Saint Louis University John Cook School of Business

MBA, Full Time (1 year)

Does an MBA Make Sense?

"I have been quite successful in my professional life for several years and now I would like to further qualify myself in order to pave the way to top management at an early stage. Does an MBA make sense or should I rather choose a" normal "master and attend various further training courses?"

Kurzantwort: Of course, there is no general answer to whether an MBA makes sense. Basically, the MBA is suitable for those who ...

1. are career-oriented and have already proven this (e.g. by taking quick first steps on the career ladder)
2. have a strong will and perseverance (an MBA degree alongside the job is not easy)
3. had little business administration content in the first degree.

The MBA is interesting for many, but not useful for everyone

MBA prospects often hope to move up to senior management with an MBA. This is clearly the wrong expectation. Just because you have a title in your pocket, you are not automatically promoted . You should also have personal characteristics and be employed in a branch or company that appreciates an MBA.

You should ask yourself these questions to assess how useful the MBA is:

1.) Is my goal defined?

An MBA is particularly useful for two target groups: career changers and career enhancers . So there must be a clear goal behind the desire for further training. Career changers want to get out of the previous branch or the job at their employer and prepare for this big step with an MBA. Career enhancers have already made careers and would like to use the title to underpin their claim to leadership positions.

2.) What do I expect?

Only with the drive “MBA = more salary” should you not start your studies. Because only the title will hardly change your payroll. You must prove your claim with the know-how learned in the MBA, but above all with deeds.

And: the MBA degree alone does not open any doors . Rather, it is the contacts to fellow students and recruiters on site that enable new (professional) opportunities. Hardly anywhere else will you get to know a lot of interesting people and projects in a short time. If you do it right, you will build a network that will last a lifetime.

3.) What can my professional environment expect?

You are a career enhancer, but do not know whether an MBA is recognized in your company as a suitable measure for career advancement? Find out about this! For small companies, the "MBA effect" is primarily related to whether the boss (and possibly the HR department) gives a positive assessment of the degree and considers it useful. This consideration can extend to medium-sized companies. Large corporations know the value of an MBA.

4.) What do I dare to do?

An MBA only makes sense if you are sure you will do it. There are always uncertainties, but you should keep them as low as possible. An MBA distance learning course is, for example, a very flexible form of learning, but the majority of students overestimate their own ability to motivate when they have to learn so much on their own. And are you stress-resistant and focused on one goal? The MBA course brings with it a lot of stress over 1-2 years and requires organizational skills, as job, studies and private life have to be balanced.

5.) Can I get the funding?

This point is not that important, but of course it is also important. Do you have the opportunity to finance the tens of thousands of euros in tuition and additional costs? A narrow-track MBA that is as cheap as possible may not get you any further. If you already choose this course, it should not fail because of the funding.

Alternative to the MBA: the Mini MBA

If you decide against an MBA for time, cost or other reasons, the Mini MBA offers you the opportunity to acquire basic management knowledge in a short course with a certificate.

And what do graduates say?

Numerous graduates have also told us in our reports whether an MBA makes sense. An excerpt:

Peter, Deputy Director at an investment management company in the real estate sector

You can recommend an MBA to anyone who wants to develop further and is aiming for a recognized academic degree. Whether it is just about deepening your own knowledge or intending to change - further training is rarely advisable. The time and leisure time for the course should be carefully considered. It can quickly happen that an overload occurs. You should be clear about this in advance and also discuss this with the employer.

Thomas F. Welter, lawyer in a leading German patent and law firm in Munich

The MBA was worth it for me because it was a great experience and I ultimately owe a large part of this additional qualification to my job in law firm management. I can apply the content that I received with the MBA every day.

Alexander, team leader at an automotive supplier

The MBA paid off for me because I got the job of a product manager as a student in the third semester. Later it was (according to my personal assessment) a door opener for management positions with personnel responsibility.

Ralf, marketing and sales manager for an IT consultancy

It is always worth learning something new. However, I would warn against converting the value of the training into euros and cents. I have of course developed professionally over the past 6 years. However, I cannot judge whether this development is solely due to my studies.