Which program, where?

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>I need some input from people that don’t me and might already have experince. I am finalizing the idea of going back to school and getting an MBA after working in the field for 6 years.
Background: Married with 3 children. Own my own business as a general contractor and have worked for other big building companies in the past as a superintendent or project manager. Undergrad BS in Construction Management, Business Management and Japanese from BYU. Grades were good but not great. Lots of volunteer work in the community.

  1. Is an EMBA program easier to get accepted into than an MBA program?
  2. Will an EMBA get me into a new career in a more stable environment or do I need to sell the farm and go full time to get an MBA? I don’t want to give up my business as it is a good way to pay for school, but I keep hearing that the schools will force me to put it aside. I live in Utah now and so BYU is a good option if I can keep my business. If I need to sell everything and focus on school then I could really go anywhere which brings me to my next question.
  3. Where do I need to consider going, and is there any where to find out which schools are best for certain specialties? My research shows that BYU has a really good program, but will going to the same grad school as my undergrad affect my resume?
    I haven’t decided what to focus on but I know I don’t want to put my family through hell unless it is going to pay off.
    Any tips would be gladly appreciated. Honesty is always welcomed.</p>
2

<p>I would try and find a part-time program if possible. EMBA is a great option, though I don’t know about ease of admissions or success in leading to career transitions. A part-time MBA that offers the services of the career resources (counciling, fairs, mentorship,etc.) might be a good option, especially since you are married with children. The MBA, full time, is a good option for career switchers because they get an internship that will help lead to that switch. As someone who is responsible for his family an internship might not be the right path.</p>

<p>I do not think that going to the same school that you did your undergrad would hurt.</p>

<p>My advice; talk to a career counciler. They will not only help you decide what the best path for you is, but will also help you figure out the best way to go about getting on that path. I wish I had talked to one before starting my MBA, not that they would have talked me out of getting one, but I might have gone about it differently.</p>

<p>Good Luck.</p>

3

<ol>
<li>Yes</li>
<li>EMBA’s can provide students with opportunities to switch careers but these are generally quite limited compared to those afforded full time students.</li>
<li> That would depend on what you want to do (career wise) and which schools you can get into. You have a good background for Commercial Real Estate…albeit it sounds like you may want something more stable.</li>
</ol>