Is parttime MBA useless (not beneficial)?

[Semidevil]

I read a couple of articles from various news magazines that in terms of mba's, prospective employers view mba's in the following rank.

1. Full time mba
2. Executive mba
3. part time mba
4. online mba.


I understand why online mba's are not respected(due to accreditation issues, just the fact that you dont get the experience of a classroom environment to hone your leadership and teamwork skills, etc etc).

Why is part time mba not as 'respected' as a full time mba? I understand that the classroom setting is only 1 to 2x per week, but the hours are longer, and it takes probably another year of schooling. Also, the coursework is the same.

First of all, do you agree that Full time mba's are held in higher regard then all the other types of mbas from an employer's persepective?

If so, if someone is pursuing an MBA with the purpose of a career change, would they be better off quitting their job and just go full time?

 

[Imported]

If a school offers a full-time MBA program and a part-time MBA program.. how would whoever is looking at your resume know the difference?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Note, some schools only offer full-time programs. With schools that offer both, no difference to an employer. The majority of schools with part-time programs have the same professors teaching the night classes and you'll find as you go beyond the beginning classes you'll find more and more day students in your classes.

 

[sjwaste]

There used to be the same stigma with part time law school. Eventually, things turned around, mostly because the degree and the requirements were the same, and employers realized that you managed to do it with a full time career going at the same time.

I graduate this year, and while I didn't go the big firm route during my 3E summer, the looks I'm getting now are all because I'm getting good grades while working as a consultant at one of the better mgmt consulting firms.

Maybe the degree just hasn't had time to mature. That, or, are part time programs only offered by schools out of the top tier? I can't imagine if HBS offered a part time degree, that it would be viewed any less than their full time.

EDIT: I should disclose, I'm not at a top law program. I'm at a solid Tier 2 with a strong reputation within certain practice areas in the region. Even in this circumstance, the evening degree (which I disclose on my resume to explain the concurrent employment) hasn't been a problem.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
There used to be the same stigma with part time law school. Eventually, things turned around, mostly because the degree and the requirements were the same, and employers realized that you managed to do it with a full time career going at the same time.

I graduate this year, and while I didn't go the big firm route during my 3E summer, the looks I'm getting now are all because I'm getting good grades while working as a consultant at one of the better mgmt consulting firms.

Maybe the degree just hasn't had time to mature. That, or, are part time programs only offered by schools out of the top tier? I can't imagine if HBS offered a part time degree, that it would be viewed any less than their full time.

Yeah, it almost looks better if you got your MBA while working a full time career.

 

[Finalnight]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: sjwaste
There used to be the same stigma with part time law school. Eventually, things turned around, mostly because the degree and the requirements were the same, and employers realized that you managed to do it with a full time career going at the same time.

I graduate this year, and while I didn't go the big firm route during my 3E summer, the looks I'm getting now are all because I'm getting good grades while working as a consultant at one of the better mgmt consulting firms.

Maybe the degree just hasn't had time to mature. That, or, are part time programs only offered by schools out of the top tier? I can't imagine if HBS offered a part time degree, that it would be viewed any less than their full time.

Yeah, it looks better if you got your MBA while working a full time career.

Fixed. Unless its like a top 5 mba program, part time is always for professionals, full time is for kids to simulate work experience straight out of college.

Rankings from everyone and anyone who knows something about MBA's is (outside of maybe top 5 once again):

1. Part Time
2. Full Time
3. Online-only

Do not rank executive in here, it is a whole other animal that in most programs would have nothing to do with 99% of the people on this board.

 

[Mo0o]

Do you get accepted into B school then choose whether you want the partime or full time route? I dont have much knowledge about this but I always thought top20 bschools didnt offer part time programs. Honestly after that it's basically all the same from what my business friend tells me.

 

[JMapleton]

MBA is worthless unless it's from a top 25 school and it's full time.

 

[Special K]

Also keep in mind the opportunity cost if you decide to go the full-time route. You expect the MBA to help boost your salary, but don't forget to account for the 2 years of lost earnings, 401k matches, bonuses, etc. you had to give up in order to obtain the MBA.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
MBA is worthless unless it's from a top 25 school and it's full time.

That's what I hear as well.

 

[Finalnight]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
MBA is worthless unless it's from a top 25 school and it's full time.

My undergrad had a top 20 MBA program and its starting salaries were equal or higher in the part time prgoram.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: JMapleton
MBA is worthless unless it's from a top 25 school and it's full time.

That's what I hear as well.

You heard wrong.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Do not rank executive in here, it is a whole other animal that in most programs would have nothing to do with 99% of the people on this board.

I'd say a higher % then that

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
MBA is worthless unless it's from a top 25 school and it's full time.

