Which MBA?

[chottohen]

Guys

I am in my mid 30s and I graduated from NTU. I have been working for 8 years and is now currently a senior manager. I travel about 50% worldwide.

I am considering these 3 universities

1. University of Brimingham
2. University of Lancaster
3. University of Strathclyde

I didnt consider Insead etc because of the fees. I dont think the ROI is worthwhile because I would rather throw the $150k into a property to collect rental...The above 3 universities look pretty reasonable priced and I think having another "piece of paper" will add compliment to my CV.

I welcome some inputs.

If you truly want something to compliment your CV, you'd apply to INSEAD. Its brand name and network is unparalleled compared to your other choices.

Sometimes, the value of the paper is more than just the school fees alone. Given your wealth of experience currently, an MBA from INSEAD should propel you even further, with a much higher ROI.

 

[htngwilliam]

So what do you want the (E)MBA to do for you? Just to look good on CV? Allow you to be considered for GM or C level positions in your company?

Some details about your job nature, such as company industry, whether you are in a customer facing role, etc, would help in determining your best option too.

I head the business unit and will be interacting a lot with customers. I didn't really consider E (MBA) as of now. I think the fees will be much more expensive?

 

[lee_tired_sheep]

William,

In terms of a % ROI, you may be right. In terms of an absolute figure, I would disagree.

 

[htngwilliam]

If you truly want something to compliment your CV, you'd apply to INSEAD. Its brand name and network is unparalleled compared to your other choices.

Sometimes, the value of the paper is more than just the school fees alone. Given your wealth of experience currently, an MBA from INSEAD should propel you even further, with a much higher ROI.

I consider Insead but I think the S$150k is a risk. Frankly speaking, I don't believe that piece of paper can do miracle. I think the MBA will be a backup for me if I need to change job. I already have some business, management experience but in Singapore, knowing and having a paper to show you know is different. I spoke to some senior management staff around industrial and most say MBA is just a piece of paper we need because we are in Singapore

 

[htngwilliam]

William,

In terms of a % ROI, you may be right. In terms of an absolute figure, I would disagree.

Care to show? I feel career and business is about opportunities & timing. Till date, I still remember what one of my business professor told me when I visited him years after I left the university

Prof: I taught MBA classes but some of my students are much better off than me. Imagine I drove a Mercedes Benz but some of them drove posh cars like Ferrari and Lamborghini. If MBA is really useful, I will be much better than them.

 

[dareaper]

I head the business unit and will be interacting a lot with customers. I didn't really consider E (MBA) as of now. I think the fees will be much more expensive?

Yep emba is much more expensive, but you will be networking with ppl closer to your level I guess.

Do you need to present proposals to clients in order to clinch deals? Branded school name would be valuable in this case.

Sounds like you are able to commit to a full time mba? If so, can consider HKUST's mba if you are in the finance sector. From my research, it's the cheapest top10 (ranked by FT) mba at around 60k sgd. Of course that's not inclusive of living expenses. And Insead mba is probably closer to 120k than 150k?

 

[lee_tired_sheep]

Care to show? I feel career and business is about opportunities & timing. Till date, I still remember what one of my business professor told me when I visited him years after I left the university

Prof: I taught MBA classes but some of my students are much better off than me. Imagine I drove a Mercedes Benz but some of them drove posh cars like Ferrari and Lamborghini. If MBA is really useful, I will be much better than them.

Exactly. Because the classmates you meet at insead are more likely to be future business leaders than the distance programs at the unis you mentioned.

 

[Isman Tanuri]

Exactly. Because the classmates you meet at insead are more likely to be future business leaders than the distance programs at the unis you mentioned.

I am finishing up on my MBA at Strathcylde (dissertation time!) but I do have to set the record straight: Strathclyde is not distance learning. During school semesters, you attend all-day seminars or workshops over the weekends with professors who fly in from Glasgow and also there are classroom sessions with tutors during week nights. I also had the opportunity to attend summer school in Glasgow last June. So, I would say it is rather intense, robust and plenty of tear-your-hair-out moments and definitely not "distance learning".

There are only 57 triple-accredited MBAs from the hundreds of MBAs around the world and Strathclyde's one of them. That alone was enough motivation for me at the point of enrollment. The only other MBA I considered then was Manchester, also triple accredited. Lancaster is also one.

