“Should I do an MBA?”
Can we level set on what an MBA actually is, at a fundamental level? Networking + Core Classes + Electives + an Internship
The core classes are very similar. They are basically 1.2x the core classes in a business undergrad. They go a little farther. Stats goes to multiple linear regression. Corp Fin goes to a DCF. Accounting is basically just managerial accounting, marketing is some conjoint analysis, etc. all geared toward public companies. I went to a T20. Not sure how crazy everyone else got but the curricula seems to be pretty similar.
Then you get into electives. 1 year MBAs are light on electives. Electives are great for broadening your horizons or going deep into a subject. The higher ranked the MBA, the better and broader the electives. HBS has 900 students…they have a lot of electives with a higher density of world class professors.
Internships: I wish I’d understood how regional networking was. It’s easier to network with companies geographically closer to you. Of course HSW places internationally, but you’re going to see more companies down the street, logically.
So if you want to work at a non profit…most of this shit isn’t going to apply to you. You have to ask yourself if the opportunity cost is worth it. If you want to work at a small company, you have to ask yourself if going to HSW is worth $300k. Same with acquiring an HVAC company. But if you want to go into IB, you definitely need to aim high. Going to the best school or getting a masters isn’t always the best option. Probably obvious but I see a lot of these posts.
I guess this is an AMA. I run a small PE backed company and came from a non traditional background. Did tech and IB post MBA.