What age is ideal for an MBA?

[Passions]

I'm 25, worked for only a year now out of college. I've been told I'm still too young for an MBA.

Plus, the fact that I look like 21 doesn't help much either. Should I wait a few years so that I am more mature for it? Every site that I goto has people going for their MBA's looking like they are in their 30's!!!

 

[maziwanka]

you're going to need more experience to get into a good mba program.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Originally posted by: Passions
I'm 25, worked for only a year now out of college. I've been told I'm still too young for an MBA.

Plus, the fact that I look like 21 doesn't help much either. Should I wait a few years so that I am more mature for it? Every site that I goto has people going for their MBA's looking like they are in their 30's!!!

Depends on the type of school you want to go to... Top Tier?

 

[axelfox]

at least 2 years good experience, no matter what age.

 

[Albis]

at michigan, WSJ #1 MBA program, the avg experience was around 6 years so around 28 or 29 and you should be in the ballpark on experience

 

[blazerazor]

If you have the opportunity.. Take It!!!
Later on you may have things like kids to take away your time.

 

[acemcmac]

I didn't know it age was a determining factor in educational admissions. It had better damn not be.... at least...

 

[Stunt]

If you want to go to a good school and you want your company to pay some, 30 is a good age as they can guage your sucesses and see your potential.

If you just want an MBA i know a few decent schools in my province that will take people right out of a bachelors. I'll be 22 for a week when i graduate my 4 year program in engineering. only 3 more months!

So i'd have more work experience by the time im your age.

 

[Svnla]

I had my MBA degree when I was 29. It depends on your maturity and work ethic. I worked full time and went to school part time afterwork for several years for the MBA.

If your company is paying for it and you are ready and eligible, then go for it.

 

[sygyzy]

I think it's a joke when people fresh out of college go get an MBA. What exactly do you know about business, life, interactions, etc? It's rediculous. 7 years experience!!!

 

[FlyLice]

28

 

[ManSnake]

Originally posted by: Passions
I'm 25, worked for only a year now out of college. I've been told I'm still too young for an MBA.

Plus, the fact that I look like 21 doesn't help much either. Should I wait a few years so that I am more mature for it? Every site that I goto has people going for their MBA's looking like they are in their 30's!!!

MBA is only worth getting if you go to a reputable school (Top Tier). Some of the top tier schools are: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton (Penn), Chicago, Kellogg (Northwestern). You hear stories of freshly minted MBAs getting offers of 120k base and 20k sign on bonus, 99 out of 100 times, they are MBAs from a top tier school.

Most people go to fulltime MBA programs hoping for a career change. People that go to a top tier usually score 700+ out of 800 on their GMAT, have ugrad GPA of 3.7, community involvement and a couple of really good recommendation letters or have a famous last name like Trump or Bush. Average age for the applicants are ~27 with 4+ years of real world fulltime work experience. After they get out, most commonly, they find positions in Investment Banking (e.g. Goldman Sachs), Management Consulting (e.g. Mckinsey), Accounting (e.g. PWC), real estate, nonprofit, Fortune 500 as strategists or middle management, or become business owners.

So ~27 with 4+ years of experience.

 

[OffTopic1]

There are 2 type of schools around here. One will let you enter an MBA program directly after you finish your BBA in the same school. The other require any undergrad +6 years of experience before you can enter an MBA program.

 

[Albis]

i don't see a point in getting an MBA if it is not from a top tier school and using it to further your career. if you just start out at the firm, getting an MBA won't move you up quickly. but if you are a manager and would like a nice boost or opportunity for a higher position, you might need the MBA

 

[mitchafi]

So as a senior in HS who is thinking about going into business, let me get this straight. If I were to major in business in college, I would have to work a few (or several) years after college before getting an MBA at a good school? I admit that I am young and know practically nothing about the real world, but I was always under the impression that an MBA was sort of like a doctorate...it just requires more years at a university/grad school. Also, what exactly are the benefits of having an MBA, besides better pay. A friend of mine in the UF business program (I'm considering going there) was telling me that although the business program has a decent reputation, not many recruiters come to the campus and therefore it is difficult to get into a good graduate school. I also have interest in political science, so maybe I could do that instead

