agold wrote:
Here's my thoughts:
MBA: If you're smart, this degree is all about the ROI and the money. I personally can not imagine spending so much money on a generalist degree that will not yield the intended results as far as post-graduate job, industry, and career track. You really need to know what you want to get out of this degree, and whether it will pay off for you before enrolling. Networking, partying, and even education are really secondary concerns for this degree. Unlike medicine and law where you need a degree to get licensed and practice your chosen profession, this is not the case for business, and therefore the education should be a truly secondary concern for anyone pursuing this degree.
Why am I not surprised you would post this type of stuff. Alright, yes a positive ROI is nice...however plenty of "smart" people go back not for the money but for a chance to do something they feel will provide them with a greater impact and self satisfaction. I have friends who were in post-MBA IB positions that came back to switch to corporate finance and friends who left MC to go into non-profit. Are those going to be as lucrative careers? Obviously not, but will it bring greater happiness to them, definitely. Agold, not everyone is as motivated by money as others. Judging by my experiences with people purely motivated by greenbacks, is they never will be satisfied with what they are making...they always want more and no matter what someone is going to be making more than them.
As for education, if you dont pay attention during your classes and barely scrape by do you think you are going to succeed in your career. You are going to get an assignment and be expected to do it. However, if you decided to flake out on those classes and are clueless are you going to be successful at it...I think not. Not placing an emphasis on your education is setting yourself up to look like a fool when you show up to work and are clueless compared to other MBAs.