon) and have a great career albeit with a different asset management firm now.
I am ready for my next move and want to start an MBA program. Unfortunately, I am not able to go full-time because I am married and I’m anchored in Houston. So it has to be part-time and has to be in Houston. So, there are only 2 programs that I feel could actually help me: University of Texas at Austin-Houston and Rice University. Also, I now work for a massive global asset management firm and obtaining a MBA is needed to move into portfolio management (or as my director puts it, “They don’t say you need one but they all have one”). I want to stay at my firm but I have to factor in that I might need to seek a different firm when I have all the criteria (if my firm doesn’t have any openings)
Both have their pros and cons and I could use some objective input from people who understand the industry.
Texas-Houston: Is a satellite program from a nationally recognized MBA program.
Pro: It has a very large network and I always wanted a Texas degree (I bleed burnt orange). Texas is right now currently ranked higher then Rice for PT. Rice has been ranked higher for many years before. Career services are apparently shared between FT/PT.
Con: Since this is a satellite program I believe there would be limited resources. It would be a generalized MBA with no ability to participate in a student run fund (there is an investment club though) or to specialize. Career services are apparently shared between FT/PT.
Rice University: A Regional school with a strong reputation in Texas (especially Houston)
Pro: They allow the PT program to take any class at any time with the FT students. This would allow me to specialize. They also have a student run fund. The alumni base is loyal. Career services are the exact same between FT/PT.
Cons: The biggest con is that it is such a small school. The alumni base is small. It is almost a 4-1 ratio of Texas MBA to Rice MBA in AM and even worse in PE. Rice is right now currently ranked lower then Texas for PT. Rice has been ranked higher for many years before.
I find myself in an odd place. I wouldn’t consider myself a career switcher as I am already in the firm I want to work for; however; I would leave if I had too. I get to touch the work I want to do but I am not in a decision making role in terms of portfolio allocation. The linear progression for my job wouldn’t lead me directly to where I want to go. I am looking into a more diagonal move into fund management. So it pretty much boils down brand vs. content.
Thanks in advance for any input.
PS: I recently ran into one of my old college buddies he is in a PE firm here in Houston and I would make the switch if the opportunity ever presented itself. I have even joked around with him about it and it is clear as day I would need an MBA for a soft re-start if I wanted to go that route.
My apologies for the triple post. I'm doing this through my mobile
My apologies for the triple post. I'm doing this through my mobile
Disclaimer: Born and raised Texan, huge Longhorn fan with family history. Definitely Rice. Going to a satellite school is NOT the same as going to the flagship, and PT rankings don't really matter. When you're going to do a PTMBA, the main thing you get is the school's name on your resume. You want future employers to look at your profile and go "Oh, paulydreamer went to X, thats a good school" That opinion is not based on PT rankings, its based on FT ones and personal perceptions. Rice is right around T25 FT, lower than McCombs but still good.
Rice is a well recognized school, UT-Houston just means youll spend the rest of the life having the following conversations:
Alumni: "Hey, you went to Texas!? Hook em Horns, what'd you think of Austin?" "Actually, I went to one of the satellite schools in Houston" "Oh (disappointment)"
Employer: "Hey, you went to Texas? McCombs is great, what'd you think of it?" "Oh, I didn't go to McCombs, I went to UT Houston" "Oh (confusion and disappointment)"
Add to these points all of the things you've already pointed out above about clubs, and then consider that you'll have access the full career services at Rice (including OCR, in case you want to look at other firms), and you'll get to network with their FT class, which will have infinitely more value than networking with the FT class at UT-H.
Thanks for the input. I have a feeling Rice is the way to go to. Its on of those things were I'm injecting emotion into this investment. I guess I should think logically. I also applied for FT @ Texas-Austin and a MBA business schools ">M7. I already told the wife if I get a scholarship for FT Texas I am going and if I just get accepted to the MBA business schools ">M7 I'm going (she agrees).
Isn't UT Austin - Houston the MBA youre talking about not UT Houston? I'd go with UT in that case
@shorttheworld: Correct its the University of Texas @ Austin in Houston ( a mouth full) I was using UT-Houston as a short descriptor. Can I ask for a little more color on your opinion? Thanks in advance.
@shorttheworld: Correct its the University of Texas @ Austin in Houston ( a mouth full) I was using UT-Houston as a short descriptor. Can I ask for a little more color on your opinion? Thanks in advance.
Personally, I would head to Rice. The option to specialize through electives coupled with the brand in Houston makes it the clear choice, IMO. However, if you get into UT- Austin or MBA business schools ">M7 this becomes a different conversation.
Hard to go wrong with either. Good luck.
UT will have a larger overall network outside of energy and possibly more in Asset Management in Texas.. Can PM Mr with details of what exactly you're doing right now. The MBA with the core only classes might be dull as shit but more people overall will recognize it if you ever come up north to other asset management places as being a top 20 school
Also if you're in AM now and you want to continue on in AM in some capacity (unless you're dead set on doing research) you're most likely better off just staying in the pipeline. AM recruiting for MBA is very ad hoc and AM cares more about your experience than your degrees
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