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Is there an MBA. graduate, doctorate crowd here on GAF?

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N

nitewulf

Member
I have an MBA in Finance and Information Systems. I work in Risk Management. The school , networking skills and program are definitely most important, plus work experience helps a lot rather than just going back to school for an MBA with zero actual experience, which defeats the purpose of an MBA.

Advice is to be open, participate in all group activities, if free and have cash go on happy hours, definitely use the career office and resume critiquing, interview skills options the school may provide. Link up with professors, they are industry vets for the most part and have amazing connections. And of course job fairs. Plus try to figure out what you actually want to do in the industry and learn those courses, tech terms and strategic methods well.
 
H

Hcoregamer00

The 'H' stands for hentai.
MBA reporting in, I love the degree and it was very well worth if.

I would love to to back to school in the future and get a second bachelor and masters degree. I just have a penchant for higher education, I guess.
 
S

snacknuts

we all knew her
I'm in the final semester of my MBA program. It's not a top 15 program or anything, but the university has an excellent reputation here. My undergrad was an econ and I have a pretty varied work history (bookkeeping and payroll, construction management, real estate development, industrial automation, and now international accounting/finance), but I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

I remember freaking out about the GMAT. I put off studying for months and finally buckled down about three days before the test and spent about six hours a day studying. I got a 720, which was more than good enough for where I went to school. The idea of studying for months on end seems crazy to me.
 
I

IKizzLE

Member
Dr. Feel Good said:
What are you aiming for? Has anyone considered part time programs?
Click to expand...
Schools I'm aiming for are Stanford, ucla and Berkeley. Trying to get into product management at a top tech company in the bay area. In terms of Gmat score, a 700 would be ideal, albeit very difficult.
 
I

IKizzLE

Member
snacknuts said:
I'm in the final semester of my MBA program. It's not a top 15 program or anything, but the university has an excellent reputation here. My undergrad was an econ and I have a pretty varied work history (bookkeeping and payroll, construction management, real estate development, industrial automation, and now international accounting/finance), but I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

I remember freaking out about the GMAT. I put off studying for months and finally buckled down about three days before the test and spent about six hours a day studying. I got a 720, which was more than good enough for where I went to school. The idea of studying for months on end seems crazy to me.
Click to expand...
Your a beast. 3 days? I've been studying for a month and I still am doing pooerly on the practice tests. Smh. I'm a terrible standardized taker.
 
D

dhlt25

Member
IKizzLE said:
Your a beast. 3 days? I've been studying for a month and I still am doing pooerly on the practice tests. Smh. I'm a terrible standardized taker.
Click to expand...

how much more difficult is the GMAT compare to the GRE? I didn't study for my GRE test at all and the only part I struggle was the writing.
 
J

J-Rod

Member
I have a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) degree. Got it about 6 years ago. It was a lot of work, but I'm glad I did it. It has certainly helped me in finding a job and getting promotions over the past 6 years.
 
S

Smokey

Member
I have a BA in Management Information Systems. Graduated in fall 2010 and started work in Jan 2011. Thinking of going back in the fall for a Masters in Finance. It was actually my original major before switching to MIS very early into my soph year. My main concern is the GMAT. I'm sure being out of school for 3+ years won't do me any favors. Anybody here have a Masters in finance? Any tips in general for the GMAT (strats, best study guides etc)?

The thought of taking graduate classes in the evening after work legit spooks me, but I hope to go through with it.
 
D

Dr. Feel Good

Banned
Smokey said:
I have a BA in Management Information Systems. Graduated in fall 2010 and started work in Jan 2011. Thinking of going back in the fall for a Masters in Finance. It was actually my original major before switching to MIS very early into my soph year. My main concern is the GMAT. I'm sure being out of school for 3+ years won't do me any favors. Anybody here have a Masters in finance? Any tips in general for the GMAT (strats, best study guides etc)?

The thought of taking graduate classes in the evening after work legit spooks me, but I hope to go through with it.
Click to expand...

Why not just get an MBA with an emphasis in Finance?
 
M

Mii

Banned
In the middle of interviewing for a spot in a few MBA programs. NYU and Yale this week.

Nervous as hell.

