Though most (unfortunately learning from bad experiences is part of improving Rutgers and the future experiences of students-today there were several threads on this alone) have read and not so happy with me lamenting-really based on my undergrad experience-I have yet to beneft from my 1998 Rutgers MBA-and it cost me a ton.
That said let me I first want to offer a few caveats-and a John Otterstadt analogy.
1)****First-unless you have a few years of experience under your belt and qute possibly nowadays a good track record of success ones resume, the cost-benefit will likely not be worth it. John likes to participate in the "tough mudder"-a m*ther of an obstacle course designed to push one to the limits. I would think if the Russians attack those who have tough mudder training will be the ones who survive-and thrive. Well job experience and related success ARE that obstacle course you must go through to have a successful career.
Else the MBA-or any advanced degree-could well be useless. I have met plenty of people with MBAs and advanced degrees in jobs such as real estate sales/apprasers, and financial servces who didn;'t even need undergrad degrees for what they do.
2) In general go (top-hopefully) grad school to both improve yourself, to learn and because you enjoy learning. Any advanced degree may not increase your salary-or it may take time.
Back in 1986-1988 I attended The UNC School of Public Health-over time considered the top program of its kind but then badly needing an overhall and improved career services. It was a bad program ironically in partv because the program received so much research dollars that the profs ddn't often prepare, the curriculum was too publc health specific and catered/seemed to help those who were already in the field (the undergrads, both in and out of some of pur classes, received a better education because the profs tended to use texts vs very specific notes. One of my Profs-a well known runty little competitive guy (Michigan Grad) who incessantly complained that someone was usimg "his" locker at the schoold gym used to seriously joke that his own family didn't understand what he taught! Neither did I. At UNC a few experienced, connected, and resumed individuals from schools such as Dook , did well. Most of the undergrads (likely better students as admissions were tougher).were goimg on to grad school-other majors and professional school and better overall reputed schools. ***However for many such as nurses the tight market for such meant that Publlic Health grads the were nurses went back to there former jobs as the former jobs would pay more than a purely specific Public Health job. Inexperiemced undergrads bascally ate their degrees and moved on, Heard one fellow grad complain on radio as I was temping with my degree for $10-$12 n hour or so (better than many current jobs). Just saw another of my then inexperienced, not so nice female classmates on NBCs "Hoda and Kathy Lee"-a two part lose weight segment.. She is a real estate agent in PA.
3)Consider specialties other than a pure MBA. Perhapsa an entrepreneurship program.
Unfortunately it was based in Newark (a big problem with the MBA program then and now?) but I regret not goimng for my CPA. Ive known several hot, average to above average smarts hot girls who sat and earned their CPAs by age 25 maybe 23 (I thnk you can sit for NY atv age 23) and seem to have kick butt careers. One youmg "lady" I had the hots for at my old gym was and still seems to be a social mess (addicted to muscleheads, supposedly sexually assaulted HS, roofied at original college, slashed her wrists before being pulled from sc hool) landedback at RVCC, sant and earned her CPA through RVCC and professionally is doing incredibly it seems (recedntly named one of 10 top young accountants in NJ, great job at a NB accounting firm, teaches at RVCC). It helps (as we've discussed on the boards re pharma reps) she's hot.
4) Back '98 the one and only person I know who got a wall street job offer (last I heard considered a top transportaton analyst-have seen on CNBC) told me that: (this was even before the collapse) Wallt Sreet jobs are extremely tough and a top 20 school makes ALL the diference. Said Rutgers isn't one of those schools (he used many contacts, was a good looking guy and had no trouble "kssimg up". (Syracuse undergrad). Said if you aren't on and succeeding on Wall Street by age 27, you aren't gonna make it on Wall Street (27 is considered old-from my own current experience my best advice is to keep working at any job and don't wind uo lomng term unemployed because then landing a good job is almost impossible. I picture todays job market as those succeeding because they were employed and working wth experience before the mid-2000s latest-and those unable to get work/unemployed long term. Recruiters also stlll hire recent grads of course.
5) Alumni graduation stats and "accredation" (for the most part-at least with nonprofessional schools)-are bogus. School cook their graduation rates and salary stats. Ive grsduated from three programs/degrees (plus real estate school and SORA training),been out of work long term yet NOBODY has ever called me or surveyed me for this purpose.
Also when applying to grad schools look at a school's undergrad reputation vs "accredation". I sjhyed away from Dooks related grad program because of the degree title, time (my one prof editing my essays IS an editior and despite positive comments he stll made upteen edits) and money (my Dad who liked Dean Smith saw Chapel Hill and the campus, knewc Dooks tuiton-and I had to thereafter beg him to stop at Dook for a t-shirt).
During our program both undergrads and a Dook faculty member or two said UNC was the better program (kimd of analogous to Terry Shea being voted BE coach of the year at 6-5-thus not losing his job because the other schools were pretty much beating up on Shea's teams). However come interview time Dook had a published alumni directory to begin with, was well networked and well, IS DOOK
I had one employer wrtte me amnd say they only interview students from specific schools (Dook was one).
6) Internships and placement/alumni connections are often the end-all. ***Do whatever you can to have several internships during school even if it means taking time off. There are diiferences between bad and good internships. Network NOW as stats show that those who have GOOD internships during school dol better than those who don't.
Some top schools suchas Dook se t me specific alumni directories FOR THAT PROGRAM.
***Somethimg thatv tends to fly under the radar are SCHOOLS THAT REQURE AN INTERNSHIP-AND PLACE YOU-AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM. Looking back a great idea. You get experiemce, networking, pick up job skills and get to test the field/position.
***Two schools that I believe thatv are set up this way are Drexel and Northeastern.
6A) Having a top, organized carer services department is essdential. Recruiters are fickle-For many jobs its a seller's market so they don't have to worry. In my experience back in 1998 the Rutgers MBA program lacked because technically the program was based out of Newark-and career services was located there. Both students such as myself and recruiters didn't want to go to Newark to recruit-so they didn't.. MBAs werent allowed to interview on campus with gthe undergrads on of Busch because MBAs didn't pay into thhe underegrad.
system. after one successful interview and offer I was told I no longer interview on Busch.
Also with MBA recruiting I saw MINIMAL entry level type jobs if that.
