Welcome! Check out our free B-School Guides to learn how you compare with other applicants.
Login or Register
 

Berkeley Haas Part Time vs Cornell Johnson Full Time

This topic has 2 expert replies and 2 member replies
Bookmark
Previous Topic Next Topic
sieken Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
Joined
19 Jun 2011
Posted:
40 messages
Followed by:
1 members
Thanked:
5 times
Berkeley Haas Part Time vs Cornell Johnson Full Time Post Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:59 pm
So this is unorthodox, I'll admit. People usually stick with either part time or full time, but I have some pretty flexible options. A year ago my firm endorsed my endorsed my desire to go to b-school and said they'd love to have me stay on, either in a full time or part time role while I'm in school. So I've narrowed my choices and I'm between Cornell's full time program and Berkeley's part-time program, both of which I've been accepted into.

I won't be getting reimbursed for school by my firm, and now I need to make a choice and I'm struggling quite a bit with it. I've visited both campuses and both great in different ways. I'm principally interested in entrepreneurship: Berkeley has an established program but Cornell is making very fast strides to catch up (google "Cornell in NYC" if you doubt me).

I know I'm comparing apples and oranges here, but does anyone have a view? I know I can't go wrong either way, but do you feel the merits of Haas outweigh the part-time aspects (evening classes, three years vs two, class mates that also hold down full time jobs, etc...) when compared to an Ivy program like Cornell but is still an "up and comer" in my principal field? Assume I care NOTHING about PT vs FT - do you think the programs compare? I still have a few weeks to decide, any insights would be real helpful! Thanks

Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums!

GMAT/MBA Expert

Jon@Admissionado MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined
01 Apr 2011
Posted:
2009 messages
Followed by:
217 members
Thanked:
396 times
Most Active Expert Most Responsive Expert Most Thanked Expert
Post Mon Feb 27, 2012 1:10 am
Well, the first thought that springs to mind is that okay your firm "morally supports" your MBA, but they aren't giving money. So essentially you are going not only to learn but to see what new things can pop up. And really for that, a Full Time MBA seems the way to go. Basically, if you go to a full time program, everything can and likely will change for you, due to the nature of the program and the organization of your time. It's two years off to learn, think, meet, try.

If you go to the part time program, then it's more like a "I want to progress but along the same tracks" so you are less likely to see a big jump at the end of the program.

Both schools are great, (and the programs themselves) and if you like both I don't think you can go wrong at either. IT's more of a question of: What is right for YOU? Which program fits better into your GOALS (which you haven't mentioned yet)??

_________________
Jon Frank
Harvard MBA, 2005
Founder and CEO, Admissionado

Ask us a Question!
Get a Free Consultation!

sieken Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
Joined
19 Jun 2011
Posted:
40 messages
Followed by:
1 members
Thanked:
5 times
Post Mon Feb 27, 2012 7:21 am
Thanks for the response John. My entire desire to go to business school began with an experiment of mine where I created an online coffee roasting business in my spare time. It lasted a year or so before I closed up shop but it was the most fun experience I've ever had and really showed me how much there is to learn about opening and running businesses. I've since branched the business and am working on a different arm right now. My ultimate goal is to obtain the skills and the network to become a successful entrepreneur. The part time program would arguably give me time to work with both my day job and my entrepreneurial projects, but with the full time program, I'd scale my full-time job down quite a bit, if not entirely.

GMAT/MBA Expert

Jon@Admissionado MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined
01 Apr 2011
Posted:
2009 messages
Followed by:
217 members
Thanked:
396 times
Most Active Expert Most Responsive Expert Most Thanked Expert
Post Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:29 am
I see. Well, I don't want to make a decision for you, and this is kinda out of the scope of what I advise (HOW to get IN).. but here's a thought: If what you really want is to become an entrepreneur, don't you need that time off your work to throw caution into the wind? To try out what you might be like as an entrepreneur and to dedicate yourself to it full time rather than spend time at your job? Wouldn't a break from work actually be what you are looking for?

_________________
Jon Frank
Harvard MBA, 2005
Founder and CEO, Admissionado

Ask us a Question!
Get a Free Consultation!

Thanked by: sieken
uberessays Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
Joined
12 Mar 2012
Posted:
5 messages
Post Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:54 pm
If you want to be an entrepreneur, the west coast and Haas can offer a lot more to you.
Good luck with your decision.

-----------
www.uberessays.com
Essay reviews by your dream schools' students

Best Conversation Starters
1 vipulgoyal 32 topics
2 hemant_rajput 23 topics
3 guerrero 20 topics
4 abhirup1711 17 topics
5 sana.noor 15 topics
See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

Most Active Experts
1 image description Brent@GMATPrepNow

GMAT Prep Now Teacher

 204 posts
2 image description GMATGuruNY

The Princeton Review Teacher

 144 posts
3 image description Jim@StratusPrep

Stratus Prep

 54 posts
4 image description Jon@Admissionado

Admissionado

 42 posts
5 image description David@VeritasPrep

Veritas Prep

 35 posts
See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts