Any FIU or UM MBAs on the board?

[heydade]

Originally Posted by robertobaggio

Unlike MS degrees in Engineering, where what you could learn in class at a large well research funded state school could be on par with what you learn at MIT or Stanford, the biggest value of an MBA is the networking with fellow students, alumni and the reputation of the school in the eyes of potential recruiters. That is really what MBA students at top schools are paying for, much more than what you actually learn in class. Therefore, an MBA at a non top 20 schools is not worth the money and the time in my opinion. No Florida school is in the TOP 20 and almost no fortunate 500 is in Florida. This is proven by the average salary of UM's and UF's MBA graduates which is around $65k compared to the $100k or more at the top schools. Also, I believe 50% of UM MBA's have no work experience prior entering to the program, compared to less than 1% at the top schools. That pretty much explains your observation and how wasteful is an MBA at UM.

I need to agree 100% with this poster. My sister graduated with her MBA from MIT (Sloan school of management) in 2002 and the amount of money she makes right now is SICK. She is so "in demand" that everyone wants her and only the lucky ones get her. My dad also graduated from MIT...but with a masters in chemical engineering back in 1969.

I became a firefighter...lol But have worked myself up through the ranks and am doing pretty good.

[schiphol]

Well, the poster who mentioned FIU MBAs internationally is certainly encouraging. However, I do have a bit of a defeatist's attitude when I think about how people only care about the name of the school you went to. I definitely plan on working hard to obtain a great job and great position, but I don't think I'm going to do finance or anything like that; isn't that where it counts the most? I work in IT.
I'm not from Florida, so I was really wondering if obtaining this degree from FIU and leaving Florida with it will do anything to raise my visibility. I'm sure I'd have no problem finding a job in Miami although I do think MBAs are a dime a dozen here (I've seen non-English speaking women in admin positions with them all over UM-Jackson Hospital) but I plan on escaping as soon as I get the diploma mailed to me.

[heydade]

Originally Posted by schiphol

Well, the poster who mentioned FIU MBAs internationally is certainly encouraging. However, I do have a bit of a defeatist's attitude when I think about how people only care about the name of the school you went to. I definitely plan on working hard to obtain a great job and great position, but I don't think I'm going to do finance or anything like that; isn't that where it counts the most? I work in IT.
I'm not from Florida, so I was really wondering if obtaining this degree from FIU and leaving Florida with it will do anything to raise my visibility. I'm sure I'd have no problem finding a job in Miami although I do think MBAs are a dime a dozen here (I've seen non-English speaking women in admin positions with them all over UM-Jackson Hospital) but I plan on escaping as soon as I get the diploma mailed to me.

schiphol airport ? Are you Dutch ? Nice airport....

[SoBe_ToBe?]

Originally Posted by robertobaggio

This is proven by the average salary of UM's and UF's MBA graduates which is around $65k compared to the $100k or more at the top schools. Also, I believe 50% of UM MBA's have no work experience prior entering to the program, compared to less than 1% at the top schools. That pretty much explains your observation and how wasteful is an MBA at UM.

I would argue that $65k is a very good starting salary for someone with no work experience.

Further, I would argue that the starting salaries at the top schools (mine included) are partially driven by the work experience of the student body prior to entering the program.

I think it's wrong to conclude that an MBA from UM is wasteful based on these factors.

[schiphol]

Originally Posted by heydade

schiphol airport ? Are you Dutch ? Nice airport....

Nope, but Amsterdam is probably my favorite city in the world besides NYC.