MBA, UCT or Stellenbosch?, Is it worth it?, Is there demand in job market? Salary?

[creeper]

this week's Finweek also covers the decision on whether to do an MBA.

Finweek's MBA articles tend to be really good. Worthwhile to read. But go to the open days of the respective MBA schools as well.

 

[creeper]

this week's Finweek also covers the decision on whether to do an MBA.

Finweek's MBA articles tend to be really good. Worthwhile to read. But go to the open days of the respective MBA schools as well.

 

[saturnz]

UCT open days are done for the year, the last one was last week I think.

 

[FibreOptic]

Had a look through the Sunday Times Career section this past weekend. I could literally count on 1 hand the amount of jobs requiring a MBA as advantageous, let alone a minimum requirement. Seems a bit over-rated if the demand is anything to go by. However senior positions often require a post-grad qualification in a relevant field.

 

[greggpb]

Had a look through the Sunday Times Career section this past weekend. I could literally count on 1 hand the amount of jobs requiring a MBA as advantageous, let alone a minimum requirement. Seems a bit over-rated if the demand is anything to go by. However senior positions often require a post-grad qualification in a relevant field.

Yeah I think you are missing the boat here, in my opinion an MBA would never be looking in the paper for a job. There are networks and referrals which form the basis of the recruitment process for qualified mba..

Check out the financial times ranking for MBA's and average salaries for graduates(Currently 1.3mil Average at uct), if there was an over supply you would see that dropping drastically. That said if you have an IT or engineering back ground and know about "Big Data", you are looking at much more..

 

[greggpb]

the CEO of FNB is an economist, Mbeki is an Economist, Wenger is an economist and I can mention other economists as well

economics is probably the most useful direction in practice since it equips you with the necessary skills to make real life decisions in an uncertain environment.

The big three seem to be llb, ca, economics in no particular order... so it would be down to personal preference, but economics will gve you the most global view and with the world getting smaller I would recommend it.. both ca and llb are south africa specific which require conversion..

 

[saturnz]

Had a look through the Sunday Times Career section this past weekend. I could literally count on 1 hand the amount of jobs requiring a MBA as advantageous, let alone a minimum requirement. Seems a bit over-rated if the demand is anything to go by. However senior positions often require a post-grad qualification in a relevant field.

I wouldn't use the Sunday Times as a barometer to guage the demand for an MBA.

 

[Devill]

The big three seem to be llb, ca, economics in no particular order... so it would be down to personal preference, but economics will gve you the most global view and with the world getting smaller I would recommend it.. both ca and llb are south africa specific which require conversion..

I also see CIMA popping up a slight bit more in SA these days.

 

[HavocXphere]

the CEO of FNB is an economist, Mbeki is an Economist, Wenger is an economist and I can mention other economists as well

economics is probably the most useful direction in practice since it equips you with the necessary skills to make real life decisions in an uncertain environment.

I'm pretty sure I can name more counter examples.

 

[saturnz]

when you say counter examples, do you mean economists that failed?

 

[HavocXphere]

when you say counter examples, do you mean economists that failed?

No not at all. In truth the thought of a "failed economist" has never occurred to me before...ever. My post was mostly in jest anyway. What I was getting at is that statistically another profession dominates the top of the corporate food chain.

As I said - mostly in jest though...wasn't intended as a serious discussion point.

btw I haven't forgotten about that PM of yours...reply soon to follow...its just been wild this side.

 

[saturnz]

No not at all. In truth the thought of a "failed economist" has never occurred to me before...ever. My post was mostly in jest anyway. What I was getting at is that statistically another profession dominates the top of the corporate food chain.

As I said - mostly in jest though...wasn't intended as a serious discussion point.

btw I haven't forgotten about that PM of yours...reply soon to follow...its just been wild this side.

I don't think you can measure economists according to their dominance in the corporate environment afterall, there is a Nobel Prize for the subject suggesting it is bigger than simply dominating the corporate food chain.

Yes I get the jest, you have to have a sense of humour about economics, you can't really take it seriously but its contributions cannot be discounted.

 

[ele33]

I have an admission interview coming up at the GSB, what kind of questions are asked and what are the chances of being accepted once you're at the interview stage of your application?

 

[greggpb]

I have an admission interview coming up at the GSB, what kind of questions are asked and what are the chances of being accepted once you're at the interview stage of your application?

It really depends who is interviewing you. If you let me know via pm I can assist with M.O.

But generally, they are just looking for cool people, the admission interview will be about finding out you current life position, what your support structure and external responsibilities are(wife, Family , Kids, or lack there of) and why you want to do an MBA.

And they basically want you to know what you are in for, my advice is schedule a coffee with someone you know who has done the program, happy to hook up for a coffee if you are every near canal walk.

But to sum it up,
you need to put in 10(mediocre) - 20(firsts) hours a week for two years

 

[ele33]

It really depends who is interviewing you. If you let me know via pm I can assist with M.O.

But generally, they are just looking for cool people, the admission interview will be about finding out you current life position, what your support structure and external responsibilities are(wife, Family , Kids, or lack there of) and why you want to do an MBA.

And they basically want you to know what you are in for, my advice is schedule a coffee with someone you know who has done the program, happy to hook up for a coffee if you are every near canal walk.

But to sum it up,
you need to put in 10(mediocre) - 20(firsts) hours a week for two years

Thanks for the feedback. Will drop you a PM

 

[saturnz]

don't GSB primarily based their acceptance of a applicant on the GMAT scores?

 

[ele33]

don't GSB primarily based their acceptance of a applicant on the GMAT scores?

From the presentation I went to, the GMAT is important but its not the only factor considered.

 

[greggpb]

Think they have a lower limit of 550.. but pretty much anyone could hit that..