European B&M vs. American DL program...

Here's my dilemna. I need to choose between going straight into an American DL MBA program, or completing an MSc first at a Swedish B&M first. Here are the details:

1) The B&M is a school in Sweden that offers an MSc in Bus Ad, IT and Business Renewal, or Econ.

2) It is a reputable, well-known school in Sweden, and in Europe, but not known in America, although it has exchange agreements with some very nice US schools.

3) Each of these three programs would take only 10 months to complete, full time, on campus, which would be no problem for me.

4) THE PRICE IS RIGHT! The program would cost me absolutely nothing! Train fare and books is all.

5) I am 37 and am hoping the MSc/MBA will give me a career change.

In case you are interested, here is a link to the Swedish school I am considering...

main page: http://www.ihh.hj.se/eng/

masters programs page: http://www.ihh.hj.se/eng/courses/master/index.htm

partner universities in the US: http://www2.ihh.hj.se/intoff/university.asp

For the moment, I am considering UMass Amherst as my US MBA program.

Here is my observation. I have an IT background, but no business experience, so an MBA might be too broad to allow me to make the jump to a business career. Spending 10 months to get a free MSc might give me the specialization necessary to make the MBA much more valuable. The school in Sweden, however, might be totally unknown in the US, but if I complete the DL MBA through a US school, that point is moot. Now here is the point of all this:
I MIGHT BURN OUT AND NOT PURSUE THE DL MBA AT ALL. IF I MOVE BACK TO THE US WITH JUST THE MSC FROM THE SWEDISH SCHOOL, DO YOU SEE MY JOB SEARCH AS FUTILE? WOULD I BE BETTER SERVED TO APPLY THOSE TEN MONTHS TOWARD THE UMASS MBA?

 

Scotty,

It sounds like you kind of have your heart set on doing the Swedish program. If you are indeed at a stage in your life when you can devote 10 months to full-time study, I say go for it! You'll make valuable contacts and get an interesting international perspective.

If your background is IT and not business, you might have to take some "catch-up" courses anyway, depending on what MBA programs you would apply for. The MSc would give you the academic background in business necessary to get more out of an MBA program.

There are dozens and dozens of DL MBA programs, and you can always pursue that option later. You will not always be able to undertake a year of full-time study abroad. Take the opportunity while you can. After the MSc you can always study part time towards the MBA, while working in the new job you'll be able to get.

Alex