MBA or finding myself - advice please!!

[quarkee]

Its a long story but I am thinking of asking work to sponsor me on an MBA as a new challenge. Has anyone here done an MBA and do you have any advice for someone who is starting to consider the options? Thanks

Will be working whilst you are doing the MBA? DH attempted this, and he didn't complete the course (neither did quite a few others on his course) because studying on what is for most folk a really demanding course, whilst working and maintaining any kind of family and social life are huge. If your employer will give you a year off to do the course full time without having to worry about doing your job on top of the course, it might be easier.

If you do decide to study and work at the same time, it is really important that your partner is fully supportive of what you are doing, because your weekends (and probably quite a few evenings) will largely be taken up studying. I ended up proof reading assignments, etc as well.

It is a huge commitment. Will it give you any measurable career advantages, such as promotion/pay rise? Check out the courses offered by different universities: the content will vary, and teaching methods will be different (as will the fees), so aim for a course that meets your interests as closely as possible. If you enjoy the course, you are much more likely to stick with it. Also, find out how the various course providers are rated by independent sources: MBAs from more prestigious universities tend to be more highly rated by employers than ones from somewhere less well known.

hth

Don't do it on a whim. But do do it if you want to change career direction or fast-track yourself to something else.

My DH did a full time MBA 4 years ago. He thought that he would be hugely enlightened as to where to take his career afterwards. He wasn't. It took nearly 2 years after finishing to get where he wanted to be, including a jobless 12 months. That said he has now doubled his pre-MBA salary; but it takes time and hard work.

It's a great course (if you go for a good school), and you'll meet some great new friends and contacts. These days, employers are less willing to fund MBAs as people move on too quickly and the opportunities and insights you get while studying give you itchy feet.

Taking a part-time or Exec MBA is really, really hard work if you have a day-job you still care about. So it needs careful thought. Students on part-time MBAs tend to be older (over 30) and the average ages on a full-time course for most business schools is 27/28. You can get quite favourable career development loans to fund an MBA, if you decide to do it full-time.

quarkee, an MBA is more for the contacts, than the actual content of what you learn, IMO. No point doing one unless it is with a recognised business school. Will your workplace value it? If it is to get a promotion or new role, what are the hours like in the new position and are you prepared to take them on?

MBA is intellectually and socially demanding, eating your time.BUT they are also well recognised, satsifying, you will meet some good fellow students
Look at Universities MBA ranking"

also many people generally change employment after obtaining an MBA as it can secure a higher salary and sometimes current employer's can be blase about their own staff

will work offer fees and time off?

Thanks everyone - DS is only 2 and we're trying for another so maybe now is not the right time for an MBA - I'm doing it for a challenge rather than any promotion per se so maybe I need to rethink - my professional institute does a fellowship programme which involves doing a thesis, maybe that is a better option for me now. Wil investigate the options a little more. Thanks again.