Most quality MBA programs don't allow for a second MBA. Your friends would have to clearly demonstrate that their first MBA program utterly failed them and that a second one is truly necessary.

Dumb and expensive way to try to build connections, though. That's what professional associations and networking is for. They should have gone for better quality MBAs the first time.

I have no idea what an MSF is, so I can't comment there.

Blackbelt,

I s/b the best to answer this question since I already have an MBA from a small state clollege down south from 8 years ago. It VERY much complicated my "real MBA" process. So far I have come accross 4 type of schools in regards to their approach to a previous MBA:

1) Flat out no due to school policy : Northwestern,NYU,Tuck,Duke,UNC,USC,UCLA,Berkeley
2) Yes but have to be strongly addressed in optional essay : H/S/W, Michigan,Chicago,MIT,Carnegie-Mellon, Ivey (Canada)
3) Yes but strongly discouraged: Yale
4) Clueless (which is not a good sign) : Emory, Georgia Tech

All in all it closes a lot of doors on one's face right at the start. Every MBA event I attended, I had to ask this issue as my first question and had a lot of "sorry..." in response. The schools who ask for an additional essay differ in their enthusiasm, and potentially in their sincerity. And even if they are sincere, the previous MBA is clearly a disadvantage.

So far it does nothing but complicate the application process. I do not recommend getting one "just for getting it" and then going for the "real" one. I've had one due to a bad decision made 8 years ago.My advice would be : Be ready for a much tougher road to admittance if you already have an MBA.

Hope this helps...