The Application Process

Received a PM asking me to reply.

I agree with dmateer25. Before you undertake anything as expensive as an MBA, you really need to figure out what you want to do in general and whether an MBA is necessary or would even be useful / helpful.

Getting an MBA can cost anywhere between $5k and $50k a year, PLUS living expenses. It will take at least 2 years and, if you go full time, you won't be earning much money during those two years either. In the "worst-case-cost" scenario (full time, private school, not working), total costs can reach $150k to 200k (including all of your normal expenses just to live for those 2 years!).

It's really important to understand the cost-benefit analysis of your own case. Have a very good idea of what you think you will get out of it that will justify the expense. A job you couldn't otherwise get or entry into an industry that you couldn't otherwise entry? Prospects for a significant salary boost over a long enough period of time to offset the costs? The ability to start and successfully run your own company? Basically, it's got to be worth it to you in one way or another - either you'll recoup the costs, or you'll be okay with spending the money because it will let you do something you might not otherwise be able to do.