Hi all,
Given the application season has started, I'm trying to get as much advice and insight as I can before I make a decision to proceed. My main concern is should I go for an EMBA or a Full Time MBA. Any advice, suggestions, opinions are appreciated. here's my background:
I'm a risk manager working in a top financial services firm. I have a bachelor degree in an applied math discipline from an Ivy league college. I've already taken my GMAT twice, not well - in the high 600s. I'm currently one of the top performing risk managers in my group and will get promoted very soon (by the end of year is what I was told), so it makes very little sense for me to leave my job and pursue a full time MBA right now, BUT I would like an MBA degree. But if I pursue the full time MBA, I'd ideally want to be admitted to a top 5 program (HBS, Wharton, Stanford). But here's the dilemma, I have no plans for a career change anytime soon, BUT I can't predict the future (god forbid I get laid off in the next downturn), and my company does not require an advanced degree for promotions or senior leadership positions, although I don't see how having one would hurt. So it boils down to this, I just want to get a degree because I believe it's good leverage in the future in case something happens or I want to leave my firm. So my other options are part-time or EMBA. My company would provide full financial sponsorship for an EMBA for their top performers, and I mean very top performers. So that rules out part-time. But I'm trying to weigh the positives and negatives of an EMBA vs. full-time. Do companies even care about an EMBA? How does an EMBA measure up against a full-time? Would I get the same opportunities with an EMBA? Similar credentials (would companies downplay an EMBA in any way)? I have a fairly good chance of getting the sponsorship. This is really my long-term planning. I have no immediate need for an MBA, but I'm also not getting younger, and I've reached a point where I need to decide now. Please share your experiences and/or opinions. Thanks!
I'm also in my mid-20's