futureproof,
You are correct that age 30 is not a major issue for full-time MBA programs though it would place you in the oldest 10% of your class and adcoms would hold you to a higher bar in terms of career progress. Neither is the case for the part-time MBA, which is indeed easier to get into. However, the part-time MBA does not feature the summer internship so it's not as effective a degree for industry- and function-changers. Your ability to accomplish this career switch will depend more on your efforts (e.g., ability to network, leverage your classmates, etc.) than the school's. The upside of earning a part-time MBA in Boston is that this networking/job-hunting component will be much more doable and your school's local network will be much more powerful for you. So: a part-time MBA seems appropriate for you, but with some risk. To be prudent, consider crafting a Plan B for yourself and also for your admissions essays involving staying closer to your current industry/function. I'd be glad to help you with the app process. Feel free to send me your resume/CV for a closer look:
paul@admitify.com.
--Paul Bodine, Great Applications for Business School,
www.admitify.com/testimonialsfutureproof
Let me begin by saying that I took the GMAT yesterday and got a score that I wasn't thrilled about 630 (Q46/V31). After getting a 660, 710, and 680 on my three practice exams, I was feeling pretty devastated. Also, oddly, it was the lowest verbal score I'd ever gotten (normally, I score in the 36-40 range). In any event, I pretty quickly came to the realization that it might not matter that much, since I'm leaning towards doing business school part time, and these programs generally have a lower GMAT average than their full-time counterparts.
With all of that being said, I wanted to get a sense of what options I should be considering. To provide further detail on my profile, I turn 30 in May. I went to a small, liberal arts college that is not widely-known, but graduated with a 3.65 GPA with a BA in economics. I currently work for an enterprise software company as a Product Marketing/Competitive Intelligence Manager, where I make just over $100K a year. I have participated in a couple volunteering opportunities in the area I live. I have a diverse set of hobbies: I play the trumpet, do music production, play tennis, and enjoy traveling and cooking. Most importantly, I have a strong appetite for learning.
Let me get into explaining why I am leaning towards doing a part-time MBA: first, I like my job. I am paid well, I love my boss and the people I work with, and I generally enjoy the work. I have a growing set of responsibilities and I feel respected. With that being said, I don't LOVE the enterprise software space, and could see myself doing similar strategy-based work for another industry (perhaps consumer products, consumer technology, or something environment-related -- simply because I relate more to these spaces). So, kind of a two-in-one deal: my current company would pay up to $7500/year for the part-time program, and simultaneously, I'd ideally meet people from a diverse set of work backgrounds and network. The other main reason I am leaning towards the part-time option is that I have a hard time stomaching the option of forgoing a six-figure salary for two years + paying rent + other expenses, at this stage in my career. I also don't want to be the "old man on campus," though I've heard 30 is not too old to do full-time. The last reason I am leaning towards a part-time program is that I imagine it will help get me to the next stage of my career. I am not looking for a fast track into I-Banking or Mgmt Consulting, which it seems that a lot of people doing the full-time option are on track for. I'd maybe consider working for a boutique consulting firm, but I'd rather not work 70 hour weeks if I can help it.
So, now that my rant is over, I'm wondering if my plan makes sense, given where I am at both in regards to my current career state as well my goals. Would a respected part-time MBA (think, Boston University, Babson, Boston College, Northeastern -- I live in Boston if you couldn't tell) be worth it? Can these programs be effective for switching industries, but not necessarily doing a massive career switch?