Had a GMAT of 740 for what it's worth (first attempt, one month studying). Manhattan GMAT prep, there are no substitutes. Worth every penny.

Going for the triple threat. CPA, CFA (level III this June), top 15 MBA.
 
B

Brendonia

"Edge stole Big Ben's helmet"
Graduated with my MBA almost 3 years ago with a concentration in Marketing and Finance. I was a Finance undergrad so that piece wasn't too bad. Definitely agree with what's been said on networking, clubs and utilizing career services - those are even more valuable than the coursework.

I loved b-school and hang out with friends I graduated with all the time. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made, even though paying off the loans is brutal. I went to a Top 15 school (closer to 15 in most rankings) and reputation definitely helps, so do as well as you can on the GMAT and make sure you study up a bit on what the programs you are targeting look for. Doing that helps to prepare for the interviews a lot. Good luck!
 
Kalamari

Kalamari

Member
Smokey said:
I mean I guess I could. I'm still very early in the process so anything is an option.

That's why I posted in here!
Click to expand...

MBA here. If you are interested in finance, just get a MFA. You would probably be taking some of the basic classes that MBAs take, like marketing, accounting, statistics, and economics, but also get to take more advanced finance and accounting courses. If you are really crazy, take all the upper level accounting courses as well, it would be a great way to set yourself apart from other run-of-the-mill finance types.

Oh, and if you do go back to school, be sure to hunt down those internships, if you land one it would be a huge advantage for finding a job after graduation.
 
S

Smokey

Member
Kalamari said:
MBA here. If you are interested in finance, just get a MFA. You would probably be taking some of the basic classes that MBAs take, like marketing, accounting, statistics, and economics, but also get to take more advanced finance and accounting courses. If you are really crazy, take all the upper level accounting courses as well, it would be a great way to set yourself apart from other run-of-the-mill finance types.

Oh, and if you do go back to school, be sure to hunt down those internships, if you land one it would be a huge advantage for finding a job after graduation.
Click to expand...

My one concern with Finance is that I wasn't a finance major. So jumping into the graduate program..don't really know what to expect there. But as I mentioned in a previous post it was my major very early on. Since I majored in MIS, I still had to take business classes. So I did take 2 accounting classes and 1 Finance class, but beyond that...

And about the internships...that would be a bit tough with me still having a career/job at the moment no? Only so many hours in a day :(
 
D

Dr. Feel Good

Banned
Mii said:
In the middle of interviewing for a spot in a few MBA programs. NYU and Yale this week.

Nervous as hell.

Had a GMAT of 740 for what it's worth (first attempt, one month studying). Manhattan GMAT prep, there are no substitutes. Worth every penny.

Going for the triple threat. CPA, CFA (level III this June), top 15 MBA.
Click to expand...

I'm working through a couple Manhatten books as of right now. What specifically did you use? I have the foundations of math, advanced math, and sentence correction. Did you jsut read through each chapter and do every problem? My biggest fear is retaining all of the concepts and shit.

Do you have a specific goal in mind for the CPA/CFA/MBA or is this just a personal thing? I can't imagine that many places that would need those. I especially don't see much interest in CFA's at all outside the financial market sector.
 
T

The Lamp

Member
How much extensive preparation would I need to study to take the GMAT and go for an MBA if I wasn't a business major in undergrad? I'm finishing my BS in chemical engineering, and although I have a certificate in business management from my university's business school, I haven't taken any business classes besides that. I wonder if I'd have to study really hard (like months, like for the MCAT) or if it's less intense than that.
 
D

Dr. Feel Good

Banned
Smokey said:
My one concern with Finance is that I wasn't a finance major. So jumping into the graduate program..don't really know what to expect there. But as I mentioned in a previous post it was my major very early on. Since I majored in MIS, I still had to take business classes. So I did take 2 accounting classes and 1 Finance class, but beyond that...

And about the internships...that would be a bit tough with me still having a career/job at the moment no? Only so many hours in a day :(
Click to expand...

It could be hard. The 400 level classes of finance have some heavy advanced math concepts that dabble in derivatives and whatnot, so I can only imagine graduate level courses would go even beyond that. I'm a firm believer in the idea that you can learn the basics though, starting off might be a struggle but it could catch on quickly with enough work put in.
 
terrisus

terrisus

Member
Fatalah said:
MBA here, working in digital ads.
Click to expand...

image.php


Well, you convinced me.
Now I want pizza.
 
