Master's Degree vs MBA (if after internship FT offer received)

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the career trajectory so far!

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• It's worth noting that neither a Master's degree nor an MBA will necessarily provide "better perspectives" for a full-time job in strategy consulting. Ultimately, the value of these degrees will fade away soon.
• However, it's important to consider that, depending on your location and industry, an advanced degree such as a Master's or MBA may be necessary for career advancement outside of strategy consulting. It's worth carefully weighing the pros and cons of each option to determine what will be the best fit for you and your future career goals.
• Ultimately, the decision to pursue a Master's degree or MBA, or to start working full-time, will depend on your individual circumstances and priorities. It may be helpful to speak with professionals in your field, current or former consultants, or career advisors to get a better understanding of what will be the most beneficial for your future career prospects.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there, 

Congrats on the offers and the very promising future :)

The reality is that getting into MBB is a lot about skill (which you can control) and also about luck (which you can't). So don't drop an opportunity that might not show itself later on. Many people go to MBA programs in the hope of being hired by MBB, so it's rather counterintuitive that you'd reject MBB to go for an MBA. 

Also, the MBB brand is very strong and it will be help you a lot in the future. My suggestion would be to go ahead and join a top firm, then pursue an MBA at their expense later on. This way you'll get some work experience, some money and then get to enjoy some fun study time for a year or two while having the certainty of a job waiting for you at the end. 

I wrote HERE and HERE about what the consultant job is at the beginning. Maybe this will help inform your decision. At least you'll know what's waiting for you. 

Best of luck!

Cristian

Hi there,

Q: What are your thoughts on skipping the Master's Degree if the full-time offer from MBB is received, and going later for MBA?

Unless there is any intrinsic benefit in the Master (eg you know you need it to get to certain jobs in your country), I would join MBB earlier on.

In terms of your reason:

i) since the university where I did my bachelor's even if the top one in my country, was not tier 1 in the EU → Doesn’t seem a reason good enough to invest a full year or more

(ii) to enhance my finance knowledge → In my opinion nowadays it doesn’t make much sense to enroll in a Master to get knowledge – you can probably learn everything you need on your own in less time. Plus working in MBB will also provide extra knowledge

The main advantage of the Master seems to be a signaling effect to strengthen your CV. If you already have an MBB offer, I don’t think you need that anymore. As you mentioned, that time could be better invested in a top MBA in the future.

Best, 

Francesco 

Hi there!
 

Agree with the responses below!  Would shoot for MBB but make sure you’re ready for it as Ian mentioned. 
 

People often do a masters because they didn’t quite make it to their top choice firms.  I assume that you have with your MBB offer!

You can do 3-4-5 years in consulting before going for a top MBA and taking some time to think about your next career steps.  You may even be able to get a sponsored MBA, whereas I assume you would be paying your masters out of pocket. 
 

hope it helps. 
 

Hey there,

If you want to do a Master's and already have an MBB offer I would definitely go for the direct entry MBB role + a (partially) sponsored MBA.

Think about it from a rational perspective:

1. You have your MBB offer in both cases
2. If you go for the Master's before, you have to pay for it yourself + the opportunity cost of forgone earlier salary
3. If you go for the MBA, it will be at least partially or in some cases fully sponsored by MBB
4. The MBA is worth much more from a long-term perspective
5. The network and parties are better in the MBA :-))
6. It is nice to get a break to recharge after two years in MBB and you have something to look forward to

Still, its a personal decision, and not everything in life is rational.

Cheers,

Florian

What's YOUR goal?

This is all that matters. What do you want to do in 5, 10, 15 years?

I'm sure most coaches will say go MBB. But, remember, advice is a form of nostalgia.

MBB isn't “fun” for most. It's very very hard and challenging. I know people who did their Masters and PhD and ended up extremely happy. They would have hated MBB.

For others, it's the opposite.

Think about you here!