MBA school immediately right after BS degree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely need at least three years of work experience before you get an mba. And not to be a jerk about it, and your kid is obviously very talented but if they went to VCU, they probably want a better brand-name MBA, maybe from a top 20 school like UVA. They definitely want work experience first.

Don’t just go get a university of phoenix mba.

OP here. DS was also accepted by Northwestern, Michigan, and UVA but decided to go to VCU because he got a full scholarship (tuition, room/board, stipend) there. He did not receive merit anywhere else. Does work experience itself matter? I assume there is a difference between working at an IT helpdesk, software engineering, or information technology? Do schools take that into consideration?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No doubt it’s great to go to a top MBA program, and no doubt it’s best to have a few years of work experience under your belt when you attend. No disagreement on those 2 points.

However, that doesn’t mean there are NO advantages to attending a slightly less-prestigious MBA right after undergrad. First, you might be waiting for a tip-top MBA program & then not get accepted. Second, some people come out of undergrad all psyched up for further study—it’s a shame to waste that momentum, & it might be tough to recreate that enthusiasm several years later. Third, and perhaps most importantly, once you get your career in gear & maybe get some social entanglements (marriage or serious relationship) it could be very inconvenient to put the career on hold & move to another state to spend 2 yrs studying.

You aren’t getting into “a slightly less prestigious MBA” program though. You are getting into a significantly less prestigious program because the rest will want you to have work experience. And the hiring companies won’t be eager to take you with no work experience to speak of. It’s simply not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Don't waste $ and time on an MBA unless it is from a top (T10-15) school* -- and those schools won't accept a student without work experience.

* Unless your kid is OK with a life of middle management, or if you have so much $ that the cost of the MBA is insignificant to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't waste $ and time on an MBA unless it is from a top (T10-15) school* -- and those schools won't accept a student without work experience.

* Unless your kid is OK with a life of middle management, or if you have so much $ that the cost of the MBA is insignificant to you.

What kind of work experience are they looking for from someone with a degree in CS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other posters have said it. Most top programs have professionals with 2-5 years of experience. Lots of group work. Lots of referencing previous experience. What would your son bring to that table?

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely need at least three years of work experience before you get an mba. And not to be a jerk about it, and your kid is obviously very talented but if they went to VCU, they probably want a better brand-name MBA, maybe from a top 20 school like UVA. They definitely want work experience first.

Don’t just go get a university of phoenix mba.

OP here. DS was also accepted by Northwestern, Michigan, and UVA but decided to go to VCU because he got a full scholarship (tuition, room/board, stipend) there. He did not receive merit anywhere else. Does work experience itself matter? I assume there is a difference between working at an IT helpdesk, software engineering, or information technology? Do schools take that into consideration?

These are top schools. He could apply to these Bschools and get end up on a nice path, professionally and financially. Help desk isn't a good pre MBA career. Software engineer to product management is a common post MBA pivot, for example. He needs to start his post bachelor career and figure out what he wants to do with his MBA. Especially since he'll be asked "Why an MBA? Why now and Why this specific program"? during interviews and applications.

[Anonymous]

There’s a good chance your employer will pay for your MBA education, or at least a nice chunk of it, if you have a few years experience at a better firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't waste $ and time on an MBA unless it is from a top (T10-15) school* -- and those schools won't accept a student without work experience.

* Unless your kid is OK with a life of middle management, or if you have so much $ that the cost of the MBA is insignificant to you.

What kind of work experience are they looking for from someone with a degree in CS?

That they did software development, and ideally led a project or two.

[Anonymous]

Big waste of time and money

[Anonymous]

OP: While there is good advice given in this thread, much of it is only partially accurate.

All elite MBA programs recommend work experience of 2 years to 5 years prior to attending, but it is unclear whether or not it is a requirement.

The most prestigious MBA programs offer deferred admission to exceptional college seniors. Typically referred to as 2 + 2 deferred admissions, the application is different than the regular MBA application. Exceptional college seniors who are accepted under this type of admission have either an option or a requirement to work for 2 years prior to matriculating in the MBA program.

To the best of my knowledge, only the most elite MBA programs offer deferred admissions to college seniors. These MBA programs include Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern-Kellogg, Chicago-Booth, MIT-Sloan, Penn-Wharton, Columbia, Emory, Yale, Virginia-Darden, and UC-Berkeley for UC-Berkeley undergrads.

One can defer admission usually for 2 years to 4 years, but offers vary by program.

Deferred admissions programs are developing and changing at a rapid pace.

Regardless of deferred admissions programs, your son can apply for regular admissions at these top MBA programs. I am not aware of any required work experience as most elite MBA programs just recommend and prefer prior full time work experience.

