Does it matter where you get your MBA from? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ChrisJericho · 10-15-2007, 09:37 PM

Hello everyone, I wish to have some input from your collective knowledge.

I'm considering a few MBA programs in my area. Essentially my choices come down to to two schools: the major university in the area or a smaller city university that specifically caters to working people trying to get degrees.

Obviously the major university is more well known, but the application process is extremely competitive, and it would in all likelihood take me much longer to get in (if ever).

The smaller university is easier to get into, though it isn't as prestigious. It's also very close to my house, though that shouldn't really make a difference in the decision making

.

So I guess it boils down to whether I go for the sure bet in the smaller college and begin taking classes immediately, or begin the long process of applying to the major university and crossing my fingers.

Thank you for any help!

Willravel · 10-15-2007, 10:00 PM

I've personally found that having a respected school on the resume can very much mean the difference between getting the $75k job and the $45k job.

Best of luck either way.

LazyBoy · 10-15-2007, 11:00 PM

If you have a good resume, showing strong experience, the academic establishment shouldn't matter quite as much....If the MBA is the only *real* high point on your resume, its gonna matter a lot more

-Will

dirtyrascal7 · 10-16-2007, 04:10 AM

The first question to ask yourself is why you want to get an MBA. What career goals do you have that will make getting an MBA worthwhile? I'm not saying you must have a detailed plan worked out, but you should at least have a well thought-out response before thinking about it any further. After all, it is quite a significant investment of time, money, and effort.

If you have a hard time answering this question, perhaps you should do some self-analysis and goal-setting first. I'd suggest reading "What Color Is Your Parachute?" to start off.

Assuming you do know where you're headed after you get your MBA, the rest of the process should be relatively easy because it's just a matter of personal preference and finding a program that matches your goals. I see that you're from Seattle, which means you're probably looking at UW and Seattle University, both of which have MBA programs accredited by the AACSB (definitely a good thing).

You'll probably want to consider whether or not you're planning on moving out of state at some point because the SU's degree may not carry much weight away from Seattle. Also, culture, cost, curriculum, and post-graduation salary/placement rates are important things to consider.

If I were you, I'd read each school's websites and learn as much as you can about the programs and application process. And it wouldn't hurt to attend an info session at each school and learn more about the specific programs. There's one at UW this Thursday at 4pm... which, coincidentally, I will be attending. Haha... so maybe I'll see you there.

maleficent · 10-16-2007, 04:23 AM

Quote:

If you have a hard time answering this question, perhaps you should do some self-analysis and goal-setting first. I'd suggest reading "What Color Is Your Parachute?" to start off.

this book should be required reading for everyone looking for a job - it's really an invaluable tool...

I think I'm a school snob... or way too cynical for my own good -the point behind getting an MBA is to help out your bottom line - you want to make more money... The better the school you're going to - the more money you will get.. an MBA from Wharton or one of theother top schools is going to mean a lot more than Podunk State University... Unless of course the person doing the hiring is a Podunker and is really proud of his alma mater.

In the end, it's not what you have that counts -it's what you do with it...

ChrisJericho · 10-16-2007, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the responses everybody. I have heard so much about "What Color is Your Parachute" that I went out and purchased it tonight and will begin reading it tomorrow.

As for my reasons for wanting an MBA, I enjoy business, making decisions, and helping people get better at their jobs.

Dirtyrascal7, yes I was referring to UW as the major university, but the smaller school is 'City University of Seattle'. I didn't know much about it, but it's a private non-profit school that has bachelors and evening masters programs. I talked to a friend of mine who took their masters in education program (although that isn't apples to apples with an MBA program) and who nows works for the Seattle school district, and she said the general consensus she received about her degree was that a masters degree is a masters degree. Again, that might not hold true for MBA's, which is why I posed the question.

I am definitely looking at all the programs in the area though. One nice thing is that my current employer does a chunk of tuition reimbursement for further education.

nonplussed · 10-17-2007, 06:21 PM

Getting an MBA is part of playing a credentials game... so, yes, it does matter where you go. You won't learn more at Stanford than you would at Golden Gate but you will certainly make contact with a lot more people with great contacts of their own. And the wow factor on your resume will open many doors.

On the other hand, you say you want an MBA because you "enjoy business, making decisions, and helping people get better at their jobs." No MBA from any institution will help you do those things. Or, to the extent that a program does do those things, Golden Gate will do just as good a job as Stanford.

Do you want to be a really good manager or do you want to be a very senior one? There is a difference. The senior executives are not stupid... they are not something from a Dilbert cartoon. But they are not technocrats. They are skilled politicians.

Personally, I chose to get my MBA from Golden Gate. It took me eight years -- all at night -- while working full time, getting married, getting divorced, getting married again, and living a life. I'm glad I did it and I think it helped me. A second tier credential is better than no credential at all and I believe it helped me get a couple of jobs. It also gave me the personal satisfaction of having stuck something out for so long, which gave me confidence, which helped me perform.

