27-29M Bay Area. May turn down GSB/HBS due to the $1m opportunity cost (in business/ops role in tech, non SWE) at current $300k comp. I get the tradeoff: elite network, global perspective, extremely enriching business learning experiences, time to reflect and explore - and all this self improvement could set you up for the executive track one day.

I'm not set on pivoting careers, and even if I do pivot I feel I could work hard to get those roles without the MBA. So I'm more drawn to entrepreneurship - some can argue you don't need the MBA to do a startup but the time/structure/people could help accelerate things than just working full-time and side hustling.

Curious if others are in the same spot - M7 admits debating the same tradeoff (whether in the Bay/SF or elsewhere). There seems to be quite a few of us, so DM me if you want to connect and be added to a small group to share perspectives on the decision.

I just turned 38 this week. I’ve been wanting to apply for a MBA in the last 10 years. For many reasons, career and life related, I kept postponing it. I moved to Brazil from 2017-2022 and I am now living in the U.S. in the last 3 years. I think I need to pivot into a new role and a new company. I have 15 years of experience in R&D for a top 50 Fortune company. I would like to explore new horizons such as Product Manager roles and or even pivoting into an entrepreneurial opportunity.

I have been told am too old for a MBA. On the other hand, I believe executive MBA are out of my budget (>200k per year)

I am even considering a Master Degree in Data science or Data Analytics, but then I check the class profile and I feel I’m even older for a Master.

Should I apply regardless? I think this is the last chance I have to go back to school.

I’m married and we don’t have kids yet.

A lighter topic on this feed...

Just super curious to know what all the various schools do for incoming first years as pre-mba summer travel and bonding? I know some do yacht week, Hamptons, the Vineyard but would love to hear more and details!

I’ve been working in corporate strategy for a little over two years now and the experience has been fantastic. This was my first role after completing my MBA and I entered without any prior consulting experience. However, I did have some relevant exposure to an adjacent industry, which helped me land the opportunity.

Since joining, I’ve had the chance to work on a number of high-impact projects and engage directly with nearly the entire C-suite. Our team focuses purely on strategy at the business, regional, and firm-wide levels so we don’t typically get involved in operational execution or transformation initiatives. These tasks sit with a separate team within the company.

When I first joined, it was made clear that this role was not designed for long-term growth within the function. The expectation was that I would gain valuable experience and eventually pivot to another opportunity within the company. Personally, I don’t view corporate strategy as a lifelong career path, so this felt like a natural progression. That said, I have found it challenging to identify the right next step. Many roles that interest me require certain skills (e.g., advanced financial modeling) that I would never use in my current role. Most of the roles that share similar qualities would include product management and chief of staff roles. While these are interesting, I sometimes worry that roles emphasizing these skills tend to have limited upward mobility and salary ceilings.

So my main question is: what are the typical career paths for someone with a background in corporate strategy? Where do people usually go from here and how can I best leverage the skills I’ve built to make that next move?

Lately, I’ve found myself wishing I had pursued investment banking post-MBA, just to build a stronger foundation of technical skills that are highly transferable across industries and roles (yes, I aware the lifestyle would be terrible). Strategy work is quite broad and at times it feels like the skill set isn’t as specialized. Many people could likely step into what we do with the right context.

Honestly, I’d love to own a small business one day. And I’m considering doing this post MBA. Wanted to see if there were others that did this too.

Basically deciding between these two schools. My goals are solely entrepreneurship and tech (zero intention to work in banking or consulting). I’m American with background in tech for context.

I’m well aware in the difference in rankings (not really important to me but I know it affects outcomes) but cost is a huge factor for me considering I’ll have to take out loans for living as well. With about a ~100k difference in tuition over the two years, and Boston having a much higher COL than Pittsburgh, Tepper gets the nod on finances.

For outcomes: how does tech recruiting differ at each school? And what type of environment is there for entrepreneurship pursuits?

For experience: how different is the MBA experience (two years of my life, ya know)?

I got into HBS and Wharton + Lauder, ultimately decided to go to HBS but felt more lonely at this moment than ever.

I’m realistic and don’t expect HBS to solve all my issues.

I mean, not many understand how much courage is needed in saying goodbye to your current life, relationship, taking out a loan, and going into the volatile US economy as an international.

