Why an MBA !
I need to be around ambitious peers or I will die of boredom - I love my fellow GSBers! (Not all of them mind you, but enough of them.) Such a cliche but they really are the best thing about the experience, even for a stay at home nerd like me, ha. There is so much to do/join/lead/create/explore/discuss. No room for boredom.
Could not have advanced satisfactorily in my career without the MBA - If my summer internship is any indication I'm coming away from the GSB with my dream job. And if I hate it - there are other opportunities to be had. Though recruiting was a miserable, humbling experience, employers who would have previously thrown my resume into the recycle bin, now take me seriously. Works for me.
I'd rather get it over sooner than later - I am so glad I finally applied already. As mentioned before, no value in waiting
to apply.
I know what I want to do and can structure the MBA effectively - this is especially important at the GSB where you
have so much control over the process but I think I could have applied a year or two earlier than I did and still have
been fine. Nonetheless, I doubt I would have come away with the internship I did without the experience I got by
waiting to apply.
It's nice to leave the Pacific Northwest
I am now able to be the "breadwinner" - which may be a nice option for my family
I have my choice of employers - a little less than I expected going in, but still pretty great, as mentioned above
Some of these classes are really interesting - the GSB has 2 years worth and more of real classes that involve real
thinking and real work. It's not a bullshit degree if done properly.
I need more high-quality, hands on experience in analysis - have gotten some of that but more valuable perhaps has
been the rounding out I'm receiving in non-finance material (painful as it is).
Taking a break from working is pretty great - the student schedule is super hectic but I don't miss the office
environment
I needed a change! And I got one. A good one.