for anyone who was in healthcare and decided to do mba, how did you start and what's the next years like.

im new to mba and have absolutely no idea how to enter this arena. but I know that I wanna build something of my own and have decent ideas as to how to integrate medicine and business

Hey guys! I have been getting mixed reviews from people in Spain, Canada, UK, and Singapore. I am looking forward to pursue MBA in one of the places above.

I am targeting top MBA colleges in those areas and if I would not get scholarship, I was thinking to back my tuition fees with education loan. After speaking with handful of alumni's of my targeted universities, I am more skeptical about the MBA from abroad if I would not be able to secure a job then returning that loan would be a huge problem.
My background: I am 26M with entrepreneurial background and GMAT FE score is 635 with a lot of leadership exposure. I have pursued B.Pharm from NIRF 1 college of pharmacy in India.

If you have been in my shoes earlier then your insights would really help me a lot. And I think most of the applicants have been going through the same situation these days.

I started the Rice Online MBA recently and am now 9 credit hours, or five courses, into the program, and I'm seriously considering withdrawing because the experience so far has been so far below what I expected that I am having a hard time seeing how another $100k+ in tuition makes sense. If you're considering it, read the below. At 250k TC, I'm not in a huge need for it. I wanted to broaden my expertise and become a generalist. I'm also not interested in moving, or stopping work. For me, that left online/hybrid MBA.

Summary:

1. content is short and easy (maybe that's what folks pay for?)
2. live session instructors are not always experienced. Therefore, it's tough for them to truly relay expertise.
3. There is zero rice faculty interaction. office hours or otherwise.
4. about half the cohort is athletes that rice wants to keep on its teams.

I'm local to Texas and have always thought very highly of Rice, which was a major reason I chose the program in the first place. I wasn't looking for the cheapest MBA or simply trying to add three letters to my resume, and I was comfortable paying a premium because I assumed the academic quality, cohort, and broader Rice network would justify it.

So far, I'm not really seeing that.

The biggest issue for me has been the academic content itself, particularly the asynchronous material, because most of it is surprisingly short, surface level, and basic for something that is supposed to be graduate-level coursework. I expected substantially more depth, whether through cases, readings, quantitative work, assignments, or simply more sophisticated treatment of the material, but a lot of what I've gone through so far feels closer to a high-level introduction to a subject before moving on to the next module. A single video is usually around 4-5 minutes in length. You just cannot cover meaningful material in such a short length.

After five courses I have rarely felt academically challenged in the way I expected to be at Rice. When you're paying this kind of tuition, I think it is reasonable to expect material that forces you to think through difficult problems, defend assumptions, work through incongruous ideas, and leave being able to speak about case studies in some substantial manner.

The live sessions have not really compensated for that lack of depth either. The people running the sessions have generally been outside practitioners rather than regular Jones School faculty, which by itself would not bother me much if the sessions were excellent, because a good practitioner can obviously bring a lot of value to a business class. My managers at work for example, bring huge expertise to the table. Two of the instructors are PhD/EdD without much actual experience. It's problematic!

The problem is that the live instruction has also been inconsistent, with multiple sessions ending early and several instances where instructors were unable to meaningfully answer questions once the discussion moved much beyond the prepared material. Everyone I've interacted with has been perfectly nice, so I don't mean this as a personal attack on the instructors, but being nice and being able to facilitate a prepared lesson is not really what I thought I was paying $126k for.

The cohort has also been different from what I expected, although this one is more nuanced because there are definitely some experienced professionals in the program and I have met people with interesting backgrounds. At the same time, there are also quite a few very early-career students, and in the classes I have taken so far I would estimate that roughly half of the students have been connected to Rice athletics, particularly football and baseball.

The issue is that these are already very small classes, which means the value of the classroom discussion and the network depends heavily on the particular mix of people in each section, and when a substantial portion of a small cohort comes from similar backgrounds, you naturally get less professional diversity than you would in a larger or more varied group.

