Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by quest_chun, Jul 1, 2006.

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  1. quest_chun

    quest_chun New Member

    Hello all,

    Last week, I was in a meeting with two Wharton EMBA grads. The two gentlemen are highly skilled professionals who worked on major projects at Microsoft, Corel, and others. They have 15 - 20 years experience in their fields (software dev).

    It was truly inspirational just to hear these guys speak about their product and the level of business knowledge that was getting slung around. My boss, a doctor and business guru, was hanging steady on the level with these guys. I, on the other hand, felt like such a peon observing IT guy.

    Although I was not totally lost in the subject matter they were discussing, I did have some trouble putting it all together. They spoke of many "rules of thumb" and "theories" in Operations Management, Economics, and other topics. Some of these I have never heard of, or just heard of.

    My point is that I am almost finished with my online MBA from Ellis College of NYIT. I am now in my final 3 elective courses. My GPA is 4.0 and I honestly have busted serious ass to do as well as possible. My theory is that 4.0 will offset, even in miniscule amounts, any misconceptions about my DL degree.

    I understand that experience plays a big factor when it comes to MBAs. I am only in my 6th year in IT Management. My job is very demanding and much of my time is spent running around fighting fires and crawling underneath desks, rather than sitting behind a desk doing research, designing, planning, and THINKING.

    Ellis College courses are 6 weeks long. There is alot of information that needs to be absorbed and mastered. The projects and task feel engaging and I think that I have a good foundation of the concepts. However, I truly believe in "if you don't use it, you lose it!"

    I still have all of my text books and have digital (PDF) files of all of my online course content. Now that I am nearing the end of my program and my recent experience with Wharton MBA grads, I am starting to wonder about my choice of school. My original reason for seeking an online degree from Ellis was to advance my career and gain a much lacking fundamental understanding of business concepts (I was strictly IT focused). But now, IT and business are becoming very integrated and our company is IT-driven.

    I am doing well at my job and my boss is happy with performance. However, I have connections with people who work in big companies (big 4 accounting firms) and I have entertained that thought of trying to land a job there. But I have doubts about my degree. I just read another thread about a 2nd MBA degree and although I would be busting my butt for another 2+ years, it's something to think about.

    By the end of 2006 I will have my MBA in Management of Technology and the MCSE certification. My company is rapidly expanding and because I am the lone wolf mcquade IT manager, my responsibilities are escalating. I love my job, however, I'd like to earn a higher salary and respect. I have discussed this with my boss and they have been semi-fair when it comes to pay grade increases. But they are very stingy!

    So, now I am looking at re-evaluating my career strategy in order to maximize my earning potential at either my current job or at another company or even by starting my own company. I would make my mom very proud if I landed a job at a Big 4 accounting firm and unless they start lowering standards or my contacts in those companies pull some serious strings, I don't find it very probable (also, I am in healthcare, they are in accounting).

    So, should I consider a 2nd MBA from a top b-school if a Big 4 is my goal? Get a 2nd Master's in IT Manageement from a top school? Give it a shot with what I got? Keep my current job and grow my skills?

    I know that learning is a lifelong process. However, I don't want to be in debt during that time! Any comments, suggestions, opinions, advice, criticism is very much appreciated!


    Sincerely,
    Q_c
     
  2. Vincey37

    Vincey37 New Member

    The Big 4 aren't that selective. I know grads from Widener University and Temple University who work for the firms, and neither are first tier schools.

    What do you want to do, IT audit? How about some certs like the CISA?
     
  3. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    In my experience, the guys who like to talk big and throw around jargon and buzzwords tend to greatly over-exaggerate, and often not know as much as they appear to.

    I don't know anything about the Ellis MBA, but I'm sure it is just as good as Wharton or any other of the big names. If you want to be better at slinging the bull, there are a ton of management books out there. There's also the Harvard Business Review. If you start quoting from there, I'm sure you will get attention.

    If you want to just have a name brand school to put on your resume, I would look into some of the certificate programs that are out there, such as Stanford, Harvard Extension, Cornell, etc. Doing a second MBA though I think would be overkill.
     
  4. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    :confused: ????????????????????????????????????????
     
  5. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    Of course, there are others who would think 2 MBAs are about right. :)
     
  6. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Hey, why not remain open to the possibility of six or eight MBAs or even more if you've got enough money, time, and grey matter between the ears to get it done?
     
  7. quest_chun

    quest_chun New Member

    Re:

    IT auditing is very attractive. I've never heard of CISA. Thanks for your input! I'll investigate what this cert is about! I didn't know the big 4 weren't that selective. Perhaps there is a chance.

    sincerely,
    Q_c
     
  8. quest_chun

    quest_chun New Member

    Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    I'm glad to have posted this thread because I've gotten two really good ideas and suggestions. I guess a 2nd MBA is overkill. However, a 2nd masters might not be. Many programs consist of dual degrees of MBA/XXX. But I will look at the available certifcates from these schools.

    Thanks edowave!
    Q_c
     
  9. foobar

    foobar Member

    Re: Re:

    www.isaca.org
     
  10. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Re: Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    :confused:
     
  11. quest_chun

    quest_chun New Member

    Re: Re: Re:

    Awesome, thank you!
     
  12. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    Only crazy people get second MBA's right? ;)

    Go for a certificate or read some business books. I am going for a certificate from UF to add some name recognition to my resume.
     
  13. dl_mba

    dl_mba Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    Randell1234,

    What's the tuition cost at UFL?
    http://hcrm.dce.ufl.edu/default.aspx
     
  14. Scott Henley

    Scott Henley New Member

    Unfortunately this is where the distinction between DL and traditional education really shows. These guys probably had lots and lots of case study-based dicussions and debates during their in-classroom lectures. Not to mention the "social time" that occured before, during and after the lectures. When you hang around high caliber people, you tend to talk and think like them after a while. These guys were exposed to team projects, group presentations and many different interactive methods of instruction.

    Going back to DL, aside from watching videoconferences and writing papers independently, there is no real way to explore thoughts in that traditional human manner: face-to-face speech.

    I get more out of my doctoral program during those three-weeks-a-year residency than any other time.
     
  15. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    Are we prejudiced against crazy people? :confused: This is politically incorrect, Randell! :eek:
     
  16. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    No prejudice here...just looking for the group that I fit in with! I was looking at a second MBA at one time but it was because I wanted an RA one. Two RA MBA's is even crazy by my standards!
     
  17. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

  18. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    As you can see from my signature line, I have two MBAs. And, if you recall from some of my old posts, I happen to suffer from manic-depression. So, I guess I'm just a crazy person with two MBAs. :confused:
     
  19. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    I see you have two MBA's and was joking. No offense was intended.
     
  20. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wharton EMBA (long post, sorry!)

    Also, I did not know you suffered from manic-depression. If my comments were out of line, please accept my sincere apology.
     

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