Choosing Between Purdue MBT and Babson MBA

Question

Hi everyone,

I'm Eva from Taiwan, and I'm facing a challenging decision regarding my graduate studies. With five years of experience as a marketing specialist at Taiwan's largest department store and an Apple Premium Reseller, as well as running a small business selling pre-owned luxury items on Shopee, I’ve identified a significant need for strategic business management skills. This realization has motivated me to pursue a master's degree to solidify my foundation in strategy and operations.

My Career Vision:  I aspire to establish a second-hand fashion brand combining online and physical retail, emphasizing sustainability and accessibility. However, I prefer managing online customer interactions over dealing with challenging customers face-to-face.

Educational Choices:  I have offers from two distinct programs, and I’m evaluating their pros and cons, especially in terms of financial investment:
 
  Purdue University's Master of Business and Technology (MBT): 
 
 Duration: One-year 
 Scholarship: $9,000 
 Pros: Cost-effective, shorter duration, aligns with the AI-driven job market 
 Cons: New program uncertainties, isolation, colder climate, cohort mainly from engineering backgrounds which might challenge adaptation, degree title may require explanation in Asia 
 Estimated total cost: $78,419 
 Favorite courses: AI for Business Decisions, Negotiations in Organizations, Entrepreneurship 
     
  Babson College Full-Time MBA: 
 
 Duration: Two-year 
 Scholarship: $30,000 
 Pros: Diverse course offerings, strong focus on entrepreneurship, located in Boston with proximity to networking opportunities 
 Cons: High cost could exhaust my savings and necessitate loans, uncertain reputation in Asia, potential impact on self-esteem due to affluent peer group 
 Estimated total cost: $230,000 
 Favorite courses: Artificial Intelligence for Business Decisions, Negotiations, Strategic Writing for Managers, Entrepreneurship    
 Financial Planning:  I have saved $133,333 for my education, which is insufficient for Babson without additional funding. I am considering writing to Babson to inquire about additional scholarship opportunities.

Seeking Your Insights:  As someone who has never studied or lived in the U.S., I am eager for advice, especially from those familiar with these programs or who have navigated the international student experience in the U.S. Is there another way to manage the financial burden of these programs? Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your help!

MBADecoder · Answer

HI, Are you going to apply or do you already have the admits? If you are simultaneously running two businesses and working full time, then it can really boost your resume. From a b-school application perspective, your role at the fulltime job and your achievements there will hold most importance. And, as you are working in the marketing function, I can safely assume that you have some worked on/ led some high impact projects. It will be interesting to look at your resume to get a fuller picture of your work exp. Your goals make sense given your retail experience. Although I would rather that you build a narrative around bringing fashion to people rather than saying that you do not like a customer facing role. If you start a company, then even if you don't directly deal with customer issues, you will still have to involve yourself behind the scenes to resolve them. (all this may not apply if you have admissions already). Coming to your b-school selection- it seems you already have admission from these two programs, in which case you just have to pick one up over the other. I'd go with Babson, for its long standing strength in entrepreneurship. Moreover, its a well established program and you have more scholarship $$s from there. I am not aware of the fashion industry in Boston, but the city's proximity to NY can give you decent opportunities to build a network in retail at NY. Namita Garg, Founder, MBA Decoder Email: contact@mbadecoder.com Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

eeeew2 · Answer

MBADecoder

Thank you for your reply, Namita!

I have already received offers from both schools, and I'm currently weighing the pros and cons, especially considering the financial aspects. According to their websites, the total cost to complete the program at Purdue is approximately $78,419, while Babson would require about $230,000.

Given the significant difference in costs and the scholarships offered, it's challenging to make a decision. I appreciate your insights regarding Babson's strengths in entrepreneurship and its established reputation, as well as the potential networking opportunities in Boston and its proximity to New York.

Your point about building a narrative around bringing fashion to people is well taken and something I will consider more deeply as I refine my goals.

Thank you again for your guidance!

MBADecoder · Answer

The program costs put things into perspective and suddenly I am not so sure of my advice. A $230K price tag seems a bit much for Babson which is not among the top 20- 25 programs. However, I would deeply question the value of the other course for you, not just because its new, but also, its not an MBA. You should be very sure about what benefit you will get out of it.
Regarding Babson, my suggestion is to talk to 10-12 current students and alumni to understand how the b-school can help you and what the academics, other experiential opportunities, career support is like.
Something I resisted asking in the previous message, but will ask now - you have a competitive profile. Did you apply to other higher ranked MBA programs?

eeeew2 · Answer

MBADecoder

Regarding your advice on Babson, I appreciate the suggestion to speak with current students and alumni. That sounds like a great way to gain deeper insight into the actual value and impact of their MBA program.

Additionally, I'm still awaiting a decision from the USC MBA program, for which I had an interview recently. I've also received offers for an MS in Marketing from the University of Rochester, George Washington University, and the University of San Francisco. However, I've decided to pursue an MBA instead, as I believe it aligns better with my broader career goals.

Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. It really helps to discuss these options with someone experienced in the field.

MBADecoder · Answer

I hope your admits to other b-schools come through. 
I agree about an MBA degree having an upper hand here - especially if you want well rounded business knowledge for cracking managerial postions post MBA or if you want to venture into entrepreneurship.  
Keep us posted on your next steps

eeeew2 · Answer

MBADecoder

Thank you so much for your detailed insights, particularly when many of my peers focus primarily on the financial aspects, such as the return on investment, without considering the full educational value. They argue that the high cost of the Babson full-time MBA program might not yield a proportional ROI, especially when compared to potential earnings post-graduation. In Taiwan, there's a belief that only a Master's in CS justifies such an investment—haha!

I'm carefully considering all options and will inquire with Babson about the possibility of additional scholarships.

Given your experience, I'd like to ask about the closure of Purdue's traditional MBA program due to COVID-19 impacts. Could this affect the resources, reputation, or overall quality of their other business programs? I'm curious about any potential negative effects, as such situations are rare in Taiwan.

Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. It really helps to discuss these options with someone experienced in the field.

MBADecoder · Answer

yes, I would look deeper into Purdue's closure of their Krannert MBA before deciding on a new program launched by them. The new program has no traction as of yet, and from what I gather, even if it does take off very well, it will likely not become known in Taiwan too soon. 
Its a great idea to ask Babson for more scholarship. All the best with that.

Choosing Between Purdue MBT and Babson MBA - Need Advice

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