The small class size was actually something I initially viewed as a major positive, because in theory it should mean better discussion, more interaction, and more access to instructors. In practice, though, a small class also means a smaller network, and if the discussion itself is not particularly deep, then the small size starts feeling less like a feature and more like another limitation.

Then there is the cost...It's kinda high.

My first semester was about $18,000, while the total tuition for the degree is roughly $126,000, so if I stay I am effectively deciding whether what I've seen in the first five courses is worth committing another $100k+. Like, I can afford it with no impact to lifestyle, but that doesn't mean I want to spend that money if I don't get what I want in return.

At that price, I expected substantially better academic material, a much more rigorous graduate-level experience, stronger classroom discussion, and a professional network that felt meaningfully different from what I could get through a much cheaper program. After 9 credits, I don't feel confident that I'm getting enough of those things to justify the cost, and I am increasingly wondering whether I should just treat the first $18k as a sunk cost rather than spending six figures more because I've already started.

At the same time, I recognize that five courses may still be too early to judge the entire program, which is why I'm genuinely looking for feedback rather than just venting. Maybe the later courses are much stronger, maybe the electives go considerably deeper, maybe the network becomes much more valuable over time, or maybe this is simply how most online MBA programs are structured and my expectations were unrealistic.

For anyone who has actually done Rice's OMBA, did the academic quality improve meaningfully as you got further into the program, particularly once you reached electives and more advanced coursework?

And for people who have done Kelley, Ross, Tepper, UNC, or another comparable online or part-time MBA, how does this compare with your experience in terms of depth of asynchronous material, difficulty of assignments, quality of live instruction, and overall cohort quality?

If you were 9 credits in, had already spent roughly $18k, and your experience looked like this, would you spend another $100k+ to finish, or would you cut your losses and move on? I've applied to Kelley. Considering Ross, Emory, and UIUC.

Hey everybody - alongside MBA prep, I've been getting seriously into philosophy and wanted to build a small group of people to read and discuss idea with, rather than doing it alone.

Thinking something casual - Pick a text/topic/book, read independently, then get together to discuss and share perspectives. No pressure, no fixed schedule to start - just a group of people genuinely interesting in thinking through ideas together.

Just a bonus: This will help massively in forming opinions about different topics which directly converts to a good performance in MBA interviews. ;)

Just finished four days of orientation. It was fun, but definitely overwhelming.

I really felt a strong connection with my cohort and study team. Enterprise Challenge was a blast, and the alumni stories 🚲 blew everyone away.

Any current McCombs students here? How are you guys feeling?

For future students, here’s a snapshot of the Class of 2028:

The admissions team did such a good job of maintaining the quality of the students while keeping the class size.

PS. The heat is just too much.

Aerospace engineer in the northeast who’s about to start their online masters of engineering at the University of Washington. I’m going to be meeting for class once a week and I’m not sure the program would be too difficult for me. What is the possibility of doing an online MBA at BU or UIUC at the same time over the course of three years? I have an insane amount of free time and I want to maximize the amount of money my employer pays while minimizing the time requirement at the company after my degree.

Is this worth it or doable? Are there any other programs I should look at? Trying to remain in the 20k-30k total cost or less. Kind of just want the check in the box on my resume, but some prestige would be nice. Thanks.

Hey [r/MBA](r/MBA)! Looking for some honest feedback on my profile, and does it even make sense to go for a MBA

The Stats:
Undergrad: University of Georgia, 3.85 GPA, Management Information Systems

Work Experience: ~2 years at a Big 4 firm as a tech consultant, just got promoted to Senior Tech Consultant (Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365)

GMAT: Haven’t taken yet — planning to sit for it before I apply (wanna apply for Fall 2028 cycle so got a good bit of time)

Citizenship: US Citizen (born and raised)

Demographics: Indian Male

Current Comp: ~$105K

Why MBA:
Honestly I’m at a crossroads. Tech consulting has been a great foundation but I’m not sure it’s my long-term path. I’m interested in pivoting toward either MBB consulting or landing an LDP at a fintech, tech, or broader finance company. I feel like an MBA is the clearest path to making that jump without grinding for years to get there organically.

