What did you do with your MBA?

[Anonymous]

I'm going back to school in the fall for my MBA (very different from my last career) and am very excited. I wonder what others have done/are doing with their degree.

[Anonymous]

Management consulting for me. I started in a big 4 consulting shop, then moved to an industry boutique.

[Anonymous]

Big fat zero. Should I sue the school like law school grads have sued their law schools?

[Anonymous]

Went into corp fin year 1. $105k + 15k bonus + $40k sign on bonus. Hated it.
Moved to corp strategy at another firm year 2. $115k + 12k bonus + 100K sign on bonus
Year 3: $125k + 30k bonus
Year 4: $140k + 50k bonus

If I went to mgmt consulting id be closer to $250 to maybe even $300K by now, but the hours are brutal. I prefer my 35 hour unlimited vacation, unlimited sicklifestyle.

Also depends heavily what MBA. Wharton vs AU is no comparison.

[Anonymous]

I am in the same industry as I was before my MBA, but I was promoted several times and pretty quickly after my degree. I went from being a worker bee to being in Sr. Mgmt. not sure if it was my degree or being at a different company. Regardless, I had a great time in grad school. I actually learned a lot although others say they didn't and I increased my network. I am 11 years out now and still glad I made the decision to go. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

I went part-time in the evenings and it was paid for by my employer. My employer actually suggested it. I was mid-level mgr who was up and coming. I was promoted to senior mgt by the time I graduated. I have been in senior mgt since and then went part-time after my first child for 7 years (I was a little burnt out too). Still working for the same company - 17 years later - have moved back into career mode. Doing well - boss is looking for promotion/grooming opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went part-time in the evenings and it was paid for by my employer. My employer actually suggested it. I was mid-level mgr who was up and coming. I was promoted to senior mgt by the time I graduated. I have been in senior mgt since and then went part-time after my first child for 7 years (I was a little burnt out too). Still working for the same company - 17 years later - have moved back into career mode. Doing well - boss is looking for promotion/grooming opportunities.

Can I ask industry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Big fat zero. Should I sue the school like law school grads have sued their law schools?

Except you would have to pay a lawyer!

[Anonymous]

I had a small startup at the time, and I was probably making $50k a year and it was just me. The MBA gave me the skills in area I sorely lacked them (strategy, finance, accounting, marketing.. I'm a tech person) to see the big picture. Since then, I make $400-600k/year in the same company. I guess we're not a startup any more.

It really does depend on the school you go to -- my advice is pick one where you won't be the smartest student in the class, or you'll learn little. Go sit in on a class at the school you have mind to understand the caliber.

[Anonymous]

17:11 PP here....I started out of college at a Big 4 consulting firm. After 4 yrs got tired of the travel and went to a 2nd tier firm that was located in DC area. Mainly we do IT consulting/system integration work. Not sure the MBA really helped me in my career, but it has been a nice credential and a lot of others don't seem to have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:11 PP here....I started out of college at a Big 4 consulting firm. After 4 yrs got tired of the travel and went to a 2nd tier firm that was located in DC area. Mainly we do IT consulting/system integration work. Not sure the MBA really helped me in my career, but it has been a nice credential and a lot of others don't seem to have it.

+1. And now I'm a mom and my job is full time work from home with flexible hours. It's not the most money I could make but it gives me so much flexibility to attend my kids school events, deal with sick kids, half days, and other general stuff that happens when you have kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went into corp fin year 1. $105k + 15k bonus + $40k sign on bonus. Hated it.
Moved to corp strategy at another firm year 2. $115k + 12k bonus + 100K sign on bonus
Year 3: $125k + 30k bonus
Year 4: $140k + 50k bonus

If I went to mgmt consulting id be closer to $250 to maybe even $300K by now, but the hours are brutal. I prefer my 35 hour unlimited vacation, unlimited sicklifestyle.

Also depends heavily what MBA. Wharton vs AU is no comparison.

What work experience did you have prior to this, because this sounds too good to be true if you are just freshly minted MBA without much or just with a couple of years of junior work experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going back to school in the fall for my MBA (very different from my last career) and am very excited. I wonder what others have done/are doing with their degree.

Made a bunch of new friends and took out some student loans. You're guaranteed those two things!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Went into corp fin year 1. $105k + 15k bonus + $40k sign on bonus. Hated it.
Moved to corp strategy at another firm year 2. $115k + 12k bonus + 100K sign on bonus
Year 3: $125k + 30k bonus
Year 4: $140k + 50k bonus

If I went to mgmt consulting id be closer to $250 to maybe even $300K by now, but the hours are brutal. I prefer my 35 hour unlimited vacation, unlimited sicklifestyle.

Also depends heavily what MBA. Wharton vs AU is no comparison.

What work experience did you have prior to this, because this sounds too good to be true if you are just freshly minted MBA without much or just with a couple of years of junior work experience.

Really? I'm on the low end of my peers actually. Most of my friends did better than this. I had about 7 years WE prior to my MBA, but honestly that's not the key. In fact, its not even a benefit. Starting salaries are the same at most firms regardless of work experience. You can see this or yourself if you look at Wharton, Kellogg, HBS, booth etc. They all report salaries by years of experience ( or did).

Starting salaries at McKinsey, Bain and BCG this year are in the $130K base range for instance.

The trick is going to a prestigious program.

[Anonymous]

I framed it and hung it in my home office.