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Wow--nice work experience, and it sounds like your talents and hard work are truly being recognized and leveraged by your company. I can see why you would be questioning whether or not the MBA is a good idea, since you are already in a position which provides you access to higher-level decision making and responsibility. If you take two years out of the workplace, there could be a big, fat opportunity cost left there at your company. Many applicants use b-school as an opportunity to get the attention from and access to recruiters who will put them in a management program as you describe. Having said all this, if you are changing careers (which it sounds like you are) post MBA, you may be very pleased with what an MBA can give you in terms of access and opportunity. Also, the company you work for, as prestigious as it is, may or may not be a likely long term employer, and the MBA is something that is obviously transportable across industries and employers. In short, if you can leverage the MBA to gain access to a new career path, it's likely worth it. If you are just looking to expand your knowledge base, you may be better off leveraging the increasing leadership and responsibility your company is providing. Sometimes practical, applicable experience trumps academic experience. the question is, what will get you to your ultimate goal faster? Also, don't forget that with a few more years under your belt, you could go for an Executive MBA, which generally has students who are on the fast track in their careers and have garnered 10+ years experience. These degrees are the same as a full time MBA, but you keep working while you do the work on weekends etc.