Should i get an MBA degree from a top college?

Question

I am a junior in college and am contemplating whether or not i should try to get into a top mba program like berkeley, stanford, or ucla right after i graduate. Thus far, i have a 4.0 GPA, worked as a shift manager in a food restaurant, worked as an accountant, and have done clubs and community service. I will be taking my GMAT in my junior year. I am getting a degree in accounting so i know i can get a job after i graduate, but my goal is to own my business or run a successful company, and i know i could do that with an MBA degree. Someone told me that it will be extremely difficult to get into a top school, even though i do have a good gpa, but i dont have work experience. Is this true? If i work as an accountant for a couple of years will this increase my chances of getting in? I am so confused on what to do: Should i pursue my dream in getting an MBA right after i graduate or should i work and hope i could still get my MBA? Thanks for any advice or opinions!

If i do get a job as an accountant work for a 1-3 years, will top mba programs like accounting as experience or do they want another occupation?

Answer 1

The top MBA programs won't even look at you without at least two years of full time, post-undergrad work experience. And a couple years of working for someone won't just help you get into an MBA program, it will also help you when it comes time to start your own business. The work experience will also help you figure out if an MBA is really what you want. Sometimes, life takes you in directions that surprise you. You're so sure you want that MBA now, but who knows... give yourself the opportunity to find out what's out there.

So, take the GMAT next year, but postpone applying for grad school until you've worked a year or two. Then apply.

Answer 2

Yes, you should aim for the best possible MBA degree you can effort.
An MBA degree will cost you a lot of money, so you should make sure you really get it right. I like your aim to be an entrepreneur and get your own company. To reach it, you do not need an MBA degree and I guess you know that as well, but if you want to be on top of a company other than your own, an MBA degree is a really smart move.

You could start your MBA degree right after collage, but most of the people who opt for an MBA degree have a job and they are all in some management position. Think about that.

To move into accounting is a smart move, especially when you like it. It will help you to run your own business like Bob Parsons owner of GoDaddy.com or if you like run a company for someone else. You can make it to the top ether way.

My advice would be to get some job experience and build a network. Find a good company and work for them, if they like you they might even help you with getting the MBA degree. Lot of companies do that and they even provide a better position for the person, once the they got the MBA degree.

For more information search the Internet or click on the link down there to get started.

Good Luck

Answer 3

EDIT: My opinion is that accounting is the best experience you could possibly have within the business realm. Auditing is especially helpful, because it integrates virtually every essential aspect of running a reliable business into one specific service.

You can always apply, and if they're right in saying it's that difficult to get in without experience and you don't get accepted, the decision will be made for you.

Personally, I think you should work for a little while before an MBA program. Top programs are especially focused on the accumulated experience of applicants in real world positions. Applicants have to show that they are successful and capable of leadership if they want good chance of acceptance. A 4.0 doesn't really prove that to them. Your credentials look great and it is possible that you be accepted to a program, but you're stacking the odds against yourself.

Unless you have a lot of money to start up your own company and have a great idea that you're confident will work, you will need to climb the corporate ladder before you make it to the position of Chairman or CEO or whatever anyway. Therefore, there's little benefit to completing your MBA right out of college as opposed to several years from now.

Now for the brutal honesty:

Even with an MBA from a top program, if you have no experience behind you, you look like just another hot-shot, dime-a-dozen MBA whose aspirations extend light-years beyond proven real world experience.

Finally, I would bet my bottom dollar that you won't quickly rise up that ladder if your explicit goal is to rise up that ladder. Business nowadays is competitive enough that they give the opportunities to the people who feel passionately about the actual product/service provided, rather than the kids with lofty, ego-centric goals like to occupy some sort of CEO position.

Answer 4

What does getting an MBA have to do with owning a business, but since you "KNOW" this will help, I guess there is no telling you otherwise.

Answer 5

Queensland University, Queensland University of Technology , National University of Singapore and Asian Institute of Management have courses instructed in English. If money is not a matter for you, you enroll in Australia but if it does, consider the school in the Philippines.