To put this in concrete terms... I am 50 and earn about $150,000 a year. I am respected at the office, can do my job without feeling much stress, and maintain an excellent work/life balance. All in all, life is good and my night school MBA helped me attain it. I will never be an SVP, let alone a CEO and that's just fine with me.

Do you want to be CEO? Then go to an elite MBA program like Stanford, Harvard, Wharton, Chicago, etc. But if you want to get a leg up on a solid business career enroll at the night school. The University of Washington is not an elite school and so the extra money will be wasted. City will give you just as good of a technical education and the very minimal status bump from UW is not worth the money.

ChrisJericho · 10-20-2007, 01:24 PM

Thank you very much for your comments nonplussed, I had not considered whether or not I wanted to become a CEO or just a regular manager, but after thinking about I envision myself as more of a hands-on manager. Being the CEO of the company isn't important to me. Given that, I think you are probably right that City will be good enough. Also, the total tuition cost for the UW program is about $49,000 while the City program will be $24,000.

snowy · 10-20-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisJericho

Thanks for the responses everybody. I have heard so much about "What Color is Your Parachute" that I went out and purchased it tonight and will begin reading it tomorrow.

As for my reasons for wanting an MBA, I enjoy business, making decisions, and helping people get better at their jobs.

Dirtyrascal7, yes I was referring to UW as the major university, but the smaller school is 'City University of Seattle'. I didn't know much about it, but it's a private non-profit school that has bachelors and evening masters programs. I talked to a friend of mine who took their masters in education program (although that isn't apples to apples with an MBA program) and who nows works for the Seattle school district, and she said the general consensus she received about her degree was that a masters degree is a masters degree. Again, that might not hold true for MBA's, which is why I posed the question.

I am definitely looking at all the programs in the area though. One nice thing is that my current employer does a chunk of tuition reimbursement for further education.

City University of Seattle's Masters in Teaching programs are very well-respected, and a huge number of teachers in NW Washington who had to go back to school 10-15 years ago to keep up got their degrees from City U, including a lot of teachers my dad worked alongside for many, many years.

That said, an MBA is worlds away from a Master's in Teaching. MBA programs vary widely from school to school, and you should be looking for a combination of prestige and a program that meets your needs. What are you going to do with your MBA? Your graduate program should be tailored to that. Open your own small business? Get a corporate job? Go into finance? Sell insurance? What does the school's MBA program offer in terms of career services and internships?

And DirtyRascal7, Seattle University is also a well-respected university, as it's part of the Jesuit education system.

My question, ChrisJericho, is why you are limiting yourself to the Seattle area for grad studies. Grad school is a great opportunity to visit somewhere else for a couple of years. Branch out, man.

Clark · 10-21-2007, 09:31 PM

The sad reality is that there are jobs that are only for people how have MBAs from top 50 schools. There are jobs that are only for top 10 schools. There are jobs that are only for the Top school. All of this only counts if you go full time. I got my MBA form a school in the 30's. So at one level the MBA is just a ticket that needs to be punched the better the school the more the options.

ChrisJericho · 10-22-2007, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onesnowyowl

My question, ChrisJericho, is why you are limiting yourself to the Seattle area for grad studies. Grad school is a great opportunity to visit somewhere else for a couple of years. Branch out, man.

Well I just got a job with a company that is growing rapidly with lots of room to move up (many of the managers started in my position) and has good benefits. Plus, I have a very nice living situation with my friends.

10-15-2007, 09:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
ChrisJericho eat more fruit Location: Seattle	Does it matter where you get your MBA from? Hello everyone, I wish to have some input from your collective knowledge. I'm considering a few MBA programs in my area. Essentially my choices come down to to two schools: the major university in the area or a smaller city university that specifically caters to working people trying to get degrees. Obviously the major university is more well known, but the application process is extremely competitive, and it would in all likelihood take me much longer to get in (if ever). The smaller university is easier to get into, though it isn't as prestigious. It's also very close to my house, though that shouldn't really make a difference in the decision making . So I guess it boils down to whether I go for the sure bet in the smaller college and begin taking classes immediately, or begin the long process of applying to the major university and crossing my fingers. Thank you for any help! __________________ "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

10-15-2007, 11:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
LazyBoy Insane Location: Memphis Area	If you have a good resume, showing strong experience, the academic establishment shouldn't matter quite as much....If the MBA is the only real high point on your resume, its gonna matter a lot more -Will __________________ Life is nothing, everything.....and something in between...

