Manager
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
Posts: 189
Given Kudos: 33
Location: Atlanta, GA
GPA: 3.4 Ivy
WE 1: 3 years for major bank
Re: part tim MBA vs Full Time MBA
[#permalink]
29 Oct 2010, 14:55
To answer this, consider why PT is worse for career changers.
First, there's generally no internship. This is typically where people try out a new industry/function.
Second, career support for PT students is often not very high because the assumption is that, because you are continuing to work, that you'll either use the PT program to advance your current career or you'll use your own contacts to find the job you want. If you're switching industry and role, you'll have trouble doing this.
Third, you're simply in a class with people who have different priorities. In a class where everyone is networking and starting fresh (for the most part), there's a built in advantage. In a class where most are learning stuff to take back with them to a current function to advance their own careers, the student body will react differently.
The fact you'll get an MBA from a "better" school as a PT compensates a little for that -- depending on where you want to work, you may be able to use the alumni network to try and get things going, and it just may "look" better. But for a career changer it generally will not compensate fully.
Last, consider that, assuming an MBA gives you a boost to your earning potential, the PT programs will generally cost you more.