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Getting an MBA is not the right decision for everyone. A Forbes opinion piece a while back gave a thumbs down to the MBA route. And it made some valid points. The true key to success is indeed mastering the process of idea and solution discovery. And if you can figure that out to the degrees necessary for your success, then maybe you should save the $150k!
On the other side of the equation, of course, a lot of people over the years have found that the rigors of a structured learning experience, such as provided by an elite MBA program, is just the place to learn such skills and aptitudes. That though is not the only relevant consideration.
Here are a few questions you might ask yourself.
Even if you put no value at all on the academics, where else are you going to get exposure to this kind of a network? At the top schools, the best in the business will come in as guest speakers. And socializing opportunities are never missed. Plus, among your own classmates, you'll find many of the hot up and comers.
Here's a chance to make the kind of connections that will serve you a lifetime. And to make them while you're all still mounting the latter of success together, with all the camaraderie that comes with such shared experience. (Though, this does require, as we've emphasized elsewhere, choosing the right program for your chosen industry). Also, don't forget the networking benefits arising from an already successful alumni coterie.
Another dimension of the MBA experience you might not have considered is the blank slate effect. No one is saying, naturally, that an MBA in any way invalidates your prior experience. What is true, though, is that once you have that MBA no longer is your perceived value limited to past work experience. Prospective employers will see something very different when they take a look at you, fresh from graduating.
Instead, that work record is just supplementary to a potential colleague who has taken the initiative and exerted the discipline and work to equip themselves with a whole new set of skills, knowledge and professional connections. You're now a freshly wrapped and exciting promise of new possibilities.
Finally, though it might at first seem a bit esoteric, there's a lot to be said for a person who demonstrated the ability and willingness to step outside of their comfort zone? It's great to talk about challenging oneself, people talk about it all the time. Doing it, and showing everyone you are doing it, is another matter. Entering an MBA program is a statement about your ability and willingness to take on unprecedented challenges. Don't think it doesn't go unnoticed.
When someone carves from their demanding, busy life the time to concentrate on personal improvement and advancement, people who matter notice. Placing yourself in a situation which will demand the best of you builds character and reputation. If you can do that all on your own, then by all means have at it. In truth, though, how many people simply fool themselves, forever putting the day of their big self-challenge off into an indefinite future? No one will accuse you of that.
It's probably true that a lot of money and time is wasted on MBA pursuits that might have been better left unfulfilled. However, even aside of the curriculum there are many subtle, though extremely beneficial, perks of an MBA which it would be a mistake to underestimate. These are some the questions you should be asking yourself to be sure that it's the right choice for you.
On the other side of the equation, of course, a lot of people over the years have found that the rigors of a structured learning experience, such as provided by an elite MBA program, is just the place to learn such skills and aptitudes. That though is not the only relevant consideration.
Here are a few questions you might ask yourself.
Even if you put no value at all on the academics, where else are you going to get exposure to this kind of a network? At the top schools, the best in the business will come in as guest speakers. And socializing opportunities are never missed. Plus, among your own classmates, you'll find many of the hot up and comers.
Here's a chance to make the kind of connections that will serve you a lifetime. And to make them while you're all still mounting the latter of success together, with all the camaraderie that comes with such shared experience. (Though, this does require, as we've emphasized elsewhere, choosing the right program for your chosen industry). Also, don't forget the networking benefits arising from an already successful alumni coterie.
Another dimension of the MBA experience you might not have considered is the blank slate effect. No one is saying, naturally, that an MBA in any way invalidates your prior experience. What is true, though, is that once you have that MBA no longer is your perceived value limited to past work experience. Prospective employers will see something very different when they take a look at you, fresh from graduating.
Instead, that work record is just supplementary to a potential colleague who has taken the initiative and exerted the discipline and work to equip themselves with a whole new set of skills, knowledge and professional connections. You're now a freshly wrapped and exciting promise of new possibilities.
Finally, though it might at first seem a bit esoteric, there's a lot to be said for a person who demonstrated the ability and willingness to step outside of their comfort zone? It's great to talk about challenging oneself, people talk about it all the time. Doing it, and showing everyone you are doing it, is another matter. Entering an MBA program is a statement about your ability and willingness to take on unprecedented challenges. Don't think it doesn't go unnoticed.
When someone carves from their demanding, busy life the time to concentrate on personal improvement and advancement, people who matter notice. Placing yourself in a situation which will demand the best of you builds character and reputation. If you can do that all on your own, then by all means have at it. In truth, though, how many people simply fool themselves, forever putting the day of their big self-challenge off into an indefinite future? No one will accuse you of that.
It's probably true that a lot of money and time is wasted on MBA pursuits that might have been better left unfulfilled. However, even aside of the curriculum there are many subtle, though extremely beneficial, perks of an MBA which it would be a mistake to underestimate. These are some the questions you should be asking yourself to be sure that it's the right choice for you.
About the Author:
Thomas Ryerson write regularly for the site, Business Week MBA Rankings, check it out here.
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