UNC Graduate Certificate vs MBA

I don't know all the ins and outs of military educational spending, but my guess is you'd be far better served trying to get into a full-time MBA program when you get out - ideally top 20. I am assuming that you enlisted soon after high school and got your bachelors, so you're around 27-28. Even if you had to do 3 more years you wouldn't be too old for a full time MBA program and could really get the most lucrative position for the long term out of it. If cost is a concern, I think military members get in state tuition at most schools, some of these are at a substantial discount (UNC and UT McCombs come to mind). Most employers you probably want to work at will not see much value in a Western Kentucky or any other not highly regarded MBA program. Shoot for top 20 and if not that 30 and take a serious hard look at the employment reports each school produces for salary and employer info

Thanks for sharing. I apologize - i mistook you for a College Senior, so ignore my previous post and advice. Appreciate your service and trade offs you had to make.

There are quite a few discussions about military applicants - BSchools seek them and appreciate them. You should peruse this discussion when you have a minute: https://gmatclub.com/forum/calling-all- ... 17779.html (there are many more from previous years that go into the nuances of financing, waivers, etc). There are also benefits available in terms of waived application fees, GMAT waiver, etc https://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-club-mi ... 52489.html

In terms of value of an MBA, any MBA has a value and helps you with transitioning to civilian life. However, that value is very different from a low-ranked program. On one hand your class-mates will be not highly motivated individuals (kind of like having people out of shape taking a gym class with you), your professors will be sometimes less than inspiring (kind of like a bad gym instructor), and finally, the employment options delivered by the program will be much better with a higher-ranked program. You will be challenged more, motivated more, and finally more proud being a part of a more select group rather than a savvy student of a lowest-cost MBA program. Again, if you are a natural leader, you make your own path, and you excel at self-motivation, you will do amazing anywhere, even if you get a degree from one of those online programs. Nothing will stop you. However, if you are more like the rest of us, and need help here and there, and sometimes need a lot of help, shooting for what your potential is instead of how much it costs, may be an approach to consider.


Another idea would be to look at what kind of Jobs you can get (dry run apply perhaps) now with just your BA (without any kind of an MBA).
Then compare to what kind of jobs you can get if you have had an MBA (if you want to experiment and have time on your hands, you can even create a fake account on one of the employment sites and put that you have an MBA from a school you are seeing and see what nibbles you get). Sometimes you can accomplish the same thing without getting an MBA.

No worries. I probably would have come to the same conclusion based on my limited information. I appreciate all of the advice. Basically, I've spent almost nine years with access to free college without using it. Three months ago I decided to enroll at Excelsior College and basically clep'ed an entire bachelor's degree in three months. I figured any degree is better than no degree. I work as a recruiter now and I have prior service guys come into my office trying to get back in. Seeing what kind of jobs they had when they got out with no college degree kind of gave me a wake-up call. The way I see it now, there's no reason not to be going to school. It's free and I know for the next three years I have a paycheck coming in. I think I'll apply to UNC and see what happens. I like the fact that it's highly ranked, doesn't require a GMAT, and I can start out with a certificate to kind of test the waters.

Thank you for your service. There is lots of scholarship money at top schools for military and I think you can put these benefits to use at a higher ranked programs. Even if free the MBA program at WKU won't do much for your career.

You should also check out their online MAC Program - it's cheaper than an MBA but also can be completed in 12-36 months!

https://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/progra ... .aspx#brad