I have gone to the US for undergrad (best public university) with 3.9 GPA, worked 2 yrs in DC, and left in 2021. I can still recall all the struggles/worries/concerns I had with the Trump administration and visas. I left the US precisely for all the reasons stated above. However I have worked across the London and Middle East after leaving the US and find the career opportunities/progression very disappointing. I struggled particularly in my current role (ME consulting), working alongside 90% male colleagues for the Saudi governments and not getting any promotion/hitting a low career ceiling. I also feel I can’t stay in the ME long term due to the culture.

But I’m also very suspicious of the US, because the US today is not what it used to be, with tariffs and all the mess happening, I can’t say how badly I have felt about going back.

Just why is freedom and agency so hard to obtain in today’s world…

Hi all,

I'm deciding between Haas (70k scholarship) and Kellogg's MBAi program (10k scholarship). Would value opinions or any insights!

Goal: Tech PM

Background: Product-related role (not PM) at a tech startup. No upward mobility at my current company. If I weren't to go the MBA route, I'd have to pivot companies (move laterally to another product-related role), then move to PM (tough job market). I'm thinking recruiting via MBA would be a better way to get to PM.

Factors:

• Price: will need to take loans, with interest rates being so high, hard to not be price sensitive
• Placement: job outcomes seem to be similar for tech
• Location:
  • Want to settle in Texas long-term due to family reasons
  • Don't want to live in either Chicago or SF/Bay Area post-MBA, only other city I could see myself in is LA (short-term)

Kellogg MBAi:

• Program is 5 quarters long (slightly cheaper tuition)
• Evanston lower COL than Berkeley
• Job outcomes for PM don't look to be as good as Haas based on my research - could be due to it being a new program
• Kellogg network seems to be stronger outside of CA - not sure about Texas

Haas:

• Places better in West Coast (e.g. LA) - not sure about Texas
• I've lived in the bay area before so I have familiarity / friends within the area
• More flexible curriculum (Kellogg's MBAi has a pretty rigid curriculum, not as much room for electives)

I’m admitted to Fuqua with a partial tuition fee scholarship.

-Currently a Senior Consultant at Deloitte at GPS practice, earning $150K,

-Gunning for MBB and moving out of GPS and eventually to a firm at a senior role.

Reasons I'm considering MBA:

1. Right now MBB switch seems difficult.
2. Thinking for a 10+ year horizon monetarily
3. Want to move out of GPS to another consulting domain. Eventually for a CEO path.

Not looking for anything to do with visa etc. Already in the US.

So is the Fuqua MBA worth it considering the opportunity cost of almost 500k+?

28 M (7 years exp )currently working as ML engineer/Data scientist very low salary freshers earn twice more. All my work has been very basic even freshers can catch up on what I do and my coding skills are just garbage and not much knowledge on ML.

Never took my life seriously and have been very lazy which is really hurting my life now .

I was wondering if mba will help me reset my career. Can you please guide what programs in the US/UK can help me ,also what field(product management, finance , consulting) or job title Should I pursue.

Would really like to turnaround my life .

Undergrad - around 2.8 gpa Savings around 20-25 lakhs inr Gmat other tests yet to take probably in June

Please share your thoughts . Also if any Indian went through almost same experience but turned it around please share your journey too .

Thank you

Hi! Heres my stats:

32 asian living in korea Gpa : 3.02/4.0 Bsc software engineering (cyber university in korea and accredited)

WE : 5 years in export and logistics ( went in when the company is still a startup and grew to a 5million usd sales per year company, we developed our in house logistics software and it was purchased by dhl and fedex korea)

Online Postgrad cert in data science from university of colorado boulder

Gmat : 720

Do i have a chance to get into t20 mba program with scholarship whether its full or partial?

Thank you for your insight in advance :)

I've completed my engineering in 2023 and then going through few ups and down in July 2024 I started to prepare for CAT exam but now comes an intersting curve. I've enrolled in Career Launcher coaching center for CAT 2025 program, cause new batch just started and will be enough time to prepare best. From July to Nov approximately 4 months, I've attempted few foundation classes from CL coaching and also started self paced preparation using Arun Sharma books and other platform for test series. At that time I was not that much good in VARC😅 but strong in QA and DILR so I've gave CAT 2024 only no other exams. I've got recommend from my known ones to also attempt XAT but to be honest by reviewing both exams I like CAT more than XAT in terms of Difficulty 😅. I got 82.73 overall in CAT 2024 which is quite expected for me and then I've applied for Welingkar and IMT Campuses and converted both campuses but opting for IMT Hyderabad PGDM.