10-16-2007, 04:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
dirtyrascal7 That's what she said	The first question to ask yourself is why you want to get an MBA. What career goals do you have that will make getting an MBA worthwhile? I'm not saying you must have a detailed plan worked out, but you should at least have a well thought-out response before thinking about it any further. After all, it is quite a significant investment of time, money, and effort. If you have a hard time answering this question, perhaps you should do some self-analysis and goal-setting first. I'd suggest reading "What Color Is Your Parachute?" to start off. Assuming you do know where you're headed after you get your MBA, the rest of the process should be relatively easy because it's just a matter of personal preference and finding a program that matches your goals. I see that you're from Seattle, which means you're probably looking at UW and Seattle University, both of which have MBA programs accredited by the AACSB (definitely a good thing). You'll probably want to consider whether or not you're planning on moving out of state at some point because the SU's degree may not carry much weight away from Seattle. Also, culture, cost, curriculum, and post-graduation salary/placement rates are important things to consider. If I were you, I'd read each school's websites and learn as much as you can about the programs and application process. And it wouldn't hurt to attend an info session at each school and learn more about the specific programs. There's one at UW this Thursday at 4pm... which, coincidentally, I will be attending. Haha... so maybe I'll see you there. __________________ "Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past." "Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him." Last edited by dirtyrascal7; 10-16-2007 at 04:12 AM..

10-16-2007, 10:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
ChrisJericho eat more fruit Location: Seattle	Thanks for the responses everybody. I have heard so much about "What Color is Your Parachute" that I went out and purchased it tonight and will begin reading it tomorrow. As for my reasons for wanting an MBA, I enjoy business, making decisions, and helping people get better at their jobs. Dirtyrascal7, yes I was referring to UW as the major university, but the smaller school is 'City University of Seattle'. I didn't know much about it, but it's a private non-profit school that has bachelors and evening masters programs. I talked to a friend of mine who took their masters in education program (although that isn't apples to apples with an MBA program) and who nows works for the Seattle school district, and she said the general consensus she received about her degree was that a masters degree is a masters degree. Again, that might not hold true for MBA's, which is why I posed the question. I am definitely looking at all the programs in the area though. One nice thing is that my current employer does a chunk of tuition reimbursement for further education. __________________ "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

10-20-2007, 01:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
ChrisJericho eat more fruit Location: Seattle	Thank you very much for your comments nonplussed, I had not considered whether or not I wanted to become a CEO or just a regular manager, but after thinking about I envision myself as more of a hands-on manager. Being the CEO of the company isn't important to me. Given that, I think you are probably right that City will be good enough. Also, the total tuition cost for the UW program is about $49,000 while the City program will be $24,000. __________________ "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows us that faith proves nothing." - Friedrich Nietzsche

10-15-2007, 10:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I've personally found that having a respected school on the resume can very much mean the difference between getting the $75k job and the $45k job. Best of luck either way.

10-17-2007, 06:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
nonplussed Tilted	Getting an MBA is part of playing a credentials game... so, yes, it does matter where you go. You won't learn more at Stanford than you would at Golden Gate but you will certainly make contact with a lot more people with great contacts of their own. And the wow factor on your resume will open many doors. On the other hand, you say you want an MBA because you "enjoy business, making decisions, and helping people get better at their jobs." No MBA from any institution will help you do those things. Or, to the extent that a program does do those things, Golden Gate will do just as good a job as Stanford. Do you want to be a really good manager or do you want to be a very senior one? There is a difference. The senior executives are not stupid... they are not something from a Dilbert cartoon. But they are not technocrats. They are skilled politicians. Personally, I chose to get my MBA from Golden Gate. It took me eight years -- all at night -- while working full time, getting married, getting divorced, getting married again, and living a life. I'm glad I did it and I think it helped me. A second tier credential is better than no credential at all and I believe it helped me get a couple of jobs. It also gave me the personal satisfaction of having stuck something out for so long, which gave me confidence, which helped me perform. To put this in concrete terms... I am 50 and earn about $150,000 a year. I am respected at the office, can do my job without feeling much stress, and maintain an excellent work/life balance. All in all, life is good and my night school MBA helped me attain it. I will never be an SVP, let alone a CEO and that's just fine with me. Do you want to be CEO? Then go to an elite MBA program like Stanford, Harvard, Wharton, Chicago, etc. But if you want to get a leg up on a solid business career enroll at the night school. The University of Washington is not an elite school and so the extra money will be wasted. City will give you just as good of a technical education and the very minimal status bump from UW is not worth the money.

10-21-2007, 09:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
Clark Crazy Location: Pittsburgh	The sad reality is that there are jobs that are only for people how have MBAs from top 50 schools. There are jobs that are only for top 10 schools. There are jobs that are only for the Top school. All of this only counts if you go full time. I got my MBA form a school in the 30's. So at one level the MBA is just a ticket that needs to be punched the better the school the more the options. __________________ Dyslexic please excuse the spelling.