Ok, so before I get flamed, yes I did do a search - no one has asked this question before.
Why should I get a MBA?
I want to but I can't even explain to myself what good would it truly do for me.
(Please read abit more before you judge). I'm a freshly minted B.Comm graduate and I haven't even begun to work yet. I don't expect on getting/starting my MBA for at least 5 years. (Another issue, having a B.comm makes a MBA feel redundant)
But I know 10-15 years down the road, I want to be in a high up position for a non profit / NGO / or even the United Nations if I have the chance. I'll take a paycut or quit my job, I don't really want to have kids TBH. I don't think I'll be settling down. Now I guess my better question is, do I really need a MBA for those high end positions? Do you guys think a B.comm is sufficient with private sector experience? Sure that can get me a long way, but I think if I'm aiming towards leading these - don't I need some more formal credentials (Unless I somehow pull a Bill Gates along the way).
I have read tons upon tons of successful people who are working in those areas, and many of them have either
a) Incredible private sector experience with the money (Bill Gates)
b) The educational background (Nenshi has a Masters of Public Policy from Harvard. It is true that it was simply his consulting company working with the UN, but that's still impressive)
c) Have shitloads of money and the " public pull" to do so. Matt Damon and his water campaign are an example, or any other celeb backing a NGO
Please don't get me wrong, I realize I can go on a relief corps mission right now and go build a school in a 3rd world country. But I don't think that's enough, I want to be attacking the actual problem - not relieving symptoms.
But now that I have written this up, I think I have missed something. Maybe I should just go to the non profit sector now and go at it? But what I am worried about is getting the $$$ to get to a high end program (I'm talking top20 global) MBA's.
My main concern is, quitting my job and going to a random MBA program is a bit of a gamble.
Quitting my job and getting a Harvard/MIT Sloan/Columbia MBA is...not as much of a gamble.
(Please don't read me off as condescending, but it's a fact that headhunters are all over the major MBA schools. So if shit hits the fan, I can always sell out without walking off the campus grounds)
What do you guys think? (Yes I know, this is basically a ramble)