r/OnlineMBA

Hey everyone! I've been doing my MBA for around two months, and I'm still confused about which specialization to choose.

I don't want to pick one just because it pays well or is popular. I want to understand what the actual work life, salary growth, stress levels, and career opportunities look like in different fields.

I'd love to hear from people who've already been through this!

• How did you choose your specialization? Interest, salary, placements, or something else?
• Are you happy with your choice, or do you regret it? Why?
• What does your day-to-day work actually look like, and how has your career grown?
• If you could go back and choose again, would you pick the same specialization?
• Any websites, tests, or practical ways to figure out which specialization suits me?

I'm looking for honest experiences, not just advice on which field pays the most. If you could share one thing you wish you'd known before choosing your specialization, what would it be?

Thanks! Your experiences could genuinely help me and other MBA students facing the same confusion.

I'm planning to start my MBA and want to make the most of the experience beyond just academics, grades, and placements.

For those who are currently pursuing an MBA or have already graduated, what soft skills would you recommend developing during business school?

I'm particularly interested in skills that actually make a difference in the workplace and help with long-term career growth, such as communication, networking, leadership, negotiation, public speaking, or decision-making.

Trying to decided if an MBA is worth it for me. It would be a part-time, online MBA that would be about 70-90% covered by my employer depending on the program. It’s a mid-tier university not a big brand name, but a solid university.

My background is in clinical operations management and healthcare technology startups. I have about 7 YOE. I am a Senior Director at a very large health system. My role and my career are strategy, finance, and operations focused within healthcare/digital health. I have an MHA and a public health undergrad both from no name schools.

Would an MBA as I’ve described be beneficial in my progress towards VP/C-suite at health systems/digital health companies? Or should I be considering different degree options? I wouldn’t be using it as a career pivot, but it would be to sharpen my knowledge in finance, strategy, and innovation, while also adding a more well known university to my resume.

1. Georgia Southwestern State 
2. Pittsburg State 
3. USC Aiken 
4. USI 
5. LSU Shreveport

 

They're not in any specific order of preference. I need help eliminating but I'm running out of criteria, or maybe there's something you might want to share with me that could help me eliminate more?

A little bit about me, I work in health care on the clinical side. Hospital is willing to pay for MBA as a check the box thing to eventually transition to an admin job.