I don’t think I’ve ever met another human being who knows what the acronym “MBA” stands for who has ever claimed that it is. I don’t even think the people at HBS would say that about their own degree, and trust me, they are quite confident in the power of their product.
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As AI percolates into companies, many layers of middle management will be eliminated. This is not some dystopian view.
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A quick reminder: this site exists to provide a friendly, constructive space for students and families going through the college admissions process. Personal attacks will not be tolerated—please focus on the facts and arguments. If you find yourself repeatedly making the same point, please step away from the thread.
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I feel like that’s a conversation with scope that is a bit broader than what to do about MBAs. AI and what the future holds seems like a different thread.
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You’re right. It is a topic for a different thread
That would be Will AI Automate Most White Collar Jobs or Is AI Ushering in the End of the World, for those interested.
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One of our kids was required to do either an MBA or MPH during their fellowship year (they were being paid for work during the fellowship year). The MBA or MPH was no additional cost to them. Our kid chose the MPH because it aligned better with their interests. But they could have done the MBA.
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Agree.
An MBA is not a cure-all. But neither is a doctorate, an MPH, a master’s degree in any engineering discipline, etc.
But the MBA allows for optionality that many of these other advanced degrees do not. It’s not perfect- because employers do their own gate-keeping in addition to whatever signaling and gate-keeping the MBA programs have already done. So thinking that you’re going from a district manager role at CVS to a private equity firm- JUST because you have an MBA is a bit delusional.
But there are some career pivots that are just MUCH easier to do with an MBA. And involve a lot less “elbow grease”.
Is it for everyone? No. Does it always pay off (both in job satisfaction and in compensation?) no. And it cannot reverse the tide of structural changes in the economy/talent market.
But it can help you leapfrog, pivot, do a 180 degree change, reboot in some sectors, in some functions, and for an early career professional it may pay off huge dividends down the road.
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100%.
Right. Neither is a degree in computer science. There are no cure-alls.
The unique blend of career, family, financial, and personal circumstances conspires to make rigid, categorical prescriptions about what to do or not do of exceedingly limited utility.
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A lot of kids in technical fields are thinking that given the state of innovation etc in their fields, their 20s is a time for doing stuff and creating value rather than a time for sitting in a classroom which is not where the action is. There is an incredibly large career opportunity cost (not just money) for steeping out for 2 years.
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I was invited to observe an innovation competition not that long ago. Bunch of second year MBA students (and one first year as I recall). It was standing room only in the VC section. Some were small; some were the big famous names with the deep pockets.
Apparently, they don’t object to students sitting in classrooms during their 20’s if it means not only being able to launch an innovative startup, but also having the skills to structure a compelling investor deck. The MBA curriculum has a lot of old-school stuff, but it ALSO teaches “I want your money and here’s why you should give it to me”.
Very impressive all around.
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I didn’t think you were a cheerleader for business school 
I’m not a cheerleader for anything except investing in one’s own human capital. Lesson learned from a refugee family…
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It could just mean continuous learning, wherever you are.
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There is a large scale ferment going on in many professions, and there is aggressive debate about specialization vs generalization going on. We shouldn’t be blissfully prescribing ideas that are 20-30 years old for the next 20-30 years. Everyone should step back and think very hard for their own careers.
In that spirit let me offer you this newsletter from a husband about his wife’s line of work — both wife and husband are absolute top of the field in their chosen fields.
There is some wisdom here. Feels silly to fight the old/last war. Whatever value we ascribe to these institutions and credentials will likely be disrupted in a blink of an eye. Hard to talk relative value when the future of work is opaque.
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I often wonder - sure, I have an MBA from the late 90s but what did I get out of it. Same with our kids today and all the computer stuff.
AI and all this - well what’s in ten years. 20 years, etc.
But that’s why people can go back and take classes/get certifications.
I probably wouldn’t be allowed to do an MBA today since I have one - but it’d probably have many differences. But maybe that’s why all these other things - Masters in Analytics and Executive Education programs are out there.
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Uh, five years….?
We had a woman in my MBA program who had an MBA from another place. If you can get in, I’m sure they’ll take your money. And experience.
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Age is a significant admissions’ factor for the most elite MBA programs. Starts getting tougher to be admitted to an elite MBA program once an applicant is in his/her early 30s.
Unless things have changed a lot (and they certainly could have), I think the opposite is true. I got into my M7 1000 years ago largely because I was relatively older and had some accretive work experience. A guess, of course, because no one knows why they get into these places.