ISO - Opinions on MBA

[homonger]

I had been to one of those MBA fairs and it's quite depressing for me. Everyone there said his/her school was the best but when I asked is there any sort of guarantee of a job, I never got a good answer - looks like they want to take your $70k investment without offering anything in return. Anyway I have no quantifiable management experience so I guess I won't be accepted into the best b-schools.

A couple of thoughts... I don't think business schools can guarantee someone else a job, this isn't trade school. As unfortunate as it may sound, there were a number of folks in my graduating B-school class who did not land jobs at graduation. As has been stated more than a few times on this thread, an MBA can get you an interview, but it is still up to you to land the job.

As for getting accepted into a top level B-school, you'd be surprised how diverse the backgrounds can be. Yes, the typical MBA candidate has some relevant work experience, but in my class there were also engineers, lawyers, teachers, and at least one doctor. You don't have to have a business background to get into business school.

 

[hooktonsc]

Unless you're getting one from a top school like Harvard, Kellogg, Stern, etc... (York, for example, isn't a top MBA school - only three in Canada - Western, McGill and UofT), I wouldn't bother.

I have an MBA, but only because it's from a top school (Kellogg) and my company paid the $100k it cost to get one plus the expenses. Otherwise I would've passed on it.

Forgive me if someone has already responded...but is it now possible to do a stint at Kellogg if you go to York?

 

[hooktonsc]

Hype

Just thought I'd add that you hear a lot of hype about some CEO of some large corporation "got their MBA here" - keep in mind that it's usually that large corporation sending someone already near the top of the ladder to complete their MBA...not some joe in mid-management getting their MBA and suddenly becoming CEO. Think about it before you believe the hype.

 

[hooktonsc]

Sorry for the 3rd in a row...just want to respond to something someone said about which Canadian schools having the most international recognition. There is no "international recognition" of any Canadian MBA school on Wall Street.

I know a Wall street I-bank recruiter ("X"))very well - got undergrad biz degree at an Ontario University and MBA at an Ivy league school in the US. It was obviously the Ivy league MBA that got X's foot in the door... X was very successful at this I-bank and got on the recruitment committee and now solely doing recruitment for the firm. X's firm NEVER hired out of a Canadian school until X convinced the recruiting committee. When X was given the go-ahead to hire Canadian candidates, X's limited budget allowed travel to one school only - naturally X chose X's alma mater (which was not Ivey, btw). After 3 years of this, was given budget to visit a few more schools - now has hired out of Queens, Ivey and Shulich. Will likely at some point in time hire someone from Rotman. The only preference shown is towards Queens, but that's because it was X's alma mater for undergrad...

It takes a Canadian to determine what school has the best reputation. Remember, Americans generally don't know about ANYTHING going on up here, but that's another story.

 

[red]

Sorry for the 3rd in a row...just want to respond to something someone said about which Canadian schools having the most international recognition. There is no "international recognition" of any Canadian MBA school on Wall Street.

I know a Wall street I-bank recruiter ("X"))very well - got undergrad biz degree at an Ontario University and MBA at an Ivy league school in the US. It was obviously the Ivy league MBA that got X's foot in the door... X was very successful at this I-bank and got on the recruitment committee and now solely doing recruitment for the firm. X's firm NEVER hired out of a Canadian school until X convinced the recruiting committee. When X was given the go-ahead to hire Canadian candidates, X's limited budget allowed travel to one school only - naturally X chose X's alma mater (which was not Ivey, btw). After 3 years of this, was given budget to visit a few more schools - now has hired out of Queens, Ivey and Shulich. Will likely at some point in time hire someone from Rotman. The only preference shown is towards Queens, but that's because it was X's alma mater for undergrad...

It takes a Canadian to determine what school has the best reputation. Remember, Americans generally don't know about ANYTHING going on up here, but that's another story.

most companies hire from schools from where their current employees already are - no surprise

 

[DateMasamune]

Forget about a MBA! Get a CIM instead!!!

 

[rama putri]

Forget about a MBA! Get a CIM instead!!!

LOL Better return on investment as well!