Dan Dore, MBA 2016-Ìý
We’ve all had that internal discussion whether or not pursuing an MBA was worth it. I had gone through this internal conversation ad nauseam in my prior career. What made it clear to me was the skill sets I noticed I was missing that would help me progress in
my career. Before pursuing my Full Time MBA I was working as an insurance adjuster for four years after receiving my undergraduate degree from Michigan State University. Working in this environment I was exposed to many different processes and gained a solid footing in a professional environment. At the same time, I recognized I was lacking fundamental skills that would be needed to progress in my career. With this knowledge I took the GMAT and began to look at MBA Programs at several schools.
I was already living in Colorado when I decided I needed an MBA to further my career goals. I began to explore the various offerings from schools in the state and wanted to land at Colorado’s top business school. Researching the offerings in the state I also considered the location, cost of the degree, and academic offerings from the program. Ultimately, the main deciding factor with the University of Colorado was the strong alumni network others who had gone through the program kept telling me about. It is one of those maxims when researching a Full Time MBA, versus a Part Time MBA, was that I saw time and time again that the MBA is as valuable as the alumni network behind it. This is something that is not readily apparent during the application process but from the first day of class this has been a focus in the program.
In addition to developing this network returning school to full time has allowed me to immerse myself in student life fully again. In the full time context you are able to explore the extracurricular clubs that can enhance the experience. I have been involved with the Graduate Real Estate Association and the Finance Club during my time. In my involvement with both of these clubs I have attended conferences, gone on treks to explore the finance industry in Denver and have met Real Estate professionals working in the Pitkin Valley in Colorado. All of these activities only enhance the student experience by learning from the real world practitioners in the field I am pursuing.
Is an MBA worth it? In my second year I have been exposed to career possibilities not previously available to me and met friends that will last a lifetime. No regrets so far and I feel good about my chances.
MBA Candidate 2016
Leeds School of Business
University of Colorado
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