TS also mentioned he travels a lot? What's great with Strathclyde is flexibility. You can drop into any of the centres in Glasgow, KL, HK, Dubai, Zurich etc and do your classes as long as you give notice or choose to do your electives overseas+holiday. We did have a lot of visiting students from other centres in my time there.

I'm probably bias in my views above (marketing major after all! LOL), but I'm just sharing

 

[gladiusgg]

is it possible to get into a MBA course locally with 2nd lower hons from uol?

 

[htngwilliam]

I am finishing up on my MBA at Strathcylde (dissertation time!) but I do have to set the record straight: Strathclyde is not distance learning. During school semesters, you attend all-day seminars or workshops over the weekends with professors who fly in from Glasgow and also there are classroom sessions with tutors during week nights. I also had the opportunity to attend summer school in Glasgow last June. So, I would say it is rather intense, robust and plenty of tear-your-hair-out moments and definitely not "distance learning".

There are only 57 triple-accredited MBAs from the hundreds of MBAs around the world and Strathclyde's one of them. That alone was enough motivation for me at the point of enrollment. The only other MBA I considered then was Manchester, also triple accredited. Lancaster is also one.

TS also mentioned he travels a lot? What's great with Strathclyde is flexibility. You can drop into any of the centres in Glasgow, KL, HK, Dubai, Zurich etc and do your classes as long as you give notice or choose to do your electives overseas+holiday. We did have a lot of visiting students from other centres in my time there.

I'm probably bias in my views above (marketing major after all! LOL), but I'm just sharing

Hi Isman

Thank you so much for your reply. I graduated from NTU so I thought I wont want to go back to another Singapore university to do another MBA despite I nearly did a dual masters with NTU one year ago.

Indeed, I totally agree with the many campus around the world look attractive because I want to network with these people. Rather than rubbing shoulders with the local elites, I would rather meet people from other countries and expand my network. In addition, I would like to understand their culture.

 

[finclk82]

Would an MBA really propel your career further or you are where you are simply because of what you have done in your own personal capacity in your various jobs?

SG doesn't really value MBAs that much i feel. I know my global MNC doesn't. And it isn't just Singapore. It's not going to be a situation like 'oh you are now an MBA or eMBA grad, great! Your salary will now go up 30% or something'

I think if want to do MBA, go do with those very branded (but of coz expensive) ones. Giving the illusion that you are brainy and have made it sometimes is worth more than the fact that you really are brainy and have actually made it.

Chicago GSB/Insead vs NUS/NTU... I rest my case.

 

[htngwilliam]

Would an MBA really propel your career further or you are where you are simply because of what you have done in your own personal capacity in your various jobs?

SG doesn't really value MBAs that much i feel. I know my global MNC doesn't. And it isn't just Singapore. It's not going to be a situation like 'oh you are now an MBA or eMBA grad, great! Your salary will now go up 30% or something'

I think if want to do MBA, go do with those very branded (but of coz expensive) ones. Giving the illusion that you are brainy and have made it sometimes is worth more than the fact that you really are brainy and have actually made it.

Chicago GSB/Insead vs NUS/NTU... I rest my case.

I feel in 5 years time, it is difficult to say. Personally I feel it will not necessary ensure you will get an increment but I think in future, it could be an entry for certain management job. Just like I feel degree is sometimes worthless, you must accept the fact that having a degree or even a good degree from a reputable university is already a pre-requisite.

Can we say people who drop out from universities like Bill gates is no better than a president scholar from Singapore? If Bill gates come to Singapore before he founded Microsoft, I can guarantee you he will not be able to get a job in most MNC.

Overall I feel nothing to argue about but the world is changing. In the past during my dad's days, a diploma is good enough. During my time, a degree is ok but when it is my son's turn, a masters might be a pre-requisite entry to jobs. When too many ppl have something and you doesnt have, sometimes we cannot even survive.

Sad to say but true in Singapore

 

[lee_tired_sheep]

Give your country a little more credit. Credential inflation is a reality everywhere.