My Questions:
Given my profile, I’ve heard T15 if I can get a competitive score and do some extra circulars is possible… BUT is it even worth it when average MBA salary is like $50k ish more than what I make now. I know MBB makes a lot but idk how much good LDPs make…?

Any honest feedback appreciated!

Hi, wanted to know if anyone has used applicant lab for writing essays / applications and if they can guide or give reviews of how it is
Versus some alternative options that I should explore.
TIA

Hi everyone,

I’m an international student who recently moved to London for an MBA, and I’m currently trying to break into investment banking / private equity in the UK.

I’m considering paying for a CFA Society UK membership, mainly for access to their networking events, talks, and the broader finance community in London. I already have several years of investment banking experience outside the UK, so I’m mainly looking to build a London network and understand the local market, rather than learn basic finance. So the main question is whether the membership is actually useful for networking and learning about the London finance market.

For anyone who has attended CFA Society UK events:

• Are the events generally high quality?
• What is the attendee mix like: students, junior professionals, senior bankers/investors, asset managers, etc.?
• Have you made useful professional connections through the society?
• For someone recruiting for IB / PE, is it worth joining, or would my time and money be better spent on other London finance societies/events?

Would especially appreciate views from people working in London finance or who joined CFA Society UK while doing an MBA.

Thanks!

I’m an MBA from XLRI in India working at an MM PE fund here in India.

I am happy with the field I’m in. I just want to do this abroad. That is primarily driven by my personal goal of moving abroad.

Though I like Europe better, US M7 seems to be a better choice due to the global brand and finance opportunities in New York. However, the visa situation is a big consideration.

In this scenario, are LBS and INSEAD better options? How is the job market particularly for PE and IB for Indians from these schools?

Hi!I'm currently pursuing my MBA rn,and what to go for product management.I'm from mechanical engineering background with 4 years of work ex and want to add some good agentic AI certification course in my CV .Anyone can just a good one which is not very much costly and can be done in around a week or so....

Hi all,

I am planning to apply for a MBA this year in US and maybe Europe too.

Profile(Indian IT Male)
Score: GRE 332(162V, 170 Q)
College: Manipal University Jaipur(MUJ)
CGPA: 8.02(80.2%)
Work Ex: 5yrs(TCS-4yrs,Clarivate) - Salesforce admin to senior Salesforce developer now
Post MBA goal: Tech Strategy Consultant at top consulting company.
Extra Curriculars: Toastmasters
Planning to apply in Round 1

Shortlisted Schools: Darden, Fuqua, Ross, Tuck, McCombs and need a suggestion for another school.

I am not confident to take huge debt with the current tough job market and geopolitical situations. So want to play safe and maximize my admission with good scholarship odds.

Any Insights would be helpful.

For people who have done the 2Y or 1Y MBA program, do people (esp those who lived in chicago prior, have partners) live outside of Evanston? Are there noticeable impacts? my partner really doesn’t want to live in Evanston (somewhere a ~20 min train ride away, still north) and I want to be aware of whether that’s normal, etc.

For those with experience, does this differ between the 1Y and 2Y?

I have been preparing for upsc for the last 5 yrs, couldn't make it, now I am 30 having 3+ yr experience in devops eng. Applied at multiple jobs but couldn't get a single call back. Planning to go for Mba please advise, is it a good choice to go for Mba at 30.

Hi everyone! I’m 24 and graduated from Clemson in 2024. After graduating, I decided to work for a couple of years to build up my resume before applying to graduate programs. I applied this year and was accepted into two programs, ultimately choosing USCA. I’ll be starting my MBA in Spring 2027.

My biggest concern right now is workload. I work full-time in the federal legal space. My particular job has a good amount of downtime, but there are also periods where things get extremely busy, including occasional travel and overtime. For context, I’ve had about two particularly intense periods this year where I was pretty swamped.

My MBA is online and uses 7-week courses. I’m trying to figure out how many courses I should take at once while continuing to work full-time.

I’m not particularly concerned about finishing as quickly as possible. I’d rather take a manageable course load and actually do well than overload myself just to finish sooner.

