<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I was wondering if older engineers could comment.</p>
<p>For engineers hoping to advance on a management track, how much does prestige matter (if at all) for MBA? </p>
<p>Or is it usually the case that aspiring managers pick up the part-time MBA at whatever local institution is available?</p>
<p>How many people actually drop out of the work force and go full-time, as required at the top b-schools?</p>
<p>Thx.</p>
<p>There are certainly many possible answers to your question. As you say, some people take the MBA part time and some FT or a combination of both. </p>
<p>MBA teaches the language of business. As one moves up in any organization, they are faced with budget and finance issues more than specific technical problems. Certainly coming from an engineering background it makes sense to have some finance training if your goal is to move up. </p>
<p>After the MBA there is usually some recruitment that affords grads the chance to explore new opportunities. I know a couple of people who went from consulting engineering to brokerage after their MBA. Certainly in that case, they had no ambitions at their old firms - or engineering for that matter - in all cases it was related to money, since they earned a 300% raise. </p>
<p>I know others where the employer paid for the MBA in a self-vanishing loan scheme. In that case, they have stayed on with the employer to advance their career. </p>
<p>Each situation is different. Some people want to move up others want to get out. It is difficult to generalise.</p>