T

TomServo

Junior Member
I have a bachelors and masters in engineering. Got the masters while working full time, which just sucks out loud. I have a ton of respect for people who go to school and work full time.

I was applying to business school to make the transition from engineering to commercial when I leveraged some previous work and a pretty major crisis to get a larger-than-normal promotion. I asked my new boss (who after two years has become a mentor) if I should continue down the MBA path, fearing that he'd look poorly on me if I didn't follow through on something I had mentioned in my interviews... that conversation went something like this:

Me: "Should I still get the MBA?"
Him: "Why did you want the MBA?"
Me: "To get a job on the commercial side of the house."
Him: "What kind of job did you just land?"
Me: "Gotcha."

I'd still take an MBA if you could wave a wand and give me one, but the longer I'm in this job the less benefit I get from it.
 
O

Orbis Tabula

Member
I'm getting a Master's in Math but I'm really starting to have second thoughts. I'm considering switching to something like Operations Research or Statistics, or maybe just trying my luck in the job market with my Bachelor's. I dunno.
 
B

Bay Maximus

Banned
I'm currently completing my 1st year of a Full time MBA at a pretty good school. My thoughts:

Unless you're checking the box for your company, don't waste your time getting an MBA outside of the top 25 or so*.

Don't pay sticker for an MBA out of the Top 10 or so*.

If you want to do IB, aim for top 7.

If you want to do some legit management consulting (MBB especially), aim for top 15.

*The top schools aren't totally set in stone but the BusinessWeek and US News rankings are generally accepted by most professionals. So consider these when looking at schools.

Mii said:
In the middle of interviewing for a spot in a few MBA programs. NYU and Yale this week.

Nervous as hell.

Had a GMAT of 740 for what it's worth (first attempt, one month studying). Manhattan GMAT prep, there are no substitutes. Worth every penny.

Going for the triple threat. CPA, CFA (level III this June), top 15 MBA.
Click to expand...

Manhattan is the certified ish. Definitely worth it to get the series.
 
P

Pastry

Banned
I'm working on my MBA right now, I'll be halfway through with it at the end of this semester. I have a full time job and take my classes at night so I can usually only do 6 hours a semester. And goddamn do I hate finance classes :( luckily my finance class this semester will be my last one ever. I'm getting mine in Management Science.
 
E

EverythingShiny

Member
I have a Master's degree in Forensic Psychology. I wanted to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, but unfortunately my Master's program was more geared toward preparing you to go into law enforcement or work as a crime/intelligence analyst, so I missed out on potential research opportunities and thus screwed myself over for pursuing a PhD. I didn't realize how competitive the PhD programs were until after I'd left my Master's program.

Thankfully I picked up useful analytical skills both in my program and the work I did in my field, so now I work mostly in data analysis, although I'm hoping to do more research in the future.

I have no advice for applying to MBA programs, but even though I'm no longer in the field I went to school for, I found the degree opened up a lot of opportunities for me. If I had to do it all over again, I'd do a MS degree to put myself in a better position to get into PhD programs, but it's a little late now.
 
D

dentoomw

Member
I have an MBA and it's helped me quite a lot as far as job prospects go. Of course, I don't have the most interesting job ever and probably fit the stereotype of a corporate suit, but hey it pays the bills and leaves me time for myself, so can't really complain :)
 
A

aznpxdd

Member
Bay Maximus said:
I'm currently completing my 1st year of a Full time MBA at a pretty good school. My thoughts:

Unless you're checking the box for your company, don't waste your time getting an MBA outside of the top 25 or so*.

Don't pay sticker for an MBA out of the Top 10 or so*.

If you want to do IB, aim for top 7.

If you want to do some legit management consulting (MBB especially), aim for top 15.

*The top schools aren't totally set in stone but the BusinessWeek and US News rankings are generally accepted by most professionals. So consider these when looking at schools.



Manhattan is the certified ish. Definitely worth it to get the series.
Click to expand...

Can you please elaborate why you think its not worth it to attend MBA programs that aren't considered top 15?
 
