| Topic Name: |
Advice, anybody? |
| Message Name: |
Figure on the MBA |
| Date Posted: |
02/10/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
Hi,
Here is my background. I have a Master of Computer Science from one of the top schools in the country. My GPA is not exactly outstanding. After school, I have been working in some big computer/software companies as developers. I am kind of bore at my job and am considering switching my career to management/strategy consulting. Realistically, how difficult is it for a person with my background to make such a move? How should I prepare myself? Do I really need a MBA from one of the top schools to get into the field?
I am very lost.... Any advice appreciated.
Thanks! |
| Message: |
Yes, you will need a top school MBA to get into *management* or *strategy* consulting.
There are two major routes in ... undergrads enter as business analysis & stay 2-3 years before going back for an MBA, and MBAs enter as associates. A second track (often called "APD") exists for graduate degree holders without MBA & with limited experience ... essentially a fast track business analyst role, possibly with some internal "mini-MBA" training.
Others aith your degree might have a chance. If one's total work experience is limited, a CS degree holder might conceivably be admitted to either the BA or APD tracks. And, CS is just the sort of analytical background that one would often like to see in such a candidate. However, I can't think of any mgmt consulting or strategy firm which would hire such a candidate with a marginal GPA, unless they had some outstanding, very successful management work experience. Your background is not going to get you into strategy firms.
*If* you can get into a top MBA program, you *might* get interviews with strategy firms at the end of two years. However, it is iffy. Admission to top MBA programs is competitive (more so this year), and you will have to develop strong business sense, case analysis ability & interview style.
If you can get into the top MBA programs, I would say "do it," although you may not end up in a strategy firm on the output side.
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With your background, there is a little grerater chance for you to join one of the systems intergation firms (EDS, IBM, Accenture, CGE&Y, PwC, etc.). However, that is also non-trivial if your grades are marginal and your work experience has not given you specific background these firms may be seeking in experienced hires at any specific time. Also, while they have different business than the strategy houses, which is a more likely match for your skills, they are also fairly competitive and demanding internally.
Bythe way, though, not of thjose firms will hire you for their real "consulting" work either, unless you have a decent (top 10 or 20) MBA. At best, you'd get into some IT based work, maybe workign on parge packages in ERP, CRM, Supply Chain, etc. without the MBA.
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By the way, last year & this year are incredibly bad for consulting in general. Marginal-to-good candidates will probably find the upcoming year prettyy tough as well.
So, I'd say the MBA is not a bad option, if you want to leave your current job. It may or may not get you into strategy consulting, depending on your MBA performance & interviewing skills ... but it will set ypou up for a career change.
Option value generated at a top 20 MBA school is pretty high, if you can afford the two years.
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