Excessive Professor Salary at Thunderbird

[burbuja0512]

I would be careful overestimating the value of the connections made at B-school, but also careful under-estimating them as well. Here is what I mean:

There are LOTS of ways to gain connections in the business world. B-school is only one, and a costly one at that. Yes, there are tons of ways to network and meet people and if you are savvy and REALLY (I mean REALLY) motivated, you'll meet top people without ever having set foot in a classroom. I had a really good salary and job before I even had an undergraduate degree. I have made great connections in my MBA program who may help me in the future, but they may not.. I'm not really sure yet. Presently the value of my MBA seems to be in its uniqueness, combined with my skills and work experience.

If you are someone who is already well connected and already has a good job, or someone who is driven enough to find ways to meet people in your chosen industry, then why pay more? Get the cheapest MBA you can that's from a legit, non-degree mill school.

However, if you're just starting off and lack a mentor who can teach you the ropes and feel totally clueless about how to make it in the business world, it might be better to go to a school where you'll meet a lot of people who can help you, not to mention that the better B-schools may inadvertently launch your career simply through their superior internship programs. I don't know about you guys, but I am totally unaware of any internship opportunities from the Big 3 or even online MBA's. This could be crucial for the young and inexperienced learner.

Lastly, what are your career goals? Do you want to be in executive management at a Fortune 500 company? If so, then you better start looking to see which top programs you can attend. No, not all top leaders have been to ivy league schools, but you will have a much higher chance of making key contacts there than with other options. However, if your business aspirations don't go beyond middle management (and there's nothing wrong with this!) then you can do this will good old fashioned hard work and dedication and any old "check the box" degree.

Remember... even the top schools can't guarantee a great job within the business world. It's extremely competitive depending on the industry and a business degree isn't like a medical degree.. a BSBA or an MBA teaches you theories and concepts, but there is no guarantee that you'll know how to run a successful business or even make good strategic decisions. So, in many cases, it's just a survival of the fittest environment where the best, the lucky, the most well-connected, and the most cutthroat get beyond middle management. If this idea doesn't appeal to you, then B-school should be reconsidered regardless of which university you've been considering.