Antipodes wrote:
Hi asimov, thanks a lot for your advice. I contemplated doing the MiM and potentially doing an MBA later, but thought that may not be the best route. I know you cannot be accepted to do a second MBA, even if your first was from an unknown school and I thought that given this I would be hard pressed to make a case for an MBA to a school when I have already got a business undergrad and a post-grad management degree (an MiM). Do you think this reasoning is valid?
I realise that doing the MiM would be the more traditional route than doing the MBA now. Also, LBS has had some great banking and consulting placements from the MiM. However, I am still tempted to do the UCLA MBA now. It sounds like a more comprehensive program (chance to do electives, career treks, an exchange etc), also it presents an opportunity to potentially enter the job market at a higher level than as an MiM grad (though I realise this may not actually turn out to be the case due to my lack of experience).
I don't think BBA + MiM would disadvantage you in your future pursuit of an MBA. Schools understand that the economy isn't what it used to be, and that you may not have gotten your dream job out of college, and decided to further polish your skills with a graduate degree.
I do want to throw a word of caution, since you already have a BBA. I do not believe, MiM would have an advantage over BBA (especially a BBA from a good school) in the job market. The only reason I see of doing a MiM at LBS is that you want to work in consulting or banking in Europe and currently do not have a job offer from consulting or banking.
Although Anderson is a good business school, you will face an uphill battle in your internship and job search if you have no prior work experience (especially since you are international). Good stats is not enough when it comes to internship. You are competing against the best and the brightest from all of the country, not just Anderson. If you do not place into consulting and banking, it would be difficult to get into industry without prior work experience. Although age isn't an official issue, would you put a 22/23 year-old without work experience in charge of people much older and experienced? This isn't only true of Anderson, I bet Harvard and Stanford MBAs without work experience would be hard pressed to get a job in industry. Those more prestigious schools can accept students without work experience, because the admits stand better odds of placing into banking or consulting.
Just my two cents.