Top Full time MBA-worth it for my career aspirations?

You are pretty ideally suited for a PT MBA program. You have a job that pays well, so it would be a big sacrifice to lose that income for two years in a FT program. Most people going to FT programs are trying to get to the point they are working a job that makes that much AFTER their MBA. Age can be a factor too, since many top schools begin to snub older candidates (this is less of a concern, since I myself was 31 when I matriculated at a top 5 program, but still, it can sometimes factor in depending on the program you choose). The average age of PT programs is usually several years higher than FT. The good news is, the answer to your main question is NO, FT programs are not the only way to make your career transition. In fact, these days good PT programs allow you to access the same recruiter interview options that the FT students do and access to the career center is a real asset. Make sure you investigate how true this is for your target PT programs--this could influence which programs you apply to. Also, recruiters have shifted over the years to think of the Part Time MBAs as the same. Certainly the degree is the same--most good b-schools use the same faculty and curriculum for their FT and PT programs. And of course it will say MBA on your resume and diploma in the end, not Part time MBA. I have even heard stories where recruiters FAVOR the part time students because they know for a fact they are hard workers if they can carry school and work at the same time. Think about your own case. If you were a recruiter, wouldn't you prefer someone with 8-10 years of experience over someone with 2-3? Generally you would be considered more stable, more mature and more likely to have had real leadership experience. If I were you, I would think about keeping the job, making a couple more years of income and finding a highly ranked PT program that you can attend.