I've been thinking about the same thing! I believe it is an excellent idea to get your MBA if you think it will boost your carreer. If you're heading in a direction in your career where you think you may need an MBA to succeed, go for it! If you still have no idea what you want to do, or how you want to apply it to your life/career, I don't recommend it. If you don't have a lot of real world experience yet, I would go for that first.

Go for it! I'm a student currently in the process of working towards a MS and MBA dual degree. As a business developer with success in working freelance R&D projecs, peers have asked why I'd even bother with the MBA in this day and age where it seems to have lost its "value" in industries saturated with "industry experienced" professionals who themselves are without this degree. However, to me it makes perfect sense to have the credentials and formal education in business to pair with a good amount of work experience to not only stand out in the job market but to stay afloat and also have the nitty-gritty of how business really works (in theory and technical terms at least).

I've met many people (especially in the Web 2.0 world) who claim they're consultants, experts/gurus in fields like marketing and IT working just off of "real world experience"...but what does that really mean if they haven't gained that experience through thorough study and application of the field and are backed by accredited educational institution that's respected by companies and industries for the values and skills that they teach? Let's face it. The average college graduate will have changed jobs 10-14 times by the time they're 38 in this generation (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/nlsoy.pdf). That degree isn't just the knowledge you'll gain but the ticket to tapping into the hidden networks where you wouldn't otherwise have a link and a stronghold. The majority of companies recruit exclusively from MBA student talent pools for internship that go to direct hire. I believe that 70% of all individuals working in their respective professions were hired through connections formed at alumni groups or business school mixers. These days, MBA students can specialize too so it makes you that much more credible and that much more indispensable when you go head to head with others in job competition (especially globally). Good luck!

i think it depends on you. I'm graduating, i'm probably gonna make less, not switch industries, etc, but it was fun :)

If you are already a great networking or are already on your chosen career path, don't do it. Its really expensive - the opportunity cost alone for me was like a down payment for a house! I also regret not having that extra two years of experience, but made some great friends along the way.

I think if you can do it, then why not! I wish I could further my education by getting an MBA, but have way too many school loans to pay off right now and no way of supporting myself while in school. I guess how I'm looking at it is I'm learning so much at my job right now, I don't need to go... yet!

On that note, if you aren't going to a top 25 program, its absolutely not worth it. You will not most likely not get your ROI.

i am starting to think that getting your masters is like the new top thing... it was like getting a degree 20-30 years ago... people who can specialize in things are useful... i want to be a news broadcaster, so i am studying electronic media... but for my masters i would love to do political science, so essentially i would b able to put forth more in politics than anything else.... i think if it could help you in that kind of way do it to it girl :)

I myself have always asked the same question about getting my MBA, and having worked in offices full of engineers, I have always asked for their opinion and everyone has a different opinion. First off I know so many people who have their MBA and don't utilize it at all because it seems nowadays an MBA is something everybody has. From what I have heard, seen, and been told in the past I've come to the conclusion that to go into management you don't need your MBA right away, I think experience speaks more for its self. Once you have experience and you know where you want to go in management then you should pursue the MBA . Also, an MBA is worth more if it is from a prestigious school. Also, most MBA schools require a 2 year work experience before applying. So yeah I agree with Wen if you're not going to a top school forget about it, it's not worth it.

Personally, you can work and go to school. There are great schools that are now appealing to the online community by offering degree programs online. I'm going for a second degree and doing it all online. I know Northeastern does a lot of their Major online now too. So if you do some research, you may be surprised with what you find. Not only that, but education will always be valuable no matter what the economy.

I'm currently going back to school to get another degree but did so because I'm switching industries. And yes I'm completely in debt now but my former profession wasn't very fulfilling and I knew I needed a change. So if you think your career and life will benefit by having an MBA then go for it. Or if you're thinking of changing careers then yes again. I would just make sure it's what you really want to do. And like it was in another post do not bother if you do not go to one of the top schools for the degree that also has a good job placement program. I went to a fantastic public university for my BA but there wasn't a good alumni network for a job upon graduating. Now I'm going to a more exclusive private art school which boasts a 60% placement rate. It's costing me more but I believe it will be worth it. Whatever you decide good luck!!!

I'd wait if you just graduated within the past 2-3 years. Any business school that has a good program most likely won't accept a person if they don't have any "real world" experience. Try getting some experience first, then apply. Not only will it help your application material, but help you fine tune what you really want to get out of a MBA program.

I think if you are interested in executive positions in large or small companies Or if you are interested in running your own business and want the credablilty the MBA degree is valuable. Today it is difficult for many to take two years out of work and also pay the tuition. One very good option is to enroll in either a part time MBA program or an executive MBA program which are designed to allow yo to continue to work and go to school--you learn the same things, you are with people who share the same challenges and you still have your income and your current busines or job....Go for it!!

If you want your MBA but don't have the cash, get a job first. There are a lot of companies that will even pay for you to get your MBA while you work there. It's tough in this economy I know, but I know that Wachovia has done this in the past. And on the plus side most MBA programs are beginning o to be centered about the working person anyway, so you won't be sitting at home all day being bored.

Work will always be there. GO AND GET YOUR MASTERS. In today's time, everyone is going to college, it's not like 50 years ago where if you had a high school diploma you could get a wealthy paying job, but if you got a COLLEGE degree you could be living large. Today a college degree is really... not, much sadly. You have to work 10 times harder because of this, so if you have more schooling than the next, you already have an upper hand.