Don't waste the 780 GMAT score--apply now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: While there is good advice given in this thread, much of it is only partially accurate.

All elite MBA programs recommend work experience of 2 years to 5 years prior to attending, but it is unclear whether or not it is a requirement.

The most prestigious MBA programs offer deferred admission to exceptional college seniors. Typically referred to as 2 + 2 deferred admissions, the application is different than the regular MBA application. Exceptional college seniors who are accepted under this type of admission have either an option or a requirement to work for 2 years prior to matriculating in the MBA program.

To the best of my knowledge, only the most elite MBA programs offer deferred admissions to college seniors. These MBA programs include Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern-Kellogg, Chicago-Booth, MIT-Sloan, Penn-Wharton, Columbia, Emory, Yale, Virginia-Darden, and UC-Berkeley for UC-Berkeley undergrads.

One can defer admission usually for 2 years to 4 years, but offers vary by program.

Deferred admissions programs are developing and changing at a rapid pace.

Regardless of deferred admissions programs, your son can apply for regular admissions at these top MBA programs. I am not aware of any required work experience as most elite MBA programs just recommend and prefer prior full time work experience.

Don't waste the 780 GMAT score--apply now.

GMAT scores are valid for 5 years. There's no waste. Again, I recommend work experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: While there is good advice given in this thread, much of it is only partially accurate.

All elite MBA programs recommend work experience of 2 years to 5 years prior to attending, but it is unclear whether or not it is a requirement.

The most prestigious MBA programs offer deferred admission to exceptional college seniors. Typically referred to as 2 + 2 deferred admissions, the application is different than the regular MBA application. Exceptional college seniors who are accepted under this type of admission have either an option or a requirement to work for 2 years prior to matriculating in the MBA program.

To the best of my knowledge, only the most elite MBA programs offer deferred admissions to college seniors. These MBA programs include Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern-Kellogg, Chicago-Booth, MIT-Sloan, Penn-Wharton, Columbia, Emory, Yale, Virginia-Darden, and UC-Berkeley for UC-Berkeley undergrads.

One can defer admission usually for 2 years to 4 years, but offers vary by program.

Deferred admissions programs are developing and changing at a rapid pace.

Regardless of deferred admissions programs, your son can apply for regular admissions at these top MBA programs. I am not aware of any required work experience as most elite MBA programs just recommend and prefer prior full time work experience.

Don't waste the 780 GMAT score--apply now.

2+2 programs are for college seniors. OPs kid has graduated. And the 2+2 is a clue that 2 years of work experience is required, even for exceptional college students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: While there is good advice given in this thread, much of it is only partially accurate.

All elite MBA programs recommend work experience of 2 years to 5 years prior to attending, but it is unclear whether or not it is a requirement.

The most prestigious MBA programs offer deferred admission to exceptional college seniors. Typically referred to as 2 + 2 deferred admissions, the application is different than the regular MBA application. Exceptional college seniors who are accepted under this type of admission have either an option or a requirement to work for 2 years prior to matriculating in the MBA program.

To the best of my knowledge, only the most elite MBA programs offer deferred admissions to college seniors. These MBA programs include Harvard, Stanford, Northwestern-Kellogg, Chicago-Booth, MIT-Sloan, Penn-Wharton, Columbia, Emory, Yale, Virginia-Darden, and UC-Berkeley for UC-Berkeley undergrads.

One can defer admission usually for 2 years to 4 years, but offers vary by program.

Deferred admissions programs are developing and changing at a rapid pace.

Regardless of deferred admissions programs, your son can apply for regular admissions at these top MBA programs. I am not aware of any required work experience as most elite MBA programs just recommend and prefer prior full time work experience.

Don't waste the 780 GMAT score--apply now.

2+2 programs are for college seniors. OPs kid has graduated. And the 2+2 is a clue that 2 years of work experience is required, even for exceptional college students.

The deferred MBA programs differ. Some mat require work experience while others present it as an option for these exceptional students.

OP, ignore posters like the one above. They are out of touch.

MBA programs are changing rapidly. Your son will benefit more from some aspects than others if he elects to matriculate without post-undergraduate full-time work experience.

It would be interesting if the poster or posters who wrote that work experience is required in order to be eligible for an elite MBA program would name specific programs that have such a requirement as opposed to a preference.

[Anonymous]

https://som.yale/programs/mba/admissions/silver-scholars

OP: Don't let your son waste his 780 GMAT score. Apply now. And, yes, I know that MBA scores are valid for 5 years, but many who wait to apply never apply because life gets in the way and the score expires.

Yale's MBA program for college seniors/recent graduates requires immediate attendance for the first year of the two year program.

[Anonymous]

CORRECTION:

https://som.yale.edu/programs/mba/admissions/silver-scholars