Every week, Anderson welcomes several prospective students seeking to learn more about the MBA program. During their visit, prospectives have the option to attend a lecture in one of the sections. Last week, I was discussing with a prospective who wants to transition into the healthcare business, and I was asked the sempiternal question: should I do this MBA or what? While I used to agonize over this question, I can answer it pretty simply now that I am two months into the program. If you currently hold a good job and can transition on your own, forgo the MBA and save yourself some time and money. However, here are the factors that will catalyze my career change and that may apply to you as well.
First, I have numerous venues to reach top employers. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: don’t engulf your precious savings into an MBA unless you are accepted at a top school, such as UCLA, because top employers recruit at top schools only. As an MBA student, not only do you get to meet in person with company representatives on campus during corporate presentations, but you also have the opportunity to visit their offices during Day on the Job events, eat with them at Dinner for Eight events, and interview on campus. If a company does not actively recruit on campus, you have access to the alumni database to determine if former students work there and tactfully ask for some guidance. Moreover, many current students can help you connect with companies they used to work for.
The goal is to use these resources to obtain a summer internship with your favorite employer and secure a full-time position one year later. Since these internship positions are typically only open to MBA students, I have a significant advantage over non-MBA would-be career-switchers. What I did not anticipate before attending Anderson was the importance of what I’ll call “MBA grooming” to penetrate super-competitive fields such as consulting and finance. These firms have a precise idea about what they are looking for in a candidate in terms of knowledge, but also behavior. The career center and the many student associations help us train for these competitive positions and act in ways that increase our chances of being recruited. Again, I feel that it would be very difficult for a non-MBA to switch to a super-competitive field without this kind of guidance.
Finally, I’ll add that, for people with minimal business experience, doing an MBA is an even better deal. I have learned tremendously during the past weeks, and I am impressed to see how all courses – Economics, Accounting, Statistics, Marketing, and Finance – are interrelated.
–Simon