Uh, wrong. That's fucking retarded. You are an idiot.

 

[Finalnight]

Lots of MBA misinformation in this thread.

Couple of big part time MBA programs:

Kellogg (if you haven't heard of this, go back to studying your freshmen econ homework)
Chicago
NYU
UCLA
USC
Michigan

 

[Babbles]

I am in the process of studying for the GMAT and applying to full-time MBA programs, and from the research I have done thus far I would say most of the information in this thread is massively incorrect. Again, I have not gone thru business school so I want that to be clear, however my findings are totally different than the vast amount of postings here.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: JMapleton
MBA is worthless unless it's from a top 25 school and it's full time.

Uh, wrong. That's fucking retarded. You are an idiot.

Yea, there are just some people out there that just ignorant. I am a part time MBA student that has a full time job, wife, and other responsibilities. I am taking one class a semester and will graduate in about 3 years. Its not easy, but then again I didn't expect it to be easy.

Am I going to a top 25 school? Hell no. I am going to an accredited local college in the area which is good enough for me. An MBA from there is going to help me just as much as getting it from another school that isn't a top 25. Why? Because its from an accredited college. Sure, University of Phoenix is viewed as a lesser school, and I wouldn't go there to be honest. There are a lot of other schools out there that provide good MBA degree programs with some classes online. Grand Valley State, Western Michigan, and Davenport University are all in my backyard and have online and in class part time options for working adults. I am going to Davenport.

There is one thing about going to a top 25 school and getting your MBA and that is you will get a good salary upon graduation. With one of the thousands of other schools that isn't ivy league? You will make good money but not like you would getting your MBA from Harvard or Yale. Course, you will pay through the nose to go to those schools.

One other thing, if I go to an accredited college and get my MBA part time, no one knows the difference. My MBA is an MBA. It doesn't say "part time" on it. It doesn't say "online" on it unless you go to an online only school and the employer knows about the school in question. So I don't think thats even relevant.

 

[Finalnight]

Originally posted by: Babbles
I am in the process of studying for the GMAT and applying to full-time MBA programs, and from the research I have done thus far I would say most of the information in this thread is massively incorrect. Again, I have not gone thru business school so I want that to be clear, however my findings are totally different than the vast amount of postings here.

I have taken the GMAT, am in a JD/MBA program, and have interviewed with numerous part time and full time MBA programs and have many former colleagues and friends who have MBA's.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Originally posted by: Babbles
I am in the process of studying for the GMAT and applying to full-time MBA programs, and from the research I have done thus far I would say most of the information in this thread is massively incorrect. Again, I have not gone thru business school so I want that to be clear, however my findings are totally different than the vast amount of postings here.

I have taken the GMAT, am in a JD/MBA program, and have interviewed with numerous part time and full time MBA programs and have many former colleagues and friends who have MBA's.

The GMAT was a tough test when I took it. I scored a 700 on it the second time I took it and was pretty excited. That was after 3 months of studying. I could have went to a Michigan or Michigan State, but I opted to go somewhere local because I didn't want to drive an hour just to go to class in the winter. The first time I took the GMAT I didn't do as well. The right study materials make all the difference.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Yea, there are just some people out there that just ignorant. I am a part time MBA student that has a full time job, wife, and other responsibilities. I am taking one class a semester and will graduate in about 3 years. Its not easy, but then again I didn't expect it to be easy.

Am I going to a top 25 school? Hell no. I am going to an accredited local college in the area which is good enough for me. An MBA from there is going to help me just as much as getting it from another school that isn't a top 25. Why? Because its from an accredited college. Sure, University of Phoenix is viewed as a lesser school, and I wouldn't go there to be honest. There are a lot of other schools out there that provide good MBA degree programs with some classes online. Grand Valley State, Western Michigan, and Davenport University are all in my backyard and have online and in class part time options for working adults. I am going to Davenport.

There is one thing about going to a top 25 school and getting your MBA and that is you will get a good salary upon graduation. With one of the thousands of other schools that isn't ivy league? You will make good money but not like you would getting your MBA from Harvard or Yale. Course, you will pay through the nose to go to those schools.

One other thing, if I go to an accredited college and get my MBA part time, no one knows the difference. My MBA is an MBA. It doesn't say "part time" on it. It doesn't say "online" on it unless you go to an online only school and the employer knows about the school in question. So I don't think thats even relevant.

My brother-in-law applied at a few places for different management jobs. 3-4 all told him that he was way overqualified but didn't have his MBA so couldn't get hired. Where from didn't matter at all.

 

[Finalnight]

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Originally posted by: Babbles
I am in the process of studying for the GMAT and applying to full-time MBA programs, and from the research I have done thus far I would say most of the information in this thread is massively incorrect. Again, I have not gone thru business school so I want that to be clear, however my findings are totally different than the vast amount of postings here.

