Is parttime MBA useless (not beneficial)?

[KMc]

Quite honestly, when it comes to hiring for "senior" and "manager" positions these days, it's all about competition, degree of fit and experience. The last position I filled had 3 candidates all with MBAs or graduate degrees. I was far more interested in their previous work experience and background than I was in whether they got their degree full time or part time. At some level, even the caliber of the program they attended pales in comparison to what they did with the knowledge they gained.

I tend to feel it's the universities and institutions themselves that significantly overinflate the importance of which particular school you went to. I've met more than my share of useless ivy league graduates out here in the real world. I'm not saying that i'd consider a degree from an online program to be at the same face value of a top 20 school, but if you took that degree and went and kicked some ass with it, or had some solid internships in the process, then I'd definitely give you a look regardless.

 

[sactoking]

Well, I know that when I graduate I will make a conscious effort to POINT OUT that I went to a part-time program. Why?

1. The school I go to doesn't HAVE a full-time program. UNR won't show up on the usual rankings. I have to point out that it's a part-time program so that I can also mention that it's the #17 ranked school in the nation in part-time programs (by Businessweek)

2. I work a 45 hour week and take a 'full-time' load, so I'm going to graduate early. Oh, and I commute as well. That just shows my ability to manage time and be effective.

 

[Finalnight]

Originally posted by: Babbles

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Originally posted by: Nightfall

Originally posted by: Finalnight
I checked a few FT programs in case anything had changed since I was in the application process:

NYU: no post-grad work exp req
Columbia: nada
Berkeley: nada
UCLA: nada
Michigan: nada
Yale: nada
Cornell: nada

Many of these specifically say they admit students w/o full time work experience.

When you say "requirement", that means "requirement", not really really should. You are the one who told me I was incorrect and said these "requirements" existed.

Anyway, I stick by my belief that full time mba's are generally not worth it if you have FT work experience unless its a top 5 school, especially in this economy.

It is a mistake to believe that.

An MBA adds onto that experience. Think of it this way. If you have 10 years experience, a Bachelors degree, and certifications in your field compared to someone with 10 years experience, an MBA, and certifications....its pretty clear who someone will hire. An MBA is not a requirement at all. Its just a proven fact that you will make more money with one in your lifetime than with a Bachelors degree.

You are right, some schools don't have a requirement for an MBA. Others do have a requirement. Just depends on the school and the program. To think that having work experience is better than having an MBA is incorrect. Heck, in this economy, you should be looking to augment your resume and if you can get an MBA, you will have a step above others.

You should reread the conversation between me and baubles, you took my reply out of context.

He argued that FT MBA programs are not primarily for people straight out of college and they required work experience. I argued that PT MBA programs are better and are for people with work experience. Find me one place where I wrote that an MBA isn't worth it. If you had read more carefully you would have seen where I mentioned I am a MBA STUDENT.

Let me cliff it for you:

FT MBA: Bad unless fresh out of college
PT MBA: Good

I feel that you are so incredibly wrong that it is not even worthwhile to debate this with you.

Good, take your ball and go home.

 

[Finalnight]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: Finalnight
Let me cliff it for you:

FT MBA: Bad unless fresh out of college
PT MBA: Good

So, going to Harvard or MIT would be bad for someone that's been an engineer for ten years and now wants to get a MBA and change career paths?

So sad you keep taking my comments out of context by only quoting a 1 sentence summarization, I repeatedly said FT is good for top 5. You must be a neo-con or something with the amount you manipulate others words.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: Finalnight
Let me cliff it for you:

FT MBA: Bad unless fresh out of college
PT MBA: Good

So, going to Harvard or MIT would be bad for someone that's been an engineer for ten years and now wants to get a MBA and change career paths?

So sad you keep taking my comments out of context by only quoting a 1 sentence summarization, I repeatedly said FT is good for top 5. You must be a neo-con or something with the amount you manipulate others words.

Well, I think you need to be a little more clear with your statement instead of throwing it on else as their fault. Its different if one person misinterprets, but apparently a lot of people are so its in your wording. Still, you clarified it and thats all that needs to be said.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: sactoking
Well, I know that when I graduate I will make a conscious effort to POINT OUT that I went to a part-time program. Why?

1. The school I go to doesn't HAVE a full-time program. UNR won't show up on the usual rankings. I have to point out that it's a part-time program so that I can also mention that it's the #17 ranked school in the nation in part-time programs (by Businessweek)

2. I work a 45 hour week and take a 'full-time' load, so I'm going to graduate early. Oh, and I commute as well. That just shows my ability to manage time and be effective.

You are better than I am. I don't know if it is the school I go to, but one class one night a week is enough for me with a full time job, family, and so on. I just can't fathom taking more than 1 class a semester. As a result, I will graduate in 3 years, but I am ok with that.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: Aimster
Whatever you do.. do not get your MBA from Strayer, University of Phoenix, Devry, etc .
Those schools all you do is open the door and sign up for classes. It's like taking community college courses.

Go to a real UNIVERSITY

I agree here. I would never consider University of Phoenix or some other perceived "Degree Mill" university accredited or not. There are a lot of quality B schools you can go to that are worth getting your degree at. Just because they aren't ivy league doesn't mean your MBA is worthless.

 

[rsd]

Hard to keep up with all the arguments and back and forth thoughts in this thread. I'm not sure why people are trying to apply a immutable rule to what is a good or useful way to do an MBA.

Obviously like most things it depends. I just finished a part-time program from a Top 30 (maybe its Tier 2) now school. The part-time program was essentially the same as full-time minus a few requirements. But the core classes were the same, and many of the evening classes had a mix of full-time (2-year), full-time (1-year), and Evening students. Like many said, often time the benefit is the networking aspect. In terms of class discussion I really think it is beneficial to have a variety of people with work experience to add to it.

That said if someone can get into a Top 5 or 10 school, I can definitely see the argument for it even if it doesn't always make financial sense. For better or worse, the NAME does or can mean something, whether it be in terms of differentiating yourself from others or in terms of networking. For me, I suppose I could have tried (I had a good GMAT score on my first try without too much studying), but my work reimbursed the majority of my MBA (which was >$60k but that's a rant for another day).

And ultimately as LegendKiller has said, there are a lot of nitwits who went to top MBA programs that I wouldn't want to hire. Often the phrase "separating the wheat from the chaff" is applicable. I have met plenty of people from Harvard/Sloan/Tepper, and frankly I wouldn't say they were anymore qualified or intelligent that many of my former classmates.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Huh...when I look at resumes where people juggle part-time commitments and full-time commitments together (school/job, job/school, job/job), I'm usually more impressed, not less.

 

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Huh...when I look at resumes where people juggle part-time commitments and full-time commitments together (school/job, job/school, job/job), I'm usually more impressed, not less.

So am I. I used to do IT hiring and seeing things like this really showed me that they were good with time management. Still, that kind of thing is up to the hiring manager and the person who is doing the interviewing. I would say that most people just don't give a darn about that kind of thing. Either you have the MBA or you don't have it.