| Topic Name: |
PHD to MBA |
| Message Name: |
nut shell |
| Date Posted: |
07/01/2007 |
| In Reply To: |
darterfish,
Your points about the reasons people want to go to B-schools are correct: networking opportunities, recruitment/employment opportunities, and education/learning opportunities. My point is that without the original post, we can't know WHICH ONE of the above opportunities the poster was most hoping for.
Unfortunately, based on bioPHD_to_MBA's login name, I can make some guesses on what he hopes to get out of B-school, based on what I know about the bio industry's culture and values:
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bioPhD may want the letters after his name just to meet what he sees as the minimum requirement to qualify for good jobs that pay a decent wage.
The reason I changed majors halfway through my senior year in undergrad school is that I found out that in biotechnology (my original field), no one hires a BS to do anything more important than cleaning glassware and no one pays them more than $25k-$30k. You get to do REAL work ONLY after you have an MS if you're in industry or a PhD if you're in academia.
Poor bioPhD might think that all industries care just as much about letters after people's names as the biotech industry does - as you pointed out, darterfish, this is NOT TRUE.
- bioPhD may want to go to a top-tier B-school just to meet what he sees as the minimum requirement to qualify for a good job with a decent salary AND decent career opportunities going forward.
The PhD part of bioPhD's login suggests (as you pointed out) that he's working in academia, since you need a PhD to get a real biotech job (and not be a lab tech making $25k a year) in academia.
OF COURSE academia thinks the school name on the diploma matters as much as, if not more than the letters after the school name. Academia means "working for a school". Every employer wants to believe in the value of its brand; if the employer is a school, the value of its brand is the value that the school's name adds to its graduates' diplomas beyond the value of the degree itself.
Again, poor bioPhD might think that all career opportunities with good employers ONLY become available if you graduate from a top-tier school. As you pointed out, darterfish, this is also NOT TRUE.
In short, we do need a shout-out from bioPhD_to_MBA in order for this discussion to generate more useful advice. As we both know, success in the world of business is about RESULTS, not DEGREES; opportunities are usually CREATED by individuals, not GRANTED as a reward for getting a degree. And there are plenty of ways for a smart, ambitious person to create business and career opportunities without getting an MBA.
If you are getting an MBA, it should be because you feel that an MBA will make it easier for you to CREATE networking, employment, and/or learning opportunities for yourself, not because you feel that no one will GRANT you these opportunities unless and until you get an MBA.
I got my own MBA because I wanted to create specific learning and networking opportunities for myself, and I picked my B-school with that goal firmly in mind. And it worked - I graduated this past May, and within 2 weeks of graduation, I got a new job that I truly enjoy. This new job is already providing me with experience and learning opportunities that will help me move toward my ultimate career and business goals MUCH faster than was possible before I went to B-school.
This is what I wish for bioPhD_to_MBA and all potential MBA students - that each person uses his MBA as a valuable tool in implementing his career plan - OR that each person finds another way to go after his career goals and avoids wasting time and money getting a degree he doesn't need.
Just my long-winded 2 cents.
Choosebutchoosewisely |
| Message: |
In a nutshell Biophd_to_mba wanted to get into an MBA program with as few years working as possible. No real explanation as to why or for what purpose, no 5-10-15 yr plan, just min requirements for getting into a top 10 school.
Your correct, in industry they are looking for BS degrees with a bunch of experience or a Masters degree with only a few. PhD to run a lab. Only stay in academia if you want to stay in academia. If you don't desire to be a prof, get out at the soonest opportunity.
As for the MBA. Like you said, it is a tool to leverage yourself into a better position. Sometimes you need it, sometimes you don't. I know a few people who have PhDs, did an academic PDF, did their 2yrs of B-school then still couldn't break into industry.
What happened? They went from scientist stream, to management stream, with less qualifications then the people who got a bachelor degree, 5yrs experience, then went to b-school. Sucks for them.
I wanted out of academia, developed my network, rattled it and made the move. Too much school got me me stuck in academia, I figured another degree wouldn't help me out!
Glad to hear you found peace and happiness at the end of your road...I am still looking for mine! I just knew it was never being a stuff prof at any university.
-darterfish
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