The MBA Thread

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by athletics

Last week Business Week released their MBA school rankings (US only), they come out every two years and are seen as the most important rankings from what I can tell. Here is the list and the link.

http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interac...2008/index.asp

THeir US rankings may be debatable but their non-US MBA rankings are off-the-charts ridiculous.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by mikejones

Without question, one of the biggest wastes of money one can find.

It serves one purpose; to drive the profits of the b-schools.

True for some, not for others. Return on investment is actually pretty easy to calculate for anyone considering b-school for a career change/upgrade. Take someone who made $50k/yr pre b-school and had a career trajectory taking him to $60k two years later, and 10%/year average earnings growth. He's looking at b-school as a way to access a $125k job with 20%+/yr earnings growth, then the $100k investment in an MBA + $105k of foregone earnings might be worth it. It's an investment that would have a 3 year payback and a high NPV.

 

[athletics]

Originally Posted by forex

athletics,
did you get enrolled into GaTech evening MBA program? I am thinking about applying for some programs as well,got into GSU MBA program. Tech is great,but as far as I remember tuition for evening program was $45K,right?

Yep. I will PM you as to not bore everyone...

 

[Bob01]

So, would the general consensus be as long as a program has AACSB certification - it should have decent instruction and courses?

 

[micbain]

Originally Posted by gdl203

THeir US rankings may be debatable but their non-US MBA rankings are off-the-charts ridiculous.

Not a big fan of Queens?

 

[athletics]

Originally Posted by Bob01

So, would the general consensus be as long as a program has AACSB certification - it should have decent instruction and courses?

From my understanding, the AACSB is a must-have for a good experience, but just because it has that certification doesn't make the program worth the money or time. Unless your goal is only to have MBA next to your name, and I know some people like that, then you want to judge a school on a few other factors.

I visited a school that was AACSB certified and I thought the lack of student knowledge hurt the class discussion and probably the group work. Group work at some schools is an important thing.

 

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by micbain

Not a big fan of Queens?

I went to Queen's Univ in Kingston, Ontario. Excellent school.

 

[micbain]

Originally Posted by mkarim

I went to Queen's Univ in Kingston, Ontario. Excellent school.

Just curious - where abouts do you work? Did you end up on Toronto/Southern Ontario or were you able to go elsewhere with your Queens MBA?

 

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by micbain

Just curious - where abouts do you work? Did you end up on Toronto/Southern Ontario or were you able to go elsewhere with your Queens MBA?

I went to Queen's for my undergrad. I got my MBA from the Univ of Iowa.

How have Queen's MBA grads done?

 

[shuuy]

I'm in my first year of an MBA at HBS. Next year's apps are up ~25%

 

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by shuuy

I'm in my first year of an MBA at HBS. Next year's apps are up ~25%

MBA apps are usually up in a down economy.

 

[athletics]

Originally Posted by shuuy

I'm in my first year of an MBA at HBS. Next year's apps are up ~25%

Do you know if they are taking more people because of the increase? Is it harder for some students to get funding or loans? I have heard the top tier programs aren't having as much trouble as the mid and lower tier schools. I am curious to see how its going at HBS.

 

[dpw]

i have always had a buring desire to see the world and thought i might as well get paid while doing it. i choose the thunderbird school of global management. it has been ranked #1 in this arena for many years. a speciality school to be sure, but i really enjoyed my time there. lots of interesting peple from all over the world and once you graduate you have a built in network. no matter where i travel i always have contacts who are eager to help. i have owned my own company for many years and travel alone alot and i can really rely on this network of like minded t-birds for personal or business 'know how". that and a real commradare between graduates made my time there very worthwhile.

the people i was closest to when i graduated are still my best friends and despite being seperated by geography and time we all still hang togethor.

 

[micbain]

Originally Posted by mkarim

I went to Queen's for my undergrad. I got my MBA from the Univ of Iowa.

How have Queen's MBA grads done?

Not sure how they have done - I haven't run into many of them (I live in Vancouver). I'm not a huge fan of "top tier" Canadian MBA progams - the average starting pay is very poor compared to other international top tier programs.

 

[shuuy]

Originally Posted by athletics

Do you know if they are taking more people because of the increase? Is it harder for some students to get funding or loans? I have heard the top tier programs aren't having as much trouble as the mid and lower tier schools. I am curious to see how its going at HBS.


- Doubtful they'll take more people... Where will they put them?
- Funding commitments for this year are honoured... Next year, it will be much tougher for international students, and the current program (CitiAssist) is canceled.

My take is that the big winners for next year will be tier 2/3 schools, who get tier 1 candidates who would get into tier 1 schools if it wasn't as competitive.

Applications are always up in a down economy

- But they're higher than 2000/2001...