Current Product Manager, 6 years of experience, Ivy undergrad. I have the opportunity to attend Wharton on a partial scholarship (total cost for attendance would be roughly $50,000), and I am also waiting for Facebook to hear about my offer details. I am conflicted about which one to choose, or if I should stay at Dropbox. I have been here for over 3 years and have a very high visibility role. I am hoping to hear from others who have attended Wharton or who have had to make a similar decision.
Depends on what you want to do in the future? If you want to switch industries and say go to PE/VC, I would highly recommend Wharton. If you want to stay in tech and given you are already a PM, I doubt the MBA will add much value. Regarding Dropbox vs FB, I would say go with FB. Better TC, lower risk (Dropbox founders should have accepted Jobs buyout offer) and more diversity in terms of work.
Facebook PM will give you the experience no MBA can.
As a PM and MBA, I could not agree more
Wharton will give you a lifetime of skills and knowledge, professional contacts, and later in life, the pedigree for promotions or higher level advancement at other companies. PM jobs will always be there. Wharton benefits you the earlier you obtain it.
Go to Facebook. Given your experience, business school should pay you to attend not the other way around.
Need more information that this to offer a proper opinion. Like career goals, why MBA, Facebook TC and level etc. I was in your position 5 years ago. Was a PM at a FANG and went for an MBA
Do you regret that? What do you do now?
Nope - absolutely not! One of my best experiences ever. I worked in VC, Management consulting and now back to Tech
I just interned at fb (swe product) so keep that in mind. I strongly think that an MBA would lead you in the opposite direction of the product pm at fb. fb does stuff in a bit different way, it's better to come with an uncluttered vision. But if you're aiming for other companies as well, then nvm.
The intern with the vast insight into how “different” product is at fb. A+
That’s just it. No one works for a company over 5 years these days unless you constantly get promoted. An MBA from Wharton or Harvard is going to return dividends for life and set you up for success as it separates you from the competition. Similar to how a 16 year old can’t understand the wisdom of a 60 year old, people without a Wharton MBA will not understand what they missed out on. The goal isn’t to say “you can be successful without an education (true), the goal is to say “how can I dramatically increase the odds that I will do well for the rest of my life at any company”, and a Wharton MBA does dramatically improve your odds. It’s not a silver bullet, but it is a silver holster.
I know folks from MBA who hated the culture at FB. Once you choose MBA, you are essentially moving away from product
Can you plz elaborate what a product here implies and why ppl walk away?
Product = Product management And related roles People with MBAs have a very structured way of thinking about a problem. But at FB, it is about moving fast
The way I see it: 1. Have a break and fun 2. Get to make a network and make new close friends as well. 3. We never know what other fields you might come to like once you start doing MBA and get exposed to wide set of ideas and concepts. 4. Would think of creating a company. Despite all this you can always get back to any tech company again. I don't think working at FB or for that matter any company is worth more than the MBA. After all, at FB you would be working on one product and at max with 10-15 ppl.
I agree. An MBA program at a top school is a great opportunity to meet a variety of interesting people, accomplished in their fields and explore other fields/career options. It’s a great time to consider the bigger picture. Just be OK that the financial payoff might not match the lost salary, etc compared to going to FB. It should even out but you just will never know. Also agree with a previous post that you should do an MBA sooner rather later. All the best!
Wharton MBA > FB Wharton MBA will payoff for the rest of your career in networking opportunities, education and reputation. Everyone’s assumption for the rest of your life will be that you’re smart and should be hired. FB is a chaotic mess internally and company trending sideways/down. Avoid.
I wish I can like the comment but I don't have a MBA to agree for sure either.
Lol wrong comment - MBA doesn’t help - with FB experience the future MBA if anyone wants to do will amplify opportunities and growth . I haven’t done mba and I won’t - but that’s a diff problem
Make money today or forego two years of salary and work exp from FB to get a piece of paper....seems pretty obvious to me. But really depends where you want to be two years from now.
That's a myopic vision. There is a reason why ivy league exists with all it's pomp.
Ivy doesn't mean anything. There are tons of Harvard and Stanford MBAs trying to get into FB. Few make it. A Wharton MBA isnt worth it in this economy.
Not to be a typical blind user but this is important: 1. Current TC? 2 FB level/Expected TC 3. Why do you want an MBA? Stay in Product? Try your hand at IB/PE/VC? You do have a shot at PE with Tech Product experience and a Wharton MBA, but it’s no guarantee
PE is?
It's Private Equity for the uninitiated