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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

MBA, anyone's husbands/ partners done one?

19 replies

warmsummersday · 05/03/2008 13:38

Hi.

My husband has applied to do a full time MBA in september, he has an interview on monday. He will take a year off work to do this. He currently works in Germany mon- fri and we have 2 small children.

Can anyone give me some advice of what to expect please? It seems like he will be doing alot of travelling as looked through the yearbook, Prague, China, Japan etc and im abit worried about all the travelling.

Thanks, hopefully someone will tell me it's not as bad as what im expcting!

OP posts:

sdr · 05/03/2008 14:04

My DH did an MBA part-time and worked full-time. Lots and lots of studying. It will affect family life, but ... we knew what we were getting into. You're doing the right thing checking it all out. We set up some rules about family time at the weekends and he tried to keep the dinner - bed-time free most nights to be around for the kids. I had a toddler and baby at the time. Found it helpful to get him to keep me informed about any travel plans way ahead of time and also when the workload would be increasing because of tests/exams. Also he used to have regular study group get-togethers and we had these mostly at our house. I provided coffee/muffins and in return my DH didn't have the travelling time and they didn't go on for ages, due to others being aware of family.

Original poster

warmsummersday · 05/03/2008 14:13

Hi. Thanks for the post. I think the full time course is quite different to the part time course. It's very intense, there will be loads of studying for him to do. He will stay there in the week so he can study more so for me it wont really be that different in the week as im used to him being away. Im just wondering how it will affect our weekends and how often he will be travelling to different countries and what they do in other countries. I know it will make our life better in the long run. How is your life different now that your DH has done the MBA sdr?

OP posts:

Anna8888 · 05/03/2008 14:17

I have an MBA. I'm a girl - what's this sexist business in your OP about MBAs being for men

My BIL (my sister's husband) has an MBA.

You are very, very, very busy when doing an MBA; some programmes are supportive of partners/children and some aren't at all. Where is your DH going to be doing his MBA?

bundle · 05/03/2008 14:20

I was just thinking that anna...

indiechick · 05/03/2008 14:29

I've got one too, why are you only asking about blokes doing them?!

Original poster

warmsummersday · 05/03/2008 18:55

I wasn't only asking about blokes doing them, was I? I meant partners which is what my title says. Sorry didn't mean to upset anyone!

He will be doing it at Cranfield university.

Any other info you can provide me with please? How often did you have to travel Anna and indie? Did you go away for weekends?

OP posts:

mumblechum · 05/03/2008 18:59

My dh did one over 3 years whilst working full time.

It was horrid tbh as it coincided with having our severely brain damaged ds1 then ds2 and he was frankly neither use nor ornament at the time as he was working from 7am to 1am for 3 years.

I have since b anned him from doing his phd.

Original poster

warmsummersday · 05/03/2008 19:13

Oh dear that sounds awful, I hope it isn't that bad for me.
Can I ask how an MBA has changed your lives, are you now in better jobs?

OP posts:

Anna8888 · 06/03/2008 08:42

warmsummersday - I didn't have to travel during my MBA as it was residential (Insead). However, there was a lot of group work in the evenings and at weekends.

My sister's DH went to Harvard and my sister stayed in London (as she was doing a PhD there).

I don't think you can count on much domestic support from a partner doing an MBA - it really is a huge investment in every way.

Novicecamper · 06/03/2008 08:49

I did mine while working and it was really hard work - lots of coursework, assignments and tutorials. I did it pre-children and I don't think I could do it now.

I had a few residential weekends but no travel abroad.

Perhaps if he's doing it full time, rather than juggling with a job, it won't be so bad?

I didn't actually get to the end of mine because I got married, moved jobs and had children. I don't know how it would have affected my employment as, tbh, I moved up pretty quickly anyway into management positions regardless, I think, of qualifications (although I didn't finish, at the end of each year you get a management qualification anyway so I did have those). Although I guess it would make sense to think that the things I learned on the course impacted my performance.

Now I work from home, for myself because I've got 3 children and I earn decent money for the hours I do (i.e. more than the average household income, and I don't work full time).

I am pretty sure it will help your dh in his career long term.

sdr · 06/03/2008 20:30

My DH's job improved in the short-term, but now is just another asset on his CV. What did help is that it helped him look at a lot more possibilities work-wise. Just keep your eyes open and constantly know what is happening over the coming couple of months so you have realistic expectations. Also then you can negotitate early for birthdays, holidays etc.

YeahBut · 06/03/2008 20:34

Dh did his during my first pregnancy and while we had a young baby. It was not easy - lots of work and very long hours. It did really piss me off at times when he was just not available in any meaningful sense for me or dd1. On the other hand, it was for a very clearly defined period of time and he did get such a lot out of it. No regrets but it was tough. Do you have a support network you can call on when things get tough?

Original poster

warmsummersday · 06/03/2008 21:35

Hi yeahbut! (love the name)

I have a close network of friends and family around me, yes.

I can imagine it's going to be tough. Did your DH have to stay alot at the weekends? This is what I am worried about as he will stay up there in the week and im worried we wont get to see him.

I just have to keep thinking it's only for a year.......

How has your life changed now your DH has done it?

OP posts:

mumblechum · 07/03/2008 09:29

To answer your q. about whether it's made a difference to my dh's career, I think it probably has, as although he's worked for the same pharmaceutical giant co. all his career, he has been promoted to vp probably faster than would otherwise have been the case.

I think the mindset that you need to get through him doing his MBA is to imagine he's going away to Australia for a year. He may or may not pop back very occasionally for a few hours, but all intents and purposes you're on your own for that year. If that is handleable for you, there'll be no problem

sunnylabsmum · 07/03/2008 13:10

My DH has done two Masters degrees one full time in thermal power at Cranfield and a part time OU MBA with the OU. When he did the Cranfield Masters he lived away from home at Cranfield Mon- Friday. I was working FT and this was pre DD so we had firm rules that he didn;t bring work home with him at the weekend. Instead he used to spend evenings doing work instead of socialising. It was tough but I guess you are used to the living apart bit.

Prior to doing the Cranfield course he had started an MBA with the OU. Whilst at Cranfield he took a year out and then resumed it. By now we had DD and I was v. poorly for a while. Somehow we got through it, although it was tough at times. I guess I appreciated his need to study as I am in the final stages of a seven year journey towards my doctorate.

As to career prospects....I'll let you know in 2 yrs time when he leaves his present employer as his commission is up....I do hope so!!

Good luck

Original poster

warmsummersday · 10/03/2008 11:39

Thanks for all your replies, much apreciated!

Today is a big day DH has his interview, we had a stressful weekend, he was stressed and nervous and I was and still am worrying as this is hopefully going to change our lives and also such a big step!

OP posts:

sunnylabsmum · 10/03/2008 14:46

Good luck!! Yes its a big step. Try to take one day at a time and think of a family treat for the end of the course which you can all think of when the going is tough

TheFallenMadonna · 10/03/2008 14:54

My DH did one part time, while working fulltime. It was fine actually. Apart from holding his hand through the essay writing . He is an engineer and hadn't really written in full sentences for a decade .

He didn't enjoy it much, and wished he was doing a technical Masters, but I think it has helped him career-wise. It has certainly come up at subsequent interviews.

Fortunately we didn't have to pay. His then employer did.

Good luck to him for tomorrow.

Original poster

warmsummersday · 11/03/2008 21:36

Hi. Well his interview went weel I think. They don't really let much on! He had to do a 3 minute speech and I think he was quite nervous. He spent the day there yesterday and said it went ok. He only has to wait until thursday though to find out if he has a place.

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