Are second rung B schools suitable for ppl with work ex in reputed companies?

[LastActionHero]

I'm in the same boat and here's my take on it. After 3-4 years I think the main aim of an MBA is a career shift or more salary later on life when you hit that glass ceiling.

As you gain more and more experience you have to realize that you become a rare commodity for a B school and that much difficult to place. Sure they might place you but that placement might not be to your potential. Personally I believe 2-4 year experience people have the best profile to go in for an MBA. They are eligible for a lateral placement which distinguishes them from other people and gives them a job in a different league altogether.

What you need to consider is whether the college has good lateral placements? I'm sure all college in top 10-15 have good laterals. You need to verify the facts for yourself. But yes don't look outside the top 15, otherwise you might not be adding value to yourself and land up in an average job in terms of challenge and salary. Also do look at the Return on Investment(ROI). Not only the fee but the lost salary for two years in case you were to continue with the job. Remember that your peers who continue in their job will continue to rise up the ladder but once you are out of the B school you will catch up with them fast and surpass them pretty quickly. From there on it will be a fast rise.

If you have more than 3-4 years experience seriously consider an ISB or XLRI, SPJ 1 year or even a US MBA(if you can afford it). The ROI is much higher in these 1 year programmes than a 2 year programme for a 4 year experience person. I believe by the time you have 4-5 years experience you are already a manager and should not do an MBA unless you are looking for a career switch.

But ulimately its your choice and your judgement. Do look at the laterals and the ROI and wether you can go sustain a 2 year MBA or not.

My 2 paise

[koolbaba2k]

hi guys

just going thru the discussion........ i have just one thing to say........it would have been gr8 if he had the services of a fortune teller whos predictions are perfect.

any how getting down to the issue of joining / not joining the so called "second rung" intis.. i just have to say that you need to prioritise your options at the individual level.

Try not to see it as what would hapen after 2 yrs of MBA wil i be better placed or not and if yes will it compare to my present earnings.... etc.... rather try to think about your present condition and what you want to do now.
Try to think what an MBA degree will do to your career on the whole and then decide. I have one more piece of advice.... do not succumb to peer pressure coz whats good for others aint necessarily good for you.
In the end just want to say one thing give your best at whatever you do be it job or MBA preps and success wil come.......

cheers

[ASHISH MISHRA]

Hello frens,
going through the thread one can realise (broader view) of the aspirations we all folks have from our MBA
but as it was very well said by one of our frens dat for making any so called compromises to go to a second rung school ,factors to be taken care of are :--

1.Where does(in terms of which field/job roles/responsibilities/returns) one aspires to land up after doing MBA
2.How far the college helps in this goal(as we are very well aware of the people at times getting type casted offersin same vertical/industry during their placement bcos of their prior work experience in certain field,not getting cross functional job offers so need to check whether the colege is really ABLE to provide that much of impetus to one's profile .

As far my understanding the abovereasons are foremost for most of us folks in our decision making .Rest as was very well summarised by one of our fren that its a personal call after the R&d part that

''How much low is too low ''

which finally helps in decision making

I hope may be this wud help some of us in taking a call.
Best of my wishes to all of you ......................

Ashish

[abhishek11117]

Hi guys,

Goin through this post, I felt like "maan there are ppl lke me out there. I too have work ex 3 yrs. and I have a MICA and IMT call this year.

I have taken CAT for fun sakes b4this but this yr. i took it seriously and even lef my job for it (call it the IIM A dream syndrome). Now as things stand today, I knw tht I gave it a fair shot, just like I knew my optons b4 takin CAT. I know them today. But wats importatn is knowing is tht if u decide to take another shot at it, remember tht it may become an obsession and good luk if u convert but u can be dismayed as well. and personally i dnt think its worrth the efort and time(read blood and sand).

Cmon not every 1 passing throgh IIM is doin somethin path breakin. Its a miniscule minority on which the brand thrives today. Also I think U can do a MBA frm a non IIM institute and do well enuf for yor self. After all IIM is no jadu ki chadi tht will take care of everythin in life, theres much more to life thn slogin for IIM.

But if ny 1 still feels like takin it agn thers more hope by nxt yr may be they will have intake for IIM shillong as well meanwhile main to chala is saal jaha admission mil jave.

Warm Regards,


Abhishek

[rathish]

Originally Posted by abhishek11117

Hi guys,

Goin through this post, I felt like "maan there are ppl lke me out there. I too have work ex 3 yrs. and I have a MICA and IMT call this year.

I

adding to his gr8 post...

while selecting a college after 3 years of work or more...
i wud say...as an seasoned(arguably) professional...of around 25 years u wud be having(i hope...)a decent assesment of wat u want to do...??

mera gyan..

There are 2 types of people who want to do.. MBA after working for a while.

1. who want to leverage thier work experience and kinda tangible..leveraging
like working in shop floor for 3 years and doing an mba in operations line....(here the factors u sud take to consideration is ROI and the institute sud have a reasonably gud brand equity).. are..i want to overtake my peers who slog in the same role for years..I need fast growth and hefty pay checks..it sud be your motto

2. who wants to break the mould of thier career thru an MBA, or found wat drives them in life..(here ROI takes the back seat...Brand value and learning potential..takes the drivers seat..)are i know how to make money..I now need something to feed my soul... sud be thier motto... a geniune.. case wud be a banker opting for an communications MBA..I want it bloody..and i cna do it..Peter drucker(hope my memory serves me well...) have written that people understand thier dream career when they are in the wrong side of twenties..(note this point arun...)

both of them make money if they put thier hearts in work money just chases them.....because in the end..directly or indirectly the question of making more money pops up...whether it may be to do charity or to buy a lamborgini...(btb how many MBAs own one... )

[May B]

Hey guys,

Even the so called second rung B schools as mentioned in the earlier posts do offer u a better salary than what most of u get today. Most of the reputed B schools in the top 10-20 have their average salaries at around 6 lacs or so, and its even more for people with work ex.

So if u guys are earning about 4 lacs or so, I see no harm in doing an MBA. It would open up a lot more options for u in the future. If u are really keen on doing an MBA and have thought about it seriously, then it shouldn't matter to u if its IIM-A or some other B school as long its reputed and considered in the top 10-20 colleges. 'Coz it will benefit u in the long run. These B schools have a strong alumni network and a strong brand name.

The economy is growing. Take the opportunity that u get right now. As someone rightly said, CAT is just a matter of 1 day, it can go either this way or that way. One can never be sure. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Hope this helps u guys to decide better. Take Care and Good Luck! in whatever decision u take.