 

[dareaper]

anyway, if you are working for a SME, can consider talking to your boss to apply for SPRING - Management Development Scholarship (MDS)

Even if he doesn't want to sponsor the rest of the tution fee, you can top it up yourself anyway since you are prepared to pay for it already. always try to minimize payment out of pocket when possible

Do note that not all schools are eligible for this grant.

 

[htngwilliam]

anyway, if you are working for a SME, can consider talking to your boss to apply for SPRING - Management Development Scholarship (MDS)

Even if he doesn't want to sponsor the rest of the tution fee, you can top it up yourself anyway since you are prepared to pay for it already. always try to minimize payment out of pocket when possible

Do note that not all schools are eligible for this grant.

I am checking how this thing works. I am not sure whether we have to pay first then reimburse or the delta is net off from the school fees.

 

[htngwilliam]

anyway, if you are working for a SME, can consider talking to your boss to apply for SPRING - Management Development Scholarship (MDS)

Even if he doesn't want to sponsor the rest of the tution fee, you can top it up yourself anyway since you are prepared to pay for it already. always try to minimize payment out of pocket when possible

Do note that not all schools are eligible for this grant.

I am checking how this thing works. I am not sure whether we have to pay first then reimburse or the delta is net off from the school fees. I also need to check the impact if you job hop to an MNC 6 months into your course. Does it means end of grant? If the grant is available, it makes MBA like Insead looks affordable already...

 

[Isman Tanuri]

Isman Tanuri | LinkedIn ?

Yes, how can I help you, bugmenot45?

 

[Isman Tanuri]

Hi Isman

Thank you so much for your reply. I graduated from NTU so I thought I wont want to go back to another Singapore university to do another MBA despite I nearly did a dual masters with NTU one year ago.

Indeed, I totally agree with the many campus around the world look attractive because I want to network with these people. Rather than rubbing shoulders with the local elites, I would rather meet people from other countries and expand my network. In addition, I would like to understand their culture.

My pleasure, I did a lot of searching as well before I started so any info shared now would help others later on

I think you've got the right idea in terms of expectations. Most of my classmates and I aren't exactly high fliers or the cream of the crop (sorry classmates if you're reading this, truth matters) but what made it an enjoyable experience are the different backgrounds, differing opinions and culture and, of course, the camaraderie we eventually developed.

 

[Isman Tanuri]

Would an MBA really propel your career further or you are where you are simply because of what you have done in your own personal capacity in your various jobs?

SG doesn't really value MBAs that much i feel. I know my global MNC doesn't. And it isn't just Singapore. It's not going to be a situation like 'oh you are now an MBA or eMBA grad, great! Your salary will now go up 30% or something'

I think if want to do MBA, go do with those very branded (but of coz expensive) ones. Giving the illusion that you are brainy and have made it sometimes is worth more than the fact that you really are brainy and have actually made it.

Chicago GSB/Insead vs NUS/NTU... I rest my case.

To be honest, after going through the MBA experience, most of what learn in class is very touch and go, not many will be practical on a day-to-day basis, especially for managers. So yes, it is all about buying and upgrading your profile. What you do with it (networking, etc) and how you really perform at work post-MBA will determine your rewards. That's how I look at it. It's a piece of paper that A LOT of people have anyway.

Having said that, of all the subjects that we took, eg. finance, strategy, operations, HR, etc, I think only one area makes paying for an MBA education worth it and has a deep impact for me, both in terms of thinking and day-to-day. This is the leadership & management studies which i think gets ignored a bit, because finance and strategy are more sexy areas.

 

[htngwilliam]

Thanks for your insight. That is why I need to see whether can claim some grants. Haha!

To be honest, after going through the MBA experience, most of what learn in class is very touch and go, not many will be practical on a day-to-day basis, especially for managers. So yes, it is all about buying and upgrading your profile. What you do with it (networking, etc) and how you really perform at work post-MBA will determine your rewards. That's how I look at it. It's a piece of paper that A LOT of people have anyway.

Having said that, of all the subjects that we took, eg. finance, strategy, operations, HR, etc, I think only one area makes paying for an MBA education worth it and has a deep impact for me, both in terms of thinking and day-to-day. This is the leadership & management studies which i think gets ignored a bit, because finance and strategy are more sexy areas.