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22 Jan 2022, 10:30
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This is not the typical choice on this forum.
For background, I am 30 and on the east coast working in a finance role that pays well above average post-MBA comp. MBA is not a requirement for advancement at my current firm, and not having one likely wouldn’t preclude me from getting jobs at competitors should I choose to leave. My goal is to stay at my current firm for a while with the possibility that I may try to jump ship down the road at a more senior level. I decided that the opportunity cost of an FT MBA wasn’t worth it based on these factors, but I have always wanted to get my MBA and figure it won’t hurt down the road to have it.
I’m down to 2 very different programs, and welcome thoughts. I’ve been leaning towards Michigan but can’t help but think passing on the Wharton brand is a mistake. Both are great schools, and I like both programs. I’ve outlined my pros/cons below.
Wharton EMBA
Pros:
- The brand and network
- Higher caliber classmates
- Every other weekend in person likely leads to more meaningful relationships
- 24-month program with a cohort
Cons:
- $210,000 cost
- Have to travel every other weekend for two years. I’m married, and we typically travel somewhere on the weekends at least once or twice a month.
- Missing every other Friday at work
Michigan OMBA
Pros:
- I like the program set up with live classes and residencies, not prerecorded lectures like some OMBAs.
- More flexibility given program can be done from anywhere, which is nice because I travel a bit.
- Only a handful of days out of work during the program.
- Culture: I think of myself as more of a Michigan alum than a Wharton alum. I don’t come from money, my parents didn’t go to college and I resonate more with the good public school culture.
- Only $125,000. $85,000 less than Wharton.
Cons:
- Stigma surrounding online MBAs.
- While large live component, will be harder to build meaningful relationships with classmates.
- While a top 15 school, Michigan brand is not Wharton, particularly in finance.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Posted from my mobile device
For background, I am 30 and on the east coast working in a finance role that pays well above average post-MBA comp. MBA is not a requirement for advancement at my current firm, and not having one likely wouldn’t preclude me from getting jobs at competitors should I choose to leave. My goal is to stay at my current firm for a while with the possibility that I may try to jump ship down the road at a more senior level. I decided that the opportunity cost of an FT MBA wasn’t worth it based on these factors, but I have always wanted to get my MBA and figure it won’t hurt down the road to have it.
I’m down to 2 very different programs, and welcome thoughts. I’ve been leaning towards Michigan but can’t help but think passing on the Wharton brand is a mistake. Both are great schools, and I like both programs. I’ve outlined my pros/cons below.
Wharton EMBA
Pros:
- The brand and network
- Higher caliber classmates
- Every other weekend in person likely leads to more meaningful relationships
- 24-month program with a cohort
Cons:
- $210,000 cost
- Have to travel every other weekend for two years. I’m married, and we typically travel somewhere on the weekends at least once or twice a month.
- Missing every other Friday at work
Michigan OMBA
Pros:
- I like the program set up with live classes and residencies, not prerecorded lectures like some OMBAs.
- More flexibility given program can be done from anywhere, which is nice because I travel a bit.
- Only a handful of days out of work during the program.
- Culture: I think of myself as more of a Michigan alum than a Wharton alum. I don’t come from money, my parents didn’t go to college and I resonate more with the good public school culture.
- Only $125,000. $85,000 less than Wharton.
Cons:
- Stigma surrounding online MBAs.
- While large live component, will be harder to build meaningful relationships with classmates.
- While a top 15 school, Michigan brand is not Wharton, particularly in finance.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Posted from my mobile device
yashikaaggarwal
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22 Jan 2022, 13:01
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22 Jan 2022, 13:11
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EmbaVsOMBA:
Tough call, and you're right to acknowledge they're two very different choices.
At the end of the day, I believe the Wharton EMBA is the way to go. The brand and network will open up way more doors than your alternative. As an MBA myself, I cannot underscore how truly valuable those are in the grand scheme of things. All the sacrifices (cost, time, etc.) in the short-term are outweighed by the competitive you gain in the long run.
For example, you want to start a business or get an interview at a company, you might just know someone who is there or be picked over someone else because of the Wharton name. Does it really matter that you missed work at a job at you're not long employed or that you had to be on a plane every other week?
The cost issue is considerable and I can't speak to your current financial situation or your earning potential. That's more personal in nature and I fully understand if that ends up being a deciding factor.
Congrats on having both opportunities - you really can't go wrong with either.
Best of luck,
Admissionado
Tough call, and you're right to acknowledge they're two very different choices.
At the end of the day, I believe the Wharton EMBA is the way to go. The brand and network will open up way more doors than your alternative. As an MBA myself, I cannot underscore how truly valuable those are in the grand scheme of things. All the sacrifices (cost, time, etc.) in the short-term are outweighed by the competitive you gain in the long run.
For example, you want to start a business or get an interview at a company, you might just know someone who is there or be picked over someone else because of the Wharton name. Does it really matter that you missed work at a job at you're not long employed or that you had to be on a plane every other week?
The cost issue is considerable and I can't speak to your current financial situation or your earning potential. That's more personal in nature and I fully understand if that ends up being a deciding factor.
Congrats on having both opportunities - you really can't go wrong with either.
Best of luck,
Admissionado
)
