Children while in school?

Question

Has anyone had an experience of raising a new born or infant while in b-school as a new father? My wife an I are trying to figure out if it is manageable (both time commitment and financially) to start b-school (full-time, 2 year program) with a 4-month old at home. Anyone with a similar experience and willing to share advice?

Thanks

Thanks

GoBruin · Answer

Try to PM rhyme or fatB, they might be able to give you insight.

JCTplus3 · Answer

I'm in the same boat here. I know several guys who went to top programs with a family and don't regret it. One of those went to HBS with four kids. He graduated with greater than average debt, but he stayed employed through 2008 and 2009. His coworkers without MBAs did not.

My decision to get an MBA was an easy one. The company that I was working for was blowing up, and jobs in my industry didn't pay what they once did. I needed to get in a situation where my wife can stay at home with my son, and the only way I can increase my income to that level is to get an MBA.

togafoot · Answer

Yes, I started an MBA with a 4-month and a 2.5 year old. It's tough. and your wife will need a lot of external support, because you will be sucked away to do lots of intensive studying and networking. Ideally, you want to find people in a similar situation as yourself, so if there are other students with v. young kids, they can act as a good support network for you and your wife.
Sleep will become a big issue, and you will not be able to socialise or network the same as the students without kids. In that respect you will lose out on some of the MBA experience.

There is a big difference between new-borns and older kids. New-borns will change your sleep patterns, older kids don't. So for v. important days, you may need to sleep in a different room to avoid being woken up by the new-born.

riverripper · Answer

I think different schools are more family friendly...there was a lot of students with children in my class. I have a few friends with 3-4 kids. I had friends who had babies while in school or right before school started. I think schools like Kellogg are set up better for people with kids than other schools; people generally live within close walking distance of school and its a really safe area.

Lots of internationals have kids while in school (duel citizenship for the kids and nothing for a wife to do with no work visa). I think my friends had the hardest time with how to get by monetarily, student loans dont go all that far.

Lots of internationals have kids while in school (duel citizenship for the kids and nothing for a wife to do with no work visa). I think my friends had the hardest time with how to get by monetarily, student loans dont go all that far.

3underscore · Answer

There is a lot to be said for having kids in B School. It is probably the best chance you will ever have of spending so much time with them during their first years.

Just don't have the kid during the first semester!

mc · Answer

I'm also in this boat...it's scary to ponder the financial aspects. What are some of the schools with the strongest partner clubs and family friendly environments?

oldguru82 · Answer

I'm wondering if there are some pregnant students in the programs.

Lets say you are a 30 years old women and accepted in a top MBA school, with a promising career to come, and you want to be mother at the same time because you don't want to be an "old" mother.

In that situation, when would you think is the best time to get pregnant?
Beginning the second year to have the child just after graduation? Something to avoid losing MBA experience and without hurting too much the post-MBA job research.

On the other hand, what if a girl gets pregnant the first year and has the child during the second?

captainron042 · Answer

I'm 28, married, and have a 3 and a 4 year old daughter. It's hard sometimes, but I'm sure it will be worth it.

nink · Answer

On a related note:

M.B.A.’s Have Biggest ‘Mommy Penalty,’ Doctors the Smallest

Among highly educated women who take time off from their careers to raise their children, women with M.B.A.’s suffer the largest percentage “mommy penalty,” while those with medical degrees suffer the lowest proportionate loss, with female Ph.D.’s and lawyers falling somewhere in between.

https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/ ... ?src=busln

Children while in school?

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