This is Chicago
On the MBA and Chicago GSB
Vineeth Subramanyam '07
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Admit Weekend
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The elevator doors opened as I peeked at my cell phone (aka my watch). Twenty minutes was plenty of time. I stepped out of my building and headed to the red line stop on Clark & Division. Rushing down the stairs, I heard the oncoming train. I hopped on the train, but didn't bother to sit - the ride was going to be short. As the train approached its next stop, I heard the familiar announcement again: "This is Chicago".
And that's when it hit me. It had finally happened. I had traded the familiar surroundings of Seattle for an exciting new city, departed from close friends and welcomed new ones, waved goodbye to an invigorating career and said hello to a rigorous MBA program. My bank account was officially shrinking instead of growing, a weekend trek to the mountains was now far from reach, and my vocabulary was inflated with strange acronyms like TNDC and LPF. I was starting a new chapter - excited, challenged, terrified.
Eighteen months have since passed, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. As I reflect on my experience, I recall the questions that lingered in my mind at Admit Weekend two years ago. Having talked to several prospective students during my time at the GSB, I find many of the same questions being raised time and again. Is the MBA worth my while? I'm making decent money now, so how do I justify the opportunity cost? What will the MBA do for me in the long-term? Why should I pick Chicago GSB in particular? Is it too late for me to get into acting? Ok, that last one was just me, but you get the point.
To help address any post-admission cold feet, let me just say that the most significant benefit of the MBA, without question, is that it opens up a much wider world for you. First, there is the obvious opportunity to diversify your education with the formidable ammunition of courses on every imaginable topic relating to business. The instruction typically consists of cases that simulate real-world situations with questions that are then discussed in class, and lectures that distill key concepts from these cases. Second, the MBA provides access to information and experts in several industries and functions through lunch-n-learns, organized speeches, numerous team-based competitions, what have you. In fact, the most interesting part of b-school is arguably not the classes, but the plethora of other things happening around campus. Third, and perhaps most importantly for many, the MBA provides access to the kind of jobs and companies that would otherwise be practically out of reach. The MBA certainly is a proven way for many to switch careers, and for the longer term, provides a refreshingly diverse alumni network and a compelling endorsement that stays with you regardless of which career you choose. So if you're wondering whether the benefit of an MBA can be duplicated by pouring over a bunch of "business books", banish the thought, because it is impossible.
And that's when it hit me. It had finally happened. I had traded the familiar surroundings of Seattle for an exciting new city, departed from close friends and welcomed new ones, waved goodbye to an invigorating career and said hello to a rigorous MBA program. My bank account was officially shrinking instead of growing, a weekend trek to the mountains was now far from reach, and my vocabulary was inflated with strange acronyms like TNDC and LPF. I was starting a new chapter - excited, challenged, terrified.
Eighteen months have since passed, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. As I reflect on my experience, I recall the questions that lingered in my mind at Admit Weekend two years ago. Having talked to several prospective students during my time at the GSB, I find many of the same questions being raised time and again. Is the MBA worth my while? I'm making decent money now, so how do I justify the opportunity cost? What will the MBA do for me in the long-term? Why should I pick Chicago GSB in particular? Is it too late for me to get into acting? Ok, that last one was just me, but you get the point.
To help address any post-admission cold feet, let me just say that the most significant benefit of the MBA, without question, is that it opens up a much wider world for you. First, there is the obvious opportunity to diversify your education with the formidable ammunition of courses on every imaginable topic relating to business. The instruction typically consists of cases that simulate real-world situations with questions that are then discussed in class, and lectures that distill key concepts from these cases. Second, the MBA provides access to information and experts in several industries and functions through lunch-n-learns, organized speeches, numerous team-based competitions, what have you. In fact, the most interesting part of b-school is arguably not the classes, but the plethora of other things happening around campus. Third, and perhaps most importantly for many, the MBA provides access to the kind of jobs and companies that would otherwise be practically out of reach. The MBA certainly is a proven way for many to switch careers, and for the longer term, provides a refreshingly diverse alumni network and a compelling endorsement that stays with you regardless of which career you choose. So if you're wondering whether the benefit of an MBA can be duplicated by pouring over a bunch of "business books", banish the thought, because it is impossible.
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