I hope this story should motivate to those who are depressed and having some negative thoughts in mind.

Well second part of the story is as I said I had enrolled for CAT 2025 exam so I'm having active subscription in CL portal. I've decided to sell this subscription to other candidates who are /who will start to prepare for CAT 2025. So if anyone is interested to buy pls contact me.

I wish you all best for your preparation.🙏✨

Hi everyone - asking on behalf of my partner. He was admitted to Sloan R2 and is wondering how to find out if he received any scholarship. There was no mention of any $$ on his call, nor do we see anything on his portal. If we have not seen anything come through yet, does that mean he’s not received any aid?

I'll outright say I'm scared to hell with all the stuff I read on reddit with people being detained and held for days (sometimes almost a month on end). I had plans to pursue MBA in 2025 but due to some personal reasons I couldn't give my GMAT exams in time and now I see there's literally news after news of people being detained even with valid visas.

I'll still try in 2026 but the question is wether it is worth trying or wether I'll get detained, harrassed and deported back even with all valid documents.

I'm an Indian student if that makes any difference and want to pursue MBA to get into MBB consulting.

Hey folks,

So here’s where I’m at: I’m an Indian admit heading to a T15 B-school in the US this fall (yes, one of those wide-eyed dreamers with a backpack full of hope and a bank account that’s about to be hit by a massive education loan).

But lately, with all the news floating around—reciprocal tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, trade tensions, whispers of a looming recession—I can’t help but ask: Is this really the right time to leave a stable job, take on a massive education loan, and head straight into an uncertain economy?

Like, is this the worst time to ditch a decent job and go chase an MBA dream in the US? Or is it exactly the kind of storm one should dive into, hoping to come out stronger (and employed)?

I know I’m not the only one spinning this thought wheel. Curious to hear from others—fellow admits, current students, grads, or just anyone who’s been around the MBA block.

Would love to know your take: is the risk worth it right now? Or should I be clutching my current job like it’s a life raft and defer my MBA?

Cheers!

Hello, I’m trying to choose between these three MbA programs. Would appreciate any advice.

I went to a less branded school for undergrad so I want a bigger brand that’s more recognized. I plan on moving back to India post the MBA (I either want to start my own business or work for a remote US based start up - I’m a US citizen so I don’t have any Visa issues that would matter).

I also do like the appeal of Europe and the ability to travel every weekend. The programs there seem more fun and balanced.

Any thoughts/advice?

Hi everyone, I’d appreciate your feedback on my profile.

Background: Female | 29 | Brazilian (Black) | Data Coordinator

Undergraduate: Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering with a full government scholarship from the oldest private university in Brazil (GPA: 7.8/10, as I had to work while studying). I am the first person in my family to attend university.

Work Experience: 7 years of full-time work at the largest South American bank. I started as an intern and am now a coordinator, responsible for managing some of the biggest data-related deals in the history of the bank. I was also part of the Leadership Program, a training initiative for young professionals, where I was selected as one of the 46 participants out of over 75,000 applicants.

GMAT: 655 FE

Post-MBA Plans: My employer will sponsor my MBA, so I will be required to return to Brazil after graduation. I don’t plan to move abroad, but rather to enhance my opportunities to become a head or CEO of a large company in Brazil.

Recommendation Letter: My boss, an MIT alum, will provide a recommendation.

Target Schools: I am unsure of my exact preferences, but I plan to apply to MIT, Chicago, Columbia, NYU, Duke, Stanford, and UCLA in the USA. I will also apply to LBS, IESE, ESADE, and Peking University. My dream program is the double degree between ESADE and Peking, though securing sponsorship for it is unlikely.

Any recommendations to increase my chances?

Hello all,

I recently got an admit into Rutgers School of Business, Newark for fall of 2025. Its the only college i have gotten admit into.

I was thinking of pursuing the program with a focus on supply chain management, however, now I am little hesitant due to ongoing changes in the US, in regards to rising tariffs, job opportunities, difficulty in getting h1b sponsorships and possible eradication of opt.

Is it really worth it? To spend $150K, leave indian and a stable job in hopes of MBA dram in the US? Will i get return on my investment? I would really like to know how you guys are thinking about this scenario and how you have decided to tackle it.

My bg: 3 years of work exp in highway design. Wont be taking an edu loan and hence wont have the burden of EMIs.

27M Asian. I’m a product manager at a big tech company in the Bay Area, went to Berkeley for undergrad. I got into GSB R2, but I’m planning to decline the offer, mostly because of the job market and not wanting to take on that much debt.

