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Is An MBA Degree Worth It Or Not?

7 reasons an MBA is not worth it

Is an MBA worth it?

Before you can answer that there are many pros and cons to considering your qualifications, experience and aspirations play a big role in the decision, if you’re applying as an international applicant you may have some specific expectations from an MBA like the work permit application process after graduation it’s tough to answer the question with a simple yes/no answer why? Because you may be an engineer, doctor, or finance professional and the dynamics are different for each profession.


So to make this article relevant for people from multiple backgrounds I thought it would be interesting to flip the question and ask when is an MBA not worth it By analyzing the counter-views you might just get the answer you’re looking for We’ll cover Seven reasons why an MBA isn't worth it.


7 reasons an MBA is not worth it

1. is when your expectations are unclear

This is a circumstance in which you are aware that you are dissatisfied with your current employment but are unsure of what will make you happier. You have a hazy concept that an MBA would help your career, but that isn't enough.


There’s a reason why business schools include the why MBA essay in their applications When you’re not sure about what you want from the experience you’ll probably not be happy after graduation, A b-school is not the place to gain that clarity, In fact, with all, that’s happening at break-neck speed on campus don’t be surprised if there’s more confusion than clarity after the program.


2. is when your timing is wrong

When you apply too early or too late in your career investing in an MBA may not be worthwhile, The average age of students in various countries and program formats like the two years vs one-year MBA program is quite consistent If you don’t fall in the 80% range no one will stop you from applying, but on the flip side, you may not get the most from the experience.


For example, if you have 10 years of work experience you may be better off looking at one-year programs such as IMD in Switzerland. Instead of the typical American two-year format. Also, remember that an MBA after 30 has its unique set of challenges.


3. is when you have incorrect perceptions about what you’re signing up for

There is nothing wrong with expecting a better job after an MBA that’s possibly the main reason why you’re planning to empty your pockets and take on such a humongous education loan, Business schools are smart, They promote fantastic salaries and jobs that their students have got But have you seen any school promising jobs? Not really.


Think about what you have done in those two years as an international MBA student and how much of it was directly related to the new job you are targeting, If you are aiming for a big career shift ask yourself this apart from the theory that was covered in the class Was any of it of direct and practical relevance for your new employer, The disconnect begins when you start looking at b-schools as job placement agencies instead of educational institutions.


4. when it is less of a degree and more of an escape route

Everyone has job problems That’s when MBA brochures start looking enticing, All those air-brushed high-resolution images of attractive smiling students give you hope.


5. when your choice of MBA program is wrong

There is a mind-boggling range of options to choose from Each one is designed for professionals with various career trajectories and aspirations, When you target programs that have very little street credibility the MBA will not be worth much If you are hoping to give a major twist to your career stick to a full-time MBA program.


You could also get the country and b-school wrong For instance, you might have a full scholarship from the Timbuktu School of Business, but sorry it will not get you into McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, or Google, International MBA programs cannot place you internationally meaning in a completely different country Your best option would be to get a job in the country of graduation or return home after you finish your MBA.


6. You’re happy to embrace mediocrity

The value of an MBA is not just about the degree you’ll get, It’s also about who else was there in your class, When you get into a program that has mediocre students the world outside will think you’re mediocre as well That’s the reason why MBA graduates from top-ranking b-schools are viewed differently by hiring companies compared to those who have just paved their way through an unheard-of MBA college in an unheard-of country, It’s all about the perception.


7. Your post-MBA goals are too ambitious

Nothing stops you from assuming that an MBA will help you launch your million-dollar venture, Your fertile imagination may also convince you that this will happen immediately after you finish graduation, Sorry to burst your bubble, but when all you’ve done before your MBA is software programming, it will be tough to get a front-office job in mergers and acquisitions in a bulge bracket investment bank, It’s good to dream big but if you attach the entire worth of your MBA degree to impractical dreams you have already made it worthless.

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