B

Bay Maximus

Banned
IKizzLE said:
In terms of difficulty:

LSAT>GMAT>>>GRE>>>>>SAT
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on the person but I found the LSAT more intuitive and slightly less challenging than the GMAT personally. Still hard though.

aznpxdd said:
Can you please elaborate why you think its not worth it to attend MBA programs that aren't considered top 15?
Click to expand...

I said top 25 or so, which if you include both BW and US News' rankings should come to around 30 or so schools. And I'm coming from a purely monetary ROI standpoint. You may have other reasons to go to school, but if you're looking to get bang for your buck, I wouldn't stray too far from the top schools without either a full ride or company sponsorship. And yes, if you want to do management consulting or IB, you should be even more restrictive.
 
I

Incognito

Troll
currently studying Manhattan prep for GRE and looking at applying to Yale, Columbia, unc-chapel-hill, and my undergrad school for masters in health care administration. i meet the GPA requirements and all the background 'story' fluff they look for, so as long as i don't completely bomb the GRE i feel pretty comfortable.
 
A

Advocatus Diaboli

Member
I've got a J.D., but I have a Master's in International Relations and I'm getting another in economics and finance from the University of London -- both done via distance, however. This fall I'll be attending Georgetown part-time for an LL.M., which is sort of like a specialized master's degree in a specific legal field (for me, national security and cyber operations law).

Also, screw the GRE. Glad nothing I've applied for requires it, because I bombed that sucker, like I do every standardized test.
 
T

tanod

when is my burrito
I have an MBA. I'm as much a business arm-chair analyst as anybody in a GAF thread but it's hard to have a decent discussion with general GAF about business/finance when they don't have that background.

Unless your employer will pay for it or you get some kind of scholarship, I'd advise against grad school unless you know what you're going to be using your degree for. My general impression is that grad school is a method to refine your career tool set.

Personally, I always wanted to go to grad school (flirted with entering law school), really enjoyed school in general and have really enjoyed working in business. I paid for my MBA (no financial help from employer). I did it part-time in night school while I worked full time and I negotiated a decent raise out of it.
 
D

Dr. Feel Good

Banned
Bay Maximus said:
I'm currently completing my 1st year of a Full time MBA at a pretty good school. My thoughts:

Unless you're checking the box for your company, don't waste your time getting an MBA outside of the top 25 or so*.

Don't pay sticker for an MBA out of the Top 10 or so*.

If you want to do IB, aim for top 7.

If you want to do some legit management consulting (MBB especially), aim for top 15.

*The top schools aren't totally set in stone but the BusinessWeek and US News rankings are generally accepted by most professionals. So consider these when looking at schools.



Manhattan is the certified ish. Definitely worth it to get the series.
Click to expand...

What's your profile look like, if you don't mind me asking? If I were to go I'd likely have around 4 years work experience in Accounting/Corporate Finance. I have a good undergrad GPA of 3.5 in Finance/International Business but it's only from a decent state school.
 
T

The_Inquisitor

Member
Master in EE part time working full time. Just got back from my weekly 3 hour night class and finished washing dishes.

I have at least another year left taking 3 hours a semester. It's exhausting but it's worth it as I am aiming to go into analog design when I finish.
 
G

gwarm01

Member
Anyone here have a masters in public health or hospital administration? I'm a PharmD who forwent the residency path, and now I'm trying to think of things to open more doors in my career as time goes on. Either that or drop another decade into medical school, and I don't think I want to do that.
 
B

Bay Maximus

Banned
Dr. Feel Good said:
What's your profile look like, if you don't mind me asking? If I were to go I'd likely have around 4 years work experience in Accounting/Corporate Finance. I have a good undergrad GPA of 3.5 in Finance/International Business but it's only from a decent state school.
Click to expand...

A 3.5 GPA is fine, especially for a quant-heavy major. Admission committees (adcoms) sometimes worry if potential students can handle the math of 1st year courses and your education puts that to rest. I do know that some adcoms can be a little weird about accountants so I would definitely stress the corporate finance side of your work experience. Speaking of which you're in about the sweet spot as far as work experience is concerned. With a decent GMAT and story, an elite MBA is within arm's reach imo.
 
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