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by tptacek 2499 days ago
I never studied business, but did spend a couple years as a product manager working with MBAs, and what I was told --- this could definitely be wrong --- about business degrees and, more importantly, business school is that most of the value was in physically attending and networking, and that you generally wanted to be in one of the top programs or not do it at all.

On the other hand, I have heard from other people that accounting classes are super valuable.
2 comments
phaus 2499 days ago
My CIS degree was basically business management with 2 programming 101 classes, each in a different language.

Micro and Macroeconomics were fascinating to me. They might be useful to someone but I don't run a business so I can't comment on that.

Accounting was pretty rigorous and I could easily see that being useful, if nothing else just for the ability to gain insight into the process and an appreciation for how complex it is.

Every other class about things like communication, leadership, managing people, and project management just seemed like common sense.

I went to an online school so I missed out on the networking. I could easily see that being the most valuable part or potentially the only useful part of a business degree. If I were OP I'd read a couple books instead.

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rolltiide 2499 days ago
I agree with that sentiment but it is important to recognize that it is largely a class divide

People that go to US non-Ivy League non-Stanford MBA’s have a very different opinion. I’m glad they’ve found/rationalized utility in their choice but as someone that has once hit a glass ceiling, I’ll pass and bet on winners.

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PopeDotNinja 2499 days ago
If you want an idea of just how many doors your MBA will open, just look at the size of their career center. I'd it's staffed by a part time college intern, your MBA won't open the front door to your front even if you hand it the keys. I'd they're pretty big and matched up with a whole bunch of alumni, they are future donors after all, then that network everyone talks about building in school is something you can maybe tap into.
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