3 ms·

MBAs are different from engineering degrees in that while a MBA from a top school is super valuable, a MBA from a so-so school is, as far as I can tell, worth v

by lsc 9y ago

MBAs are different from engineering degrees in that while a MBA from a top school is super valuable, a MBA from a so-so school is, as far as I can tell, worth very little. Keep in mind that one-year MBAs from disreputable schools are often advertised to working people. I mean, you do learn things; my understanding is that it's sort of a 'survey degree' that gives you a shallow treatment of a lot of different business disciplines. If they would have let me take the MBA without an undergrad, even at a so-so school, I would have done it a few years into my own adventure running a business, and I think it would have helped me. If you have management experience and skills, a MBA even from a not so great school can help. But I think the difference between a MBA from a meh school and a MBA from a top school is overall far greater than the difference between an engineering degree at a meh school and an engineering degree at a top school.

gaius 9y ago
The entire point of the MBA is the networking opportunities and joining the alumni club. The content can be got for a fraction of the cost, or even free. The success of the top MBAs is therefore self-perpetuating. And there is literally no point in doing one outside of the top maybe 20 schools, because there is no one there or in the alumni network who can give you a foothold.
- lsc 9y ago
  I think you are being too absolute. There is some value to the content, even though I totally agree that the contacts are dramatically more valuable than the content if you go to a good school. Personally, I find that finding management and business content on my own is actually harder than finding Engineering content on my own; management and business training is full of tony robins style confidence men, and it's difficult, for me at least, to sort out what is actually worthwhile. For that matter, just an overview of what sort of professional to hire in what situation would be nice. (For instance, if you are just looking for tax help and don't plan on selling the company, an 'Enrolled Agent' is actually better than a 'CPA' though the two certifications are of similar difficulty; the EA focuses on dealing with the IRS, while the CPA has more of a focus on the accounting you would need if you are selling your company or something.)

by lsc 9y ago

gaius 9y ago

The entire point of the MBA is the networking opportunities and joining the alumni club. The content can be got for a fraction of the cost, or even free. The success of the top MBAs is therefore self-perpetuating. And there is literally no point in doing one outside of the top maybe 20 schools, because there is no one there or in the alumni network who can give you a foothold.

lsc 9y ago
I think you are being too absolute. There is some value to the content, even though I totally agree that the contacts are dramatically more valuable than the content if you go to a good school. Personally, I find that finding management and business content on my own is actually harder than finding Engineering content on my own; management and business training is full of tony robins style confidence men, and it's difficult, for me at least, to sort out what is actually worthwhile. For that matter, just an overview of what sort of professional to hire in what situation would be nice. (For instance, if you are just looking for tax help and don't plan on selling the company, an 'Enrolled Agent' is actually better than a 'CPA' though the two certifications are of similar difficulty; the EA focuses on dealing with the IRS, while the CPA has more of a focus on the accounting you would need if you are selling your company or something.)