I have taken the GMAT, am in a JD/MBA program, and have interviewed with numerous part time and full time MBA programs and have many former colleagues and friends who have MBA's.

The GMAT was a tough test when I took it. I scored a 700 on it and was pretty excited. That was after 3 months of studying. I could have went to a Michigan or Michigan State, but I opted to go somewhere local because I didn't want to drive an hour just to go to class in the winter.

It can be pretty tricky as it is quite different from SAT/ACT. However, I am glad I took it before the LSAT as that proved similar but MUCH harder.

 

[Imdmn04]

Part time will earn you more connections. There are lots of reputable MBA programs that offer both, it is not like your diploma will say "Part Time MBA", there is no way employers will be able to tell. Reputation of the program is much important than the full time/part time factor.

On a part time or evening program, you are networking with professionals on a management track that is currently employed, versus kids that just graduated undergrad or people that are unemployed. Networking while getting an MBA is almost as important as the degree itself.

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Originally posted by: Babbles
I am in the process of studying for the GMAT and applying to full-time MBA programs, and from the research I have done thus far I would say most of the information in this thread is massively incorrect. Again, I have not gone thru business school so I want that to be clear, however my findings are totally different than the vast amount of postings here.

I have taken the GMAT, am in a JD/MBA program, and have interviewed with numerous part time and full time MBA programs and have many former colleagues and friends who have MBA's.

That's nice. I have been working professionally for ten years now. In the course of my career I have meet a few people with MBAs. As such in my professional work experience, I think some of the information in this thread is not entirely accurate. To be fair, though, my experiences could be ancedotal.

Originally posted by: Finalnight


Fixed. Unless its like a top 5 mba program, part time is always for professionals, full time is for kids to simulate work experience straight out of college.

I think that is somewhat incorrect. to say. Many of the 'good' full time programs have a requirement of work experience and as such are not intended for kids out of college.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Yea, there are just some people out there that just ignorant. I am a part time MBA student that has a full time job, wife, and other responsibilities. I am taking one class a semester and will graduate in about 3 years. Its not easy, but then again I didn't expect it to be easy.

Am I going to a top 25 school? Hell no. I am going to an accredited local college in the area which is good enough for me. An MBA from there is going to help me just as much as getting it from another school that isn't a top 25. Why? Because its from an accredited college. Sure, University of Phoenix is viewed as a lesser school, and I wouldn't go there to be honest. There are a lot of other schools out there that provide good MBA degree programs with some classes online. Grand Valley State, Western Michigan, and Davenport University are all in my backyard and have online and in class part time options for working adults. I am going to Davenport.

There is one thing about going to a top 25 school and getting your MBA and that is you will get a good salary upon graduation. With one of the thousands of other schools that isn't ivy league? You will make good money but not like you would getting your MBA from Harvard or Yale. Course, you will pay through the nose to go to those schools.

One other thing, if I go to an accredited college and get my MBA part time, no one knows the difference. My MBA is an MBA. It doesn't say "part time" on it. It doesn't say "online" on it unless you go to an online only school and the employer knows about the school in question. So I don't think thats even relevant.

My brother-in-law applied at a few places for different management jobs. 3-4 all told him that he was way overqualified but didn't have his MBA so couldn't get hired. Where from didn't matter at all.

IMHO, and MBA is best if you have experience to go with it. Sure, there are students who just study for their MBA right after they get their undergrad degree. Sure, they succeed. The working professionals who have 10 years of experience and get their MBA later in life really have good things happen to them. They can make a move into management. Some people use the MBA as a springboard into a new field. Some people use it to augment their resume. If you have an MBA and the next candidate has a B.A., and all other things equal, the guy with the MBA will get the job 99% of the time.

I am getting my MBA for a couple reasons.

1. To augment my resume. I want to be able to go into management down the road or be able to take another job if something happens in IT. I am a good network admin with some good certifications, but nothing beats having a little more education to back up your experience with.

2. To be able to teach down the road. Sure, I can't teach at a top 25 school, but I can at a Junior college level and some private universities. When I hit 60, teaching is what I see myself doing and I can't do it with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Do you get accepted into B school then choose whether you want the partime or full time route? I dont have much knowledge about this but I always thought top20 bschools didnt offer part time programs. Honestly after that it's basically all the same from what my business friend tells me.

No, you apply for either a school's full-time or part-time program. The application/interview process is a little different. However, I have seen students switch to the other.

And school's vary quite a bit. MBA programs are not all the same. Most folks only look at the overall MBA rankings but MBA programs are also ranked by specialties (Finance, Entrepreneurial Studies, Strategic Mgmt, etc). Some companies also recruit based on these specialties.