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Question regarding furthur education

Veteran

Rameez Iqba Sugar Land, TX

As I am closing in on finishing my bachelors I am researching where I want to attend to finish my MBA. One factor I ran into is most schools offering MBA are either AACB accredited and there are some that are ACSB accredited . I understand the whole concept of regional accredited schools are the best but when it comes to further accreditation into program which one of these two are more attractive to employers or are they the same ???

Also I am a 92f ( petroleum supply specialist ). Usually right if the bat pet engineering comes to mind if you want to put your 92F exp on paper but it was too much for me so I switched to supplychain management as a major whole in service?? Any thoughts on what education majors will reflect the most in regards to what a 92F does .

13 July 2017 5 replies Education & Training

Answers

Veteran

Austin Higgins Chula Vista, CA

I have an MBA from a Top 30 school. I recruit for the MBA program and have also taught at the honors business college.

When you get an MBA, you are buying 2 things: a network and a brand. Most people will learn something in an MBA (I learned a lot because my undergrad degree was in English). The education you get will be identical in just about every MBA program. The key differentiators are the brand and network.

So, find a school that will give you the brand you want and the network you want. Generally speaking, go to the best school you can get in to, ideally top 10-20. I regularly recommend people do not go to the MBA program I went to because it isn't for everyone.

Some MBA programs stand out regionally but not nationally (SMU is a great example). Some stand out nationally no matter what (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton...).

Figure out what you want to do after the MBA program, then determine what brand and network will get you there. If all you want is education and you have zero interest in brands and networks, do not get an MBA. Just buy some books.

Advisor

Carl Legge West Chester, PA

I can't comment on either of those accreditations, but I think you should consider which MBA program is most recognized. As an employer, I see the competitiveness of the applicant's MBA as a function of how competitive the applicant is. It helps me gauge the academic level, the work experience, if the person had to interview to get into the program, etc. If no one has ever heard of either school I don't think it will make much difference which accreditation you have in my opinion.

I would add to John's comment that yes, MBA's are really common nowadays. It is more about where you did the MBA program, what internships you did and what experience it gave you, etc. versus just having one. If it is a no-name program, it might actually hurt you. You might want to consider waiting on the MBA, getting some experience while taking a GMAT course to boost your entrance scores, before just rushing into an MBA just to have one. One thing is for sure, although no one can relate to your 92F experience, most people can relate to what an MBA is and that helps them understand where you are at in the field.

As for the comment about compensation, I think it is industry dependent. Entry level managers/directors might not make much more than technicians with specialities, but I can tell you that as they move up in responsibility, they run companies. If you want to manage folks, then an MBA will help you do that possibly, but also keep in mind that you can have a specialization and an MBA. Hopefully money isn't the only thing driving your decisions, but more about following what you love and how your strengths might help an organization the most.

Lastly, just a bit of advice--I had a hard time trying to understand your second paragraph. If you want folks to help you, you have to post professionally. It looks more like something I would see via facebook/twitter language.

Good Luck finishing your bachelors and thank you for your service!

Advisor

John Green Cary, NC

ASCB vs AACB : I would forget about both of them.

Find a school that teaches the specialization thats relevant in todays job market.

Check Robert Half guides to see what occupations you are interested in that are in high demand. The "high demand" means those that pay the most.

https://www.roberthalf.com/workplace-research/salary-guides

Then determine which skill specializations will fill that position you found.

For example, if it were Cyber-security, you could go to this school :

http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/cyber-security/index.cfm

The main point I am making is, forget about getting an MBA. Get a market-demanded skill instead. Getting an MBA will not help you get a job. Getting a market-demanded skill will immediately get you half-a-dozen job offers.

How many people do you know who ran up huge student loan debt for useless degrees ? Don't be one of those.

Veteran

Rameez Iqba Sugar Land, TX

Thank you for the reply Mr John and what about the ASCB vs AACB ??

Advisor

John Green Cary, NC

MBA credentials are a dime-a-dozen. You should be sure to pursue some specialization that is highly demanded in the market.

http://www.umuc.edu/academic-programs/cyber-security/index.cfm

Just getting an MBA does not differentiate you from other candidates. Your key differentiators should be some unique specialization.

https://www.roberthalf.com/workplace-research/salary-guides

These days, managers / directors are usually not as highly compensated as technicians.

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