sathyanril wrote:
Hi Kaiser,
I strongly Agree with you... Ur rite... Anyway lets see...
Hi Sathyan,
My 2 cents. Please excuse me if I am overboard.
1. I think, you are interested in jobs outside post MBA. In that case, your plan of applying to US MBA schools makes sense. Otherwise, some of the Indian business schools are as good.
2. If energy sector is what your post MBA goal, then Rice MBA is better than HSB/S-GBS/Wharton for you. Rice is number one for energy.
3. One year versus 2 years: Usually the amount of course work is same. What differentiates is other activities involved. If you are not career switcher and know what you are doing, then one year MBA will be more beneficial for you.
4. Saving for tuition expense: Usually most of the people go for educational loans. You can take that route as well. I feel "150$K debt + 2 year early MBA" is better than "nodebt + MBA at 35". Effectively you lose the years at the end of the careers. Learning, recruitment and career path wise also, couple of years early might be better for you.
5. By all means, you can try for HBS and S-GBS. But, the chances are slim and you will have to stretch real hard to get in. INSEAD, Wharton and MIT might be better choices. But, again these schools might not open as many gates in energy sector as Rice MBA can open. Please dont just go by brand. Your area is special one and Rice MBA serves it especially well.
6. Extra curricular (EC) activities : Almost most of the US and Europe MBAs require serious involvement EC. EC is not mandatory, but it is as important as deal breaker. So, you should start doing your work on EC front now. Otherwise, you will be stuck like me at the age of 33.
Having been cynical all this while, I want to congratulate you on your decision to pursue MBA and take your career path to next level. All the best.
regards
nag