An interesting post about the application process

I believe a Stanford GSB prof did a study recently (you can probably Google it). Long story short, his research concluded that the MBA really didn't have an impact on a person's earning potential over the long-term net of the cost. But note that the study is using a quantitative measure - earnings$$$ - as a proxy for success. And again, a good number of the students who go back don't do so purely for earnings potential. So there's at least one reputable study out there that says at the least - getting an MBA won't really impact your earnings potential long-term - that those who got into a top school would've done just as well without one.

One of the reasons why you'll see plenty of MBAs from top schools NOT regret their experience regardless of how their careers are turning out is quite simple. The process or experience itself is the reward. It's a life experience. It's easy to go into an MBA program (or anything) with some discrete set of "I will need to yield these list of benefits in order for me to feel it's worth it." but it's also 2 years of your life.

It's one of those valuable lessons I learned the hard way and I'm sure others have too - that as with most things, the process is the reward regardless of the goal (because the "end goal" is death ultimately). If you feel the process of living for 2 years in school without work responsibilities is worth it in and of itself, then it's probably worth it for you. And if you don't go to b-school at all, chances are you're not going to be any poorer (financially or otherwise) for it over the long-term - there are plenty of people who are doing just fine without one - based on whatever metric you wish to use whether it's money, fulfillment, ego, whatever.