Part-time at Chicago Booth

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tarving_Banker

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I am considering getting a part-time MBA from Chicago Booth. For those of you who are either going there right now or have graduated from Booth, how is the program compared to the Booth full-time in terms of strength and prestige?
I am applying for the Chicago Business Fellows program, if that matters at all. From what I see many people are career-switchers in the CBF program. If I want to make a switch (Comm. Banking to Investment Management), would I be better off doing a full-time MBA at a top-20 or going to Booth part-time?
 
most i’ve spoken to have said part-time MBA is a waste of time, unless it is paid for or somehow subsizidized by your employer..
 
If employer-paid, you won’t access the same recruiting opps as FT. All in all, PT is not good for career switch…
 
The difference between full-time and part-time has narrowed considerably… especially at the Booth’s and Kellogg’s. Part-time is ideal for those staying in same industry / company, it’s still probably easier to switch industry’s going full-time (participate in an MBA internship for example), but after graduation no one cares if you went full-time or part-time.
I have similar ambitions to switch from PWM to something for exciting but having the option of pursuing a first rate MBA (at Booth or Kellogg) while getting a paycheck and more work experience is too good to pass up.
 
true … i went part time and switched to finance. i had to do more work on my own to get the interviews since my employer paid for the MBA but in the end it all worked out. I refused to give up my full time salary to take on debt, and graduated debt free, plus, I got to use work related topics for my projects from time to time, so this was win-win. it’s not easy juggling work and classes though.
 
DoubleDip,
You didn’t have to pay back the tuition to your employer?
 
It’s hard enough to get into IM from Booth FT right now, that I think to do Booth PT to career switch into IM would not be a great idea. However, IM is so broad, it really depends on what you’re really shooting for. If you’re going for top IM stuff, they only recruit FT. On the other hand, if you take a long-term vie, and are in a spot where you can hang out for a few years, you could leverage the Booth network down the road (post-MBA). If you want to career switch, best to try for FT, IMO.
 
yea I agree with FUN…after you graduate you still get to put Booth MBA on your resume so why would it matter PT/FT student? You still have access to the MBA career office and MBA recruiting events…
I would think that a part-time MBA is ADVANTAGEOUS to anyone WITH a job who wants to keep it as you can go to school, keep getting experience and NOT lose wages…
 
Thanks everyone.
One of the things that attracted me to Booth (Besides the fact it is Booth) is that the school allows PT students to attend recruiting events with the FT students.
My dilemma is whether to get my MBA now (which means it will most likely be PT since 1-I got bills to pay and I don’t feel like giving up a job in this market 2-I got my undergrad in 2008, I would like to continue working to gain more practical experience) or get a FT MBA down the road when I am older.
In addition, I fell that I am not developing skills at my current job. I fear that if I stay too long I may get stuck and not even get in B-school. (My current boss got his MBA from an online school, imagine having him write my recommendation letters) My goal is to get in B-school, network like hell, and hopefully get another job while I am in school.
What would you do in my situation. Would appreciate your inputs.
 
$tarving_Banker Wrote:
——————————————————-
> Thanks everyone.
>
> One of the things that attracted me to Booth
> (Besides the fact it is Booth) is that the school
> allows PT students to attend recruiting events
> with the FT students.
>
> My dilemma is whether to get my MBA now (which
> means it will most likely be PT since 1-I got
> bills to pay and I don’t feel like giving up a job
> in this market 2-I got my undergrad in 2008, I
> would like to continue working to gain more
> practical experience) or get a FT MBA down the
> road when I am older.
>
> In addition, I fell that I am not developing
> skills at my current job. I fear that if I stay
> too long I may get stuck and not even get in
> B-school. (My current boss got his MBA from an
> online school, imagine having him write my
> recommendation letters) My goal is to get in
> B-school, network like hell, and hopefully get
> another job while I am in school.
>
> What would you do in my situation. Would
> appreciate your inputs.
Just because they allow PT students to attend FT events doesn’t mean you can. Some, if not all, schools bar you from the events if your tuition is being paid by your employer. Usually sign an agreement with the company that specifically states this.
 
$tarving_Banker Wrote:
——————————————————-
> I am applying for the Chicago Business Fellows
> program, if that matters at all.
I have a few friends currently in CBF. I can put you in touch.
 
FT might have signficant benefits if you’d like to change the field due to better recruiting options. However, PT offers the same academic opportunities as FT program. You have the same professors as FT students and classes are identical. You can take Advanced Investments with Cochrane or Financial research class with Fama. You can also take up to 6 classes from the other departments. For example, I’m taking an Economics department PhD level class taught by two great Economists (Becker and Murphy).
Another option to consider is to start taking PT classes as you don’t have to quit your job and then transfer to the FT program if you decide that going to school FT is worth it.
 
“If I want to make a switch (Comm. Banking to Investment Management), would I be better off doing a full-time MBA at a top-20 or going to Booth part-time?”
In my opinion, FT would be more effective for a career switch, since you will have access to more recruitment opportunities and internships. Of course, the money you lose from not working for 2 years might be enough to swing the decision the other way.
Also in my opinion, Booth has a much stronger brand name than many other “top 20” programs. Besides just FT or PT, your decision should be based upon which specific programs you have access to.
 
If you just graduated in 2008, you may not need a Booth MBA to make the switch. Not saying it is a bad idea, just wondering if you have tried testing the market at all or doing some informational interviews. Those take far less time and cost practically nothing.
 
eureka Wrote:
——————————————————-
> If you just graduated in 2008, you may not need a
> Booth MBA to make the switch. Not saying it is a
> bad idea, just wondering if you have tried testing
> the market at all or doing some informational
> interviews. Those take far less time and cost
> practically nothing.
Agreed
 
I also graduated in 08 and plan to apply for the CBF next fall to start in 2011. Full-time would be ideal… but Booth MBA, CFA, CFP and 5-6 years of work experience when I graduate would be pretty solid. Still young enough to switch careers too.
 
@KarateBoy: No, I didn’t have to pay anything back as I ended up staying two years beyond graduation - but the MBA did allow me to move to a wall street facing position in treasury - then I moved to NY on the basis of this job and MBA.
 
Just went to the Evening/Weekend MBA & Executive MBA presentation. Curriculum is the same between full time and evening/weekend, executive is a bit different. Considering same curriculum and Booth MBA is the end result on your resume, I don’t think it will be perceived as different.
Fellowes was for those with 0-3 years experience, Part time for working professionals, Executive was a set curriculum for working professionals.
“Prestige” wise, you are getting a Booth MBA, one takes 2 years to finish, the other 2.5, I say don’t feel slighted if you end up going part time.
 
what about networking opportunities? Would full time offer better networking opportunities or that’s overrated?
 
w/ regard to networking opportunities„,
Part-time you will be networking with people who have jobs! Which in this economy is pretty valuable.
 
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