| Back to Home > Bulletin Board > Media Issues > Topic: Why Get an MBA? |
Topic: Why Get an MBA?
| Author | Message |
| justthefactsman | Posted – 12/3/2007 9:30:40 PM | show profile I'm thinking about getting an MBA. Well, not exactly thinking about it. My family is tired of the low pay and my general inability to pay for such luxuries as meat and milk. I had one relative suggest getting an MBA or a law degree. I have little to no interest, but before I say, "No" is there any way getting an MBA could be worthwhile in the journalism field? |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 12/3/2007 9:55:59 PM | show profile It probably would only have value if you want to cover business or go into journalism management at some point. |
| UGoGirl | Posted – 12/3/2007 10:29:01 PM | show profile An MBA? Sorry if I sound harsh, but I think we already have way too many MBAs. If you are going to graduate school, why not go into something that will help you to do something actually useful (other than paper pushing)? Anyway, it doesn't sound like you really have any interest this other than the potential higher earnings (potential being the key word here... there was a time when anyone working on semiconducters was guaranteed lifetime employment... until they started shipping production overseas). Before you spend any time and money on getting an MBA, I'd really encourage you to think about: 1. Is there any issue that you feel some passion for? 2. What are our real needs going to be over the next 40 to 50 years? 3. What are my skills and how can my natural skills support my passion for a real future need? |
| inkblot | Posted – 12/4/2007 12:20:39 AM | show profile Everyone's got an MBA My boyfriend and I were laughing at this exact thing recently. We saw a billboard advertisement for an MBA program at a local university, and we were like: "Oh, an MBA program at (insert any school). Everyone's got an MBA." My point is, unless you plan on getting into an Ivy League program so you can run General Motors or GE, you might want to think twice. I'm sure you would come out of any program with some good finance and business knowledge, but it will probably just get you a modest promotion at your current job. That's my guess. The only other thing that might make an MBA degree pay off would be if you applied it to some current area of expertise. The degree would look good on a resume. Any extra schooling looks good on a resume. It can't hurt. |
| Marie | Posted – 12/4/2007 12:44:05 AM | show profile I think a law degree is more useful and more versatile, but I wouldn't go for either unless you're genuinely interested in pursuing a career in these fields. You don't need to get a degree like that to earn more money. There's plenty of ways to earn money. Decide what it is you want to do. Some people do make OK money in journalism. Just blindly going for an expensive degree that you're not even interested in using doesn't really make sense. If you're media crazed, maybe you're interested in media law. I know someone who took this route, and works with producers on interesting films ... just got a promotion. She's happy, had been with two major firms, and makes a lot of money. |
| foodlit | Posted – 12/4/2007 1:56:54 PM | show profile If you have little to no interest in getting an MBA or Law degree, don't waste your time and money doing it. It won't help you get more money unless you're good at what you do, shift gears into the business world, and your passion shines through when you interview. From what you are saying that doesn't sound possible given your lack of interest in doing it. I think the key is that journalism and MBA don't really go together unless you plan on focusing on business....MBA is a business degree...not at all creative like journalism. If you want more money, why not just pick up freelance assignments on top of your day job? |
| Marie | Posted – 12/4/2007 2:22:19 PM | show profile I would not say that business -- or law -- is not creative -- in many ways it's more creative than journalism. I'd hardly call journalism creative anymore. |
| foodlit | Posted – 12/4/2007 2:26:29 PM | show profile Marie, It's a different kind of 'creative'. In recruiting when we refer to a job or company as 'creative', it generally means more 'artsy'. As opposed to the type of job an MBA usually leads to which is more numbers/corporate/analytical/businessy in nature. Sure, those jobs can also be creative but will still be non-creative in terms of the skill sets themselves. My point is that if you are more of a creative person, who is more of an artist than a numbers wonk, then an MBA might not be your best option. |
| Marie | Posted – 12/4/2007 3:41:04 PM | show profile I disagree, but it doesn't matter. And I'd harcly say journalism is creative. |