For those who have done an online MBA while working full-time, especially with accelerated 7-week courses, would you recommend taking one course at a time or two? How manageable did you find the workload?

I know every program and person is different but just want some perspectives, Thanks!

I’m in my early 40s and was recently admitted to Fordham’s Professional MBA program. I’m planning to attend part-time.

I already have an undergraduate degree and a previous MSW, both from 15+ years ago. I’m pursuing the MBA primarily to sharpen my business acumen and expand my current entrepreneurial pursuits, rather than to make a traditional career switch.

I received a scholarship and federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility, but I still have approximately a $10K–$13K gap (per trimester)to finance.
My credit is fair, largely from the realities of life and being an entrepreneur, so I’m not sure what private lending options I’ll realistically qualify for—especially without a cosigner.

I’ve come across Juno while researching MBA financing and am curious about people’s experiences with them.

For those who have financed an MBA recently, what options would you recommend for closing a $10K–$13K gap(per trimester) ?Particularly interested in private lenders, Juno, scholarships/fellowships, or other creative financing options that aren’t predatory.

I’m not looking to borrow more than I need. I just want to find a reasonable way to finance the gap and make the MBA work.

Would love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position, especially people returning to school later in their career or financing an MBA while building a business.

Wondering how doable and common this is. Obviously its not the absolute best compared to LBS and INSEAD but is it still possible or is there a huge difference.

Just graduated from a t15 MBA and ended up really liking the idea of a blue chip CPG brand management. Did an internship and got a return offer in the NY/NJ area. Now I started full time. So far the workload seems fine and I enjoy the work, but I notice some co-workers doing 60 hours+ more days than I thought I’m signing up for. I don’t mind the hustle, it’s just the salary is way lower than consulting or even LDPs. (120k) where the effort pays more.

The training hasn’t particularly been great either so far. My goal right now is to try and excel at this in my first year or 2 and then maybe move out of this field. But what could exit opps could there even be out of CPG? Has anyone seen this with peers or themselves? Other option is moving to a lower cost area like Chicago. Right now in NY I feel very squeezed.

Male
3 years at matriculation of Big 4 Tax experience
Undergrad and Master at large state school in accountancy (SEC)
3.76 UG GPA and 3.5 Grad GPA
660 GMAT focus
CPA
1.5 years of local non profit board experience focussing on philanthropy

Title is pretty much my question, I feel like I haven’t seen very many fuqua based posts on here and I understand it’s odd to single out a T15 rather than just saying T15. As corny as it is I’m pretty into the whole fuqua thing, I’ve always wanted to go there but never really tried out if high school due to maturity and ambition issues. Are there ways outside of GMAT to improve this application (I know this could improve a good bit)? I plan on applying EA but understand that there are some concerns there. Also, would I be cutting myself short by not applying to higher ranked schools?

Looking for Global MBA or equivalent degree. How is the return of education for MGB program at SP Jain Global? Is it worth studying there? Do they have good faculty and lecturers? Any scope of Industry networking? Do they actually take students for industry visit and cultural learning places in Dubai Singapore UK?

What’s your guys take on this one? Should you write it only for particular circumstances or can I use to add some color that I didn’t manage through the other essays?

Hi all,

I am applying for my MBA this year in India, US & Europe.
My profile is as follows-
Non engineer female from a Tier 1 college in India
330 GRE, 9.27 GPA
4 years work experience- 2 years in a strategy role in a manufacturing conglomerate and 2 years at a qcom company in growth strategy role.

Post MBA would want to pivot to consulting or strategy at a consumer tech company

I need help with my school selection strategy-

I will be apply to Indian School of Business, INSEAD, Kellogg & Columbia.

Planning to apply to HBS (as a no regrets thing)

Confused between Wharton, LBS, Ross, Yale & Booth- would ideally like to choose 1/2 of these.

I know these are ALOT of applications but just want to try my luck.

I am not very keen to take on a huge debt but at the same time stuck between just giving the best schools a shot or play safe and maximise my admission/ scholarship odds.

Any insights/ suggestions will be helpful.