Why MBA ?

I had lunch with a nice colleague who recently graduated from a MBA and has been very helpful for my MBA preparation. Frankly I do not have the luxury of being acquainted with many MBA graduates. Such qualification is not deemed necessary in my industry and most of my friends who plan to do a MBA have yet to act. Local courses are usually preferred as the total related cost will just be a fraction of getting a top MBA overseas. The local MBA my friend took costs him approximately USD $15,000 and zero extra living expense. The institution from which he graduated is decently included in the top 100 MBA worldwide. By the way, he has a good credential and a 700 GMAT score, thus in my opinion should be a qualified top MBA candidate if he wanted to. He has high praises for the MBA experience which broadens his perspective of how the various aspects of an organization function together.

The key consideration is of course financial.

I am not a deep-pocketed person. So he asked, why do I bother to burden myself that much? Is the key motivation to study overseas?

It all boils down to the different career path we are seeking. I think.

Living overseas certainly is a huge pull factor. Less so for the glamour attached to an overseas study experience which I already have, but more for the exposure and exploration while I am still young and carefree. After spending 14 years in the same country, it is time to venture beyond this comfort zone and learn different skills. I can’t wait to learn in a dynamic environment with classmates from all around the world. Thus, even if I eventually enroll into INSEAD MBA, I would spend a maximum of one term in Singapore for my mother.

From what I understand, to switch career to my targeted industry post-MBA, a top MBA well recognized for its strength in finance will give me a higher success rate at getting a job overseas. It is impossible to get the same quality of learning environment, internship opportunity and experienced faculty staff except at the top MBA. The overall MBA experience should accelerate one’s career progress, among the rest, to justify the high opportunity cost involved.

The networking opportunity is another reason for choosing an overseas MBA. Who could undermine the power of networking to bring you to the right places? The industry here is still at its developing phase and the main playing fields are thousand miles away. I need to learn from the best before deciding the place to settle down.

The road chosen is tougher but challenging. So best wishes to all who are seeking the same path.