Haas EMBA ($) vs. Stanford MSx vs. INSEAD TIEMBA vs. None

Question

Hi all,

I would love some input on what choice to take. My post-grad goal is to land a VP+ role at a post Series B health tech company, or serve as cofounder of an earlier startup with healthy backing and/or cofounders who have previously exited. I have a few offers on the table.

I am fortunate to have been admitted to Stanford's 1 year Sloan Fellow (no scholarship), Haas EMBA (with $20K scholarship) and INSEAD TIEMBA (unknown scholarship). Most of my peers at work have multiple advanced degrees, and I believe I would benefit greatly from the leadership development focus of the EMBA programs. My boss nominated me for a development program at work, though it is much less hands on than any of the EMBA programs I am considering. I also cannot see myself staying at a giant behemoth corporation for more than another year.

I have to decide this week to whether:

1) Go to Haas and pay $5k deposit 
2) Go to Stanford and pay $5k deposit
3) Jump to Startup, not go to any of the programs

I also have a young family. Any opinions are welcome.

JohnnyBlaze · Answer

Stanford

If you want a career transition to the startup world, there's no better school..

qaty · Answer

Thanks for your response! Agree and leaning that way as well!

bb · Answer

Hi and Congrats on your admits and sorry I have missed your post earlier.

It is tough with the young family. I felt a lot of stress when I got my first child and that shook me up (in part because I was probably so easy going before) but I started worrying about retirement, savings, and providing for my family a lot more than I was before kids.

I can see a bit of an advantage of the Haas EMBA in the fact that you can keep working and providing for your family. This buys you some time in the sense of you would be in charge of your timing for working/leaving/changing though I am not sure how doable it is to do an EMBA while working for a startup. There is definitely a conflict with time esp with the family.

MSx is a nice option in the fact that it provides a traditional 1-year full time experience. Also Stanford's name on the resume is likely a bigger jolt factor than Haas/Berkeley. You would also get done with school faster and have a chance to take a bit of a break from work (if that is important) and have time to reflect/change gears (not sure from your post if changing gears is something that you need).

I don't know much/anything about the TIEMBA besides that I know of Tsinghua. I tried to do a semester exchange there but did not make it for various silly reasons but sounds like an exciting program, esp if you are planning to work with/in China.

I understand your point of doing an MBA now as the last opportunity. It is something only you can weigh and judge. I see you registered in 2011, so definitely seems something a long way coming. At the same time, you can often join an EMBA program at any point in your career and as you get more experienced, you get less of a hassle with the applications and GMAT/EA is waived. It is always possible to do an EMBA down the road. MSx program is also not so heavy-age/career driven though most people tend to fit into the 30-40 bracket.

I would focus on the first priority of working vs. not working for a year (do EMBA or FT program). What is best in your case, and then that should give a pretty good idea of which way you are leaning.

P.S. > We have a decent sleeper MSx community on GMAT Club and you can reach out to a number of folks to discuss their experience and get their take on your situation and what they would recommend. Just poke around a few of the MSx topics by  karroty  and there are a few others more recent ones.

GSB2020 · Answer

Hi. Congrats on your offers. I know nothing about the other two options, but I can offer some thoughts on the MSx program at Stanford GSB. Feel free to reach out and we can arrange a call.

bb · Answer

Thanks so much for your help!

Posted from my mobile device

mSKR · Answer

Hi

My feedback would be based on your choice of the following parameters: 
 Haas EMBA vs Stanford MSx vs INSEAD TIEMBA
1. Location: USA or Singapore or USA.--> Personal choice. But Do you think you want to move to a new country or stay in place where you have already built relationships for there for last some years? or its an opportunity to move to a place where you always wanted to be?
2. Branding --> in this choice, rankings are close to each other. I would consider equal points for all
3. Scholarship:- $20K : for me its a big amount. I can add it it my profile and definitely it adds value. 
4. EMBA vs Full time: personal choice . I don't know how people can do justice with their studies while working or with work while studying . this option was big No No for me. so I only applied in Full time. I want to get best of anything I do. 
5. Miscellaneous: Do you have any advantage of other factors? say local language? If you know Mandarin maybe Singapore could be a preferred choice. 
other factors could be:
6. Your family:
7. your passion
etc.

If I give neutral perspective, I have no reason not to reject Stanford. You may learn extensively, the learning that you can carry forward your whole life. The experience , the brand , the recognition, the country --what else do you want?

But as I apply the analysis to my situation. I may not choose any of them because I could not move to USA at this time and I don't want to do EMBA. 
If I am open for EMBA and location then I would choose INSEAD because I have mandarin language advantage and is in Asia pacific where I have some relationships already.

The key point is: Choice varies based on parameters what is more important for you. List out your parameters , your preferences and you would find some 1-2 points on which you may be confused. But after thinking ahead say future perspective, values after MBA etc. . you would see one option as winner in the end:)
Once decide, no need to think anymore. just go ahead.

Please share your final decision and how do you make it.

Good luck:)

Haas EMBA ($) vs. Stanford MSx vs. INSEAD TIEMBA vs. None

Which option seems like the best fit?

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