 

[Albis]

i go to school at michigan and we're ranked #3 for undergrad business and it's not hard to get interviews and full time offers. i really feel it's how motivated you are in trying to do well. i plan to do my MBA in the future but that won't be for 6-8 yrs from now. I'll be doing my masters in accounting next yr so i can take the CPA examination.

just try hard to get the interview and everything is gravy from there

 

[sygyzy]

mitchafi - Nobody is saying it could not be done but it would be very unwise. Like another poster said, the AVERAGE experience of a new class of MBA students is 6 years. I actually read 7. It is unlike a doctorate in that you shouldn't really just go straight into it. Also, doctors need to do internships too so it's like forced experience.

 

[Passions]

Oh snaps......alright must wait a few years then.

 

[UTmtnbiker]

I started last year at the ripe old age of 31. I've had roughly 7 to 8 years of experience in the workforce. The youngest person in my program is probably 28.

 

[Legendary]

18-25, red hair, 36-24-
Oh wait...didn't read the OP

 

[Qwest]

MBA isnt for everyone. dont want to get flamed...but the CFA is a good alternative as well.

 

[Passions]

Originally posted by: binoculaz
MBA isnt for everyone. dont want to get flamed...but the CFA is a good alternative as well.

What do you mean by MBA isn't for everyone? Is MBA just for management types?

 

[ATLien247]

A few of you said that an MBA is useless unless it's from a highly regarded school. I'm interested to know what you're basing your claim on. Do you know people who have gotten MBAs from not so highly regarded schools, and who haven't been able to get better jobs/pay?

 

[FlyLice]

Originally posted by: ManSnake

Originally posted by: Passions
I'm 25, worked for only a year now out of college. I've been told I'm still too young for an MBA.

Plus, the fact that I look like 21 doesn't help much either. Should I wait a few years so that I am more mature for it? Every site that I goto has people going for their MBA's looking like they are in their 30's!!!

MBA is only worth getting if you go to a reputable school (Top Tier). Some of the top tier schools are: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton (Penn), Chicago, Kellogg (Northwestern). You hear stories of freshly minted MBAs getting offers of 120k base and 20k sign on bonus, 99 out of 100 times, they are MBAs from a top tier school.

Most people go to fulltime MBA programs hoping for a career change. People that go to a top tier usually score 700+ out of 800 on their GMAT, have ugrad GPA of 3.7, community involvement and a couple of really good recommendation letters or have a famous last name like Trump or Bush. Average age for the applicants are ~27 with 4+ years of real world fulltime work experience. After they get out, most commonly, they find positions in Investment Banking (e.g. Goldman Sachs), Management Consulting (e.g. Mckinsey), Accounting (e.g. PWC), real estate, nonprofit, Fortune 500 as strategists or middle management, or become business owners.

So ~27 with 4+ years of experience.

Mckinsey = McPwn

 

[FlyLice]

Originally posted by: mitchafi
So as a senior in HS who is thinking about going into business, let me get this straight. If I were to major in business in college, I would have to work a few (or several) years after college before getting an MBA at a good school? I admit that I am young and know practically nothing about the real world, but I was always under the impression that an MBA was sort of like a doctorate...it just requires more years at a university/grad school. Also, what exactly are the benefits of having an MBA, besides better pay. A friend of mine in the UF business program (I'm considering going there) was telling me that although the business program has a decent reputation, not many recruiters come to the campus and therefore it is difficult to get into a good graduate school. I also have interest in political science, so maybe I could do that instead

MBA at a no name univ is not worth the parchment the degree is printed on. Wasn't there a thread here about a guy getting an MBA in some Florida state college and offered $30k for a job?

Also, if you wish to be employed out of college, don't do poly sci.

Benefits of MBA (at top tier school): meet very talented people who have the ability to start/run multi-million dollar companies whom you will network with and play golf; learn a crap load from professors who have very valuable real life experience. Resume with top 10 bschool = pwn, get any job on earth (less technical i.e. medicine etc.)