The Value of an MBA

As the end of my undergraduate career rapidly approaches, I find myself wondering, what next? I had thought about attending Northwestern University, but I didn't feel qualified enough yet to present myself as a suitable applicant. I've considered all manners of internships, from film production to advertising sales, and been unsure. I've also wondered whether I shouldn't just get an MBA. It seems safe enough. Just listen to it: Masters in Business Administration. Pretty impressive. But then again, just what exactly can an MBA do for you? At Seth Godin's blog, often touted as the best marketing blog on the internet, we learn a little bit from the master about why an MBA isn't all it's cracked up to be.

In examining the case of 119 rejected Harvard Business School applicants, Seth comes to the conclusion that, perhaps, Harvard has done these people a favor. As he says, "unless you want to be a consultant or an i-banker (where a top MBA is nothing but a screen for admission) it's hard for me to understand why this [business school] is a better use of time and money than actual experience combined with a dedicated reading of 30 or 40 books." In other words, it may sometimes be better for a student to get out there and actually work before he or she gets muddled up in too much outdated business theory. Sounds like pretty good advice from one of the best in the business. Now if only he could help me figure out just what it is I want to do after graduation?