tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568036180614407745.post7887217388568206287..comments2008-05-20T21:52:45.086-07:00G Blogmasternoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568036180614407745.post-21323896431997592482008-05-20T21:52:00.000-07:002008-05-20T21:52:00.000-07:00Thanks for the comments, everyone!<BR/><BR/>Baglady,<BR/>I have heard from others that you don't really learn that much in business school -- but had thought the MBA degree can sometimes be a necessary credential to advance in certain lines of work. But I don't know that much about it. Do others have perspectives on that?<BR/><BR/>Nicole,<BR/>I see your point -- and think it in some ways applies to all levels of postsecondary schooling. If you go to a school where there are interesting teachers and interesting fellow students, I am one who always thinks that I'll end up learning and growing -- so I shouldn't use that barometer (or I'd always go for the degree!).<BR/><BR/>Funny About Money,<BR/>I think those are good points. I don't know that many MBAs. In my experience with other professions with which I am more familiar, the school at which one got the degree is most important at the front end -- right after leaving school. But some years out, my impression is that it evens out -- and that the folks who advance to the next level come from all sorts of schools, Harvards and ASUs and so forth -- and that skill and performance ultimately overcome the school credential as the most important factor. But I'm not sure how accurate or representative my impressions there are.G Blogmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10231079489929015787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568036180614407745.post-13342163525240829512008-05-19T08:33:00.000-07:002008-05-19T08:33:00.000-07:00This is really intriguing. The disclaimer, though, that the survey included only people from top-tier schools rings a little alarm bell.<BR/><BR/>Sure, if you have an MBA from Harvard and Mom & Dad are heavy hitters with plenty of business and social contacts to help you get a nice internship and then a nice job, of course you'll start at $85,000. You'll live in New York City, Washington, Boston, Seattle, or San Francisco, where 85 grand will go about as far as 40 grand goes in most inland cities. <BR/><BR/>But what if your MBA is from Arizona State University and you single mom is a schoolteacher? Then what will you earn?<BR/><BR/>And what if you don't want to live in New York? What if you happen to like the outdoors and would rather live in, oh...say, Boise or Tucson or Denver? Even with a Harvard diploma, what would you earn there? And how would that compare in buying power with $85,000 in NYC or DC?Funny about Moneyhttp://www.funny-about-money.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568036180614407745.post-83701095643990060082008-05-14T04:24:00.000-07:002008-05-14T04:24:00.000-07:00Going for further schooling is a tough call because you may never recoup what you paid (at least directly in salary). I think the question is if it's worth doing for personal growth. If you can answer yes, you should try to find a way to do it. Just my opinion...Nicolehttp://www.breakingeven.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568036180614407745.post-31548506202821277032008-05-13T18:42:00.000-07:002008-05-13T18:42:00.000-07:00My parents both have MBAs and over 20 years of experience. They didn't go to a top tier school, though. At the peak my mom was making $150 to $160k a year. My dad is about the same, but he always worked for non-profits so the benefits were a lot better than my mom's. (he gets 10% employer contribution straight into his 401k for example). Now my mom is working a government job and that pays less than my job as an engineer. They told me that an MBA is a pretty empty degree if you just take all the classes and graduate so some MBA people could have problems finding jobs if they have no skills whatsoever. They focused on finance and accounting because it is more in demand. Anyway, the bottom line is that it's not the degree that matters the most. Where you choose to work and what skills and experiences you have has more of an effect on your paygrade.thebagladyhttp://baglady.dreamhosters.comnoreply@blogger.com