While it it fine to state financial reasons for choosing part-time over full-time, I would be wary of using the "my employer loves me" approach. An MBA is a lot of work and therefore should be seen as your own decision. The decision should be well thought out and fit logically with your career goals. You should see the potential in yourself and not just pursue an MBA because it is someone else's dream for you.

Although I may not be an "expert" I'd still like to weigh in.

I wonder if this question is simply just asking.. "Why do you want an MBA?, which happens to be Part Time" The "which" being an unnecessary modifier of MBA.

Aside from that...

1. This seems as though your employer is the subject and you are the object. You need to be the subject. If you had to pay for an MBA, why would you want to go? That's the question you need to answer.

2. I wouldn't because as you said, it's obvious. If you're an adcom member and an application comes across your desk and they say that, you'll say "NEXT!"

Trust me I totally understand the situation you're in. I'm in NYC and have many friends who go to NYU PT. One thing I realized from speaking to them is that there is a TON of competition and a lot of PT students are also going to school on their employers dime, so I don't know if that's a valid argument to make that would set yourself apart from the rest of the applicants.

Just some food for thought...

So I just spoke to my friend who is going to Stern PT... he said that he answered that question in two parts.

Why MBA, and Why MBA part time?

"i want an MBA to help grow my company. I want to do it part-time so I can continue working in my company."

hope that helps

Wow, that was super helpful! Thanks a ton!

np