[marshally]

I picked up an MBA in 2001-2003 and I couldn't agree more.

Did I learn a lot? Absolutely.

Did I meet some great people? Sure.

Worth the expense? Hell no. I could have plowed that money into a startup and learned 10x as much in 1/2 the time.

These days skip the MBA, join a startup incubator, and use the saved hundred grand or so as runway for your startup.

Exception: Ivy League schools put you in a "boys club" for the rest of your life that will open doors at startups, banks, service providers, Venture Capital firms, etc. If you are going to spend the money, for heaven's sake go to Harvard, Stanford, or somewhere else with the killer network.

[shawnee_]

Although I agree, the MBA-dissing is really old. Every time I see yet another one of these articles, I heave a sigh and think "Again? Really? Slow news day?"

That so many people make it out like a stigma to have one, is ridiculous considering that really all it is is a Master's degree.

I decided to get mine because the advanced-level courses it offered were interesting; there is no other degree where you can learn so much about so many industries. A master's degree is also a pre-requisite for a CPA, and at that point I hadn't decided if the CPA was a route I might want to take (my undergrad is in Accounting).

Finished it in one year (2004) at a state school, so the expense wasn't necessarily cost-ineffective. Took classes about strategic thinking for the global marketplace, competitive positioning and marketing, employment discrimination law, negotiation, and learned a lot of the "lingo" that is necessary for industry analysis.

Do I regret it? No. Do I recommend it? Not unless you're a person who likes learning for the sake of learning.

Semi-related topic http://oss.zentu.net/?q=node/153

[te_chris]

Yes an MBA is kind of a Masters degree, but it's not a real Masters degree. If you want to go back to school, better to do some sort of research where you can really exercise your brain and continue on from whatever inspired you @ undergrad, than waste your time learning value frameworks with other MOU wannabes.

[louhong]

I encourage all my friends to go to b-school but personally, I'm opting to try my own startup. Last 2 years have been a lesson on its own and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Since my friends are well connected I'm at least a few intros away if I need anything now.

[bpeters]

It's a case by case basis. Those who want to lead do a startup, those who want to follow and live the easy life go get an MBA, CPA, Masters.

[ryanwaggoner]

I disagree. Lots of MBAs (and CPAs, etc) start and lead companies. Something like 10-20% of the graduates of top 10 MBA programs start a company when they graduate. And lots of people who do startups don't give a shit about leadership, but just want the easy life they think flipping a startup will give them. I think reality is more nuanced than you've portrayed.

[farout]

Oops, you are right there are nuances.

In my case, I just wanted to start companies. Many MBAs are for managing companies. In this case, MBA is ideal.

[farout]

I completely agree.

I was considering a MBA several years ago. My friend made the statement: MBA is about brand recognition. Since you want to be local, go to only MIT or Harvard, otherwise just start your company.

Apparently Jack Welch made a similar comment when speaking to Sloan students a couple years back that angered the dean. When asked which courses to take, Welch replied (paraphrased), "it doesn't matter. this is a country club. network. That is value you are being provided."

[kenjackson]

This does make one inquire -- is there nothing to learn about business? Or is it impossible to teach business in a school setting?

I'd find it odd to hear doctors say the same thing about medical school, or even lawyers about law school.

[moomba]

I think nobody disagrees with the idea that you will learn some stuff while getting your MBA. What people disagree with is the idea that you will learn more getting an MBA at a lower tier school than you will working at a startup. MBA's are great for opening doors, you will get more doors opened working at a startup or going to an Ivy League school than getting an MBA at a lower tiered school.