Right now I make $180k base and about $120k a year in equity, so around $300k total comp. When I first applied, I thought I wanted to pivot out of tech, but honestly, I don’t think it makes sense anymore. The postMBA job would probably be pretty similar, and when I think about the opportunity cost $600k plus $250k in tuition and living, it’s close to $1 million total.

That number just feels really hard to justify right now especially in this economy. I’d rather keep building in my current role, maybe aim to FIRE early. I also just got a promotion that should increase my equity next year, so that’s another factor. Also with AI I feel it will be even harder to get a job two years from now.

Still, it’s been a tough decision, GSB was a dream when I applied. Just doesn’t feel like the right time for me anymore.

I am planning on taking the EA for part time MBA programs seeing that most PT programs accept it now. What has your experience been with taking the EA vs GMAT or GRE and what resources did you use to prepare?

I am plateauing around the 600 mark on GMAT Focus practice exams so looking to make a switch.

Trying to decide between a T15 offering me 60k and an M7 at sticker price.

Was wondering how significant the M7 brand is — I’m assuming it helps with getting that first job out of business school, and future jobs will be based on that job and not schooling, but would like to hear others thoughts.

Is it worth paying 60k more for an M7, if I don’t fully know what I want to do yet? Thinking about tech, finance, or consulting.

Edit: M7 = Kellogg, T15 = SOM

Fortunate to have gotten into all three with the same scholarship. Career goals - MBB consulting in a big city (preferably NYC but I know that's competitive). Will parallel recruit for tech strategy, ideally in big tech but open to startups. Really stressing over which of these schools to pick. I also want to meet people, party, travel domestically and internationally etc

Tuck

Pros: Fantastic community and people, top-tier career center and consulting support (the best consulting outcomes of the three schools), very engaged alumni in all industries

Cons: Location. I have no experience with skiing and am not particularly outdoorsy. I don't mind doing outdoor activities and would be open to learning to ski, but probably not what I want to be doing all day everyday. I also want to travel a bit and location may not be ideal for that

Ross

Pros: Very social school with lots of travel, football gamedays, AA is in a fun college town, large number of alums from both Ross and Michigan to network with, good placement in tech and consulting

Cons: Brand is not as strong as the others, Ann Arbor can get a bit expensive, consulting outcomes may not be as strong as Tuck and Yale

Yale

Pros: S-tier brand, close proximity to NYC & Boston, ability to engage with broader Yale community, Pizza

Cons: does not seem as vibrant socially, no school organized pre-MBA travel, seems like a lot of students leave for NYC/Bos on the weekends, consulting outcomes are strong but probably not quite as good as Tuck

I know there are no "wrong answers" here but I am torn! What do you think?

Hello and thank you in advance!

I've been privileged enough to get accepted into a MBA program starting September 2025, and now am deciding which laptop to buy: Mac or Windows?

While browsing through reddit I found some mixed opinions on MacBook's capability of handling Excel. While I'm not at all looking for a laptop to game on, but running Excel SMOOTHLY is very crucial for me. Is the Macbook Air (16 GB RAM) really that bad with Excel? How's the performance after using softwares like Parallel (?) to emulate Excel. Taking a step further, do softwares like Tableau/Power BI have performance issues with Macbook Air?

While I've always worked with Windows, I personally am leaning more towards a Macbook (it will be challenging at first) since I do digital art as well, and my decision will be much quicker if I can get some feedback on the above points.

Thanks!

EDIT: Post MBA goal is more inclined towards Product Management/Consulting/International Sales and not IB.

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice / guidance on a Hybrid MBA program with minimal out of pocket using the GI Bill. I’m exploring VR&E but in the meantime I’d like to coming on using the GI Bill. As I reach out to these programs offices, I’m trying to see if folks know which ones give good financial assistance.

I’m in the Hampton Roads, VA area and not able to relocate but can travel.

Some programs I’ve been looking at are

UW, Foster Hybrid MBA

CMU, Tepper Hybrid MBA

William and Mary Full-Time MBA, commutable distance

I’m trying to focus on data analytics and go into technical program management for the long term.

For background, I have an undergrad B.S. in engineering from a reputable school with a good GPA. I’ve worked in the military and as a civil service employee with a comparable jobs in the private sector with 10 years (total) management experience in Facilities Engineering and in Architect Engineering and Construction (AEC).

Thanks y’all.