Advice needed!!! Urgent

[shalini0817]

Hello,

I am an IT professional with about six years of work experience.
I wrote gmat in December 2013 and scored 720.
Got an offer from Melbourne Business School for the August 2014 intake, along with scholarship worth AUD$50,000.
Wanted your advice on the same.

Regards,
Shalini

[[email protected]]

Hi shalini0817,

What questions do you have exactly?

When thinking about which Business School to attend, you have to consider several factors. These include, but are not limited to...

1) Will the MBA from that school/program help you to achieve your career goals?
2) How valuable are the alumni contacts?
3) What are the relative time and money requirements?
4) Will you have to relocate?
5) Will you be in school full-time or part-time?
Etc.

Ultimately, you're responsible to define what you want out of your degree and it's up to you to determine if this is a good degree for your goals. The scholarship money certainly seems like a nice perk though.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[VivianKerr]

Congrats on the 720! That's a great score and you should be thrilled. You'd probably have more luck trying to specifically contact Melbourne Business School alumni. These are the three questions I think you need to answer before you come to a decision:

1. What is your dream job? Be honest with yourself. What field do you see yourself in, and what program is specifically tailored to get you there? This may mean a lesser known school will actually benefit you more long-term if it has a specialized program you can't get anywhere else. If general management is your thing, it won't matter as much, but the business world is increasingly diversifying, and you should take some time to consider your role in it.

2. Where do you want to work post-MBA? They say the most important words in real estate are "location, location, location" and it can be true for business schools as well. If you know you want to live in a specific geographical area, such as New York, or in Europe, it makes sense to take a good look at schools that are location in the region, and have strong ties to businesses there. You'll be hoping for some type of help with career placement post-MBA, and your school will have the strongest ties to the companies in its own backyard. Location can also have an impact on your happiness while you pursue the degree. Would you prefer to be in a big bustling city, or a smaller close-knit community? Every campus has its own "vibe" and you should make it a point to visit the schools that interest you the most. Make sure to take a campus tour and sit in on classes to get a feel for the teaching style.

3. What's the ROI? Your degree is an investment. You'll be putting thousands of dollars and hours into earning your degree, so make sure it's worth it. School tuition rates can vary quite a bit. Is it going to be worth it to you? Do your research on the alumni from each program. Find out where they are working 2, 5, and 10 years out from their degree. Is that a trajectory you want as well?

[bluej244]

Congrats on the 720! That's a great score and you should be thrilled. You'd probably have more luck trying to specifically contact Melbourne Business School alumni. These are the three questions I think you need to answer before you come to a decision:

1. What is your dream job? Be honest with yourself. What field do you see yourself in, and what program is specifically tailored to get you there? This may mean a lesser known school will actually benefit you more long-term if it has a specialized program you can't get anywhere else. If general management is your thing, it won't matter as much, but the business world is increasingly diversifying, and you should take some time to consider your role in it.

2. Where do you want to work post-MBA? They say the most important words in real estate are "location, location, location" and it can be true for business schools as well. If you know you want to live in a specific geographical area, such as New York, or in Europe, it makes sense to take a good look at schools that are location in the region, and have strong ties to businesses there. You'll be hoping for some type of help with career placement post-MBA, and your school will have the strongest ties to the companies in its own backyard. Location can also have an impact on your happiness while you pursue the degree. Would you prefer to be in a big bustling city, or a smaller close-knit community? Every campus has its own "vibe" and you should make it a point to visit the schools that interest you the most. Make sure to take a campus tour and sit in on classes to get a feel for the teaching style.

3. What's the ROI? Your degree is an investment. You'll be putting thousands of dollars and hours into earning your degree, so make sure it's worth it. School tuition rates can vary quite a bit. Is it going to be worth it to you? Do your research on the alumni from each program. Find out where they are working 2, 5, and 10 years out from their degree. Is that a trajectory you want as well?

Yes, you definitely need to consider those three. It will serve as an investment for the future so it needs so much thinking before jumping into a decision. Good luck!

[Jim@StratusPrep]

What is your question exactly. Are you weighing this vs not going at all or another school?