I'm consider getting a part time MBA, with the goal of opening up doors for the later stages of my career outside of engineering (ex: leadership or PM). Generally, I get the feedback that if you don't go to a top 10 school it won't add much to your network and value to an employer. However, doing a full time MBA has a huge cost (1-2 years lost pay + tuition costs), and there aren't any practical part time options in the top 10 for me (in South Bay). What do you think? - Are the people online saying that schools outside of the top 10 are a waste of time (mostly in finance and consulting blogs) correct for tech as well? Or do you think there is there value in a part time / online MBA outisde of the top 10 schools for people in tech looking to open up doors to leadership or PM type roles later in their careers? YOE 3, TC 250K, Favorite color: purple
Are you trying to network or just learn the material?
If it's not from Wharton, HBS, Sloan, or Stanford, it is garbage.
Why do you need it? Add MIT, Berkeley, UCLA to the list.
I don't think anyone necessarily "needs" it. I think the main question is: does it add value in your career that is a good rate of return on the time and money invested in it? Ex: if it increases chance to promotion to engineering manager in the short term, or increases the probability of getting promoted to director or higher at some point in the future for someone putting in the same effort within an engineering role with or without the non top 10 MBA.
For Engg Management jobs, having an MBA is seen as negative in my opinion. It’s good for Product Management, Marketing, etc. as what’s taught is very relevant.
I’m in a similar situation, but non eng. From my POV, a big thing was also considering (1) am I actually going to learn things in the classes (2) will it help in the long run when interviewing with other companies. Also about the $ trade offs. I decided it was worth applying to the local top school (UW) to keep the job I currently have and calling it a “net neutral” using vesting to pay. My assumption being future jobs when I leave will consider me more compelling
If you wanna be an engineer then don't go for MBA. If not, MBA is still valuable. Not the degree, but is the fact you can get in, means you are better than most ppl already. Ignore those jealous words. If you are top 10 or top 20 MBA, that means you are intelligent and ambitious already.
Personally, I think that the company reputation of your employer is probably more valuable than the university reputation for a non top 10/20 MBA.
I agree with you. Both of them are important. Different employer value them differently. MBA can be a really good way if you want to change job, function or industry. Also, I believe most people want to get in top school and company like Google and Harvard. But if you are not, if you are in top20-ish, that still means you are also a top talent.
I took classes for MIT and NCSU arguably the best school for statistics and some CS. MIT's teaching pedagogy was way refined and more practical. If I'm doing again, I would bet the school name instead of anything.
It sounds like the consensus is similar to the consulting and finance forums. Top MBA is valuable because of the name brand and network. Non top MBA is probably not worth the time and cost (even though it is much lower than a top MBA, which typically requires full time).
What do you wanna do after the MBA? If you wanna come back to big tech like FAANG, I don't see the point. I see no difference between an MBA grad manager and one without an MBA at my company.
The idea would be to do it part time while still working in tech, not to leave and come back later.
The part time Haas program has been asked about in Blind many times, but most of the answers suggest that it doesn't seem like it produces very many favorable outcomes, or at least outcomes that justify the time and money spent getting the degree. YMMV
Top mba only. Waste of time and effort otherwise
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