I attended a low ranking school for
my undergraduate education, yet I intend to go to a low ranking school for my
graduate degree as well. Why would I do this? I currently manage a small
division of a nonprofit organization that provides educational services, such
as after school programs, for youth. I have this job because I do everything I
can to be good at it, and I am willing to learn - not because I am qualified.
My position usually requires a master’s degree in business or education, and I
have neither.
I seem to have hit a wall. Even if
I perform at my best, it is not likely I will make the jump from mid-level
management to an executive position in this or any other organization without
additional education and training. so I do need to think about what is next. My
goal is to run my own business or obtain a position of significant influence in
an existing business. Here’s my resume in brief:
●
A useless bachelor’s degree.
●
Experience in nonprofit and business management, and a
passion for efficiency.
●
Just enough of an understanding of educational theory
to be dangerous.
●
A passion for leading, developing, and caring for
people.
●
An ability to learn from my mistakes.
●
Grit.
In order to make it over this wall
I need to obtain a Masters in Business Administration. Every job that has
piqued my interest in the past year has required this. Only here’s the rub, I
know just enough about education to know that business schools don’t provide an
education. They provide an alumni network. I suppose in addition to that the
best of them provide a lot of the information that is foundational to success
in business, but I believe a driven person can find that information if they
know where to look. Since I have a completely useless BA, I have learned how to
teach myself that which I need to know to be successful.
So in choosing a business school,
what should I look for?
●
Should I
prioritize the actual content of the instruction? - It sure would be easier
than figuring it out myself. Then again, I took three years of Spanish and
didn’t learn much of the language until I spent three months in Mexico. Everything I know about how to do my current
job I learned on the job. This will be true at my next job too.
●
Should I focus
on the reputation of the school? - Surely Harvard grads go farther, but are
they better employees? I would think Ivy League grads are impressive before
they even get in. Are Harvard and Stanford turning out successful people or
only accepting successful people? I am not well known by influential, rich, or
important people, but the reputation I do have has been earned. This is true
for all of us. You cannot buy a
reputation.
●
How important is
the alumni network? - I suppose knowing the right people is powerful, but
is it worth a $200,000 degree? What about $100,000? $50,000? I suppose you can
buy your network, but eventually the reputation you earn will show its face. I intend to focus on who I am, not who I
know.
●
Full time or
part time? - I know full time might be faster, but how can I afford two
years out of the work force? I have a baby on the way. I can’t imagine paying
$50,000 for school and giving up two years of salary right now for the possibility of a higher salary later. It seems the greatest cost of college is
the opportunity cost, not the tuition.
●
Online or On
Campus? - My priority is my family. My wife of three years so far is
pregnant with our first child. Every second I spend in night classes or at work
is spent away from them. Talk about
opportunity cost.
I am a resident of California and I
can attend a State school for as little as $15,000… Total. I can attend online
and spend more time at home with my family. I will walk away with an MBA. This
degree would help me be qualified for the career I would like to have. I will
not come out of this school knowing many important business contacts, but I
will be able to continue to support my family while I attend. I may not receive
the quality education that I might at an Ivy League school, but Ivy League
students aren’t paying for the education, they are paying for the reputation. I
am not settling. I am doing this myself. I am pulling myself up by my
bootstraps. I am figuring it out as I go. I may not be making the right
decision, but I have made my decision and I am going to move forward and take
responsibility for my own learning. I am
an example to my son.
Son,
No
one is going to hand you anything; you have to work for it.
You
cannot pay your way out of problems.
Care
for people and others will care for you.
Give
your best and never make excuses.
Take
responsibility.
If I prioritize the prestige of my
degree above my family, or did anything other than take responsibility for my
own learning I would not be the example my son needs. Talk about opportunity cost….
No comments:
Post a Comment