Tell me about Grad School (MBA/related fields)

[billyjex]

Not going to make this post that long but I've still included cliff notes.

Given the changing landscape of online poker (aka, I'm not making that much money,) my inability to deal with the variance, and the emptiness that comes with playing mutltiple tables for multiple hours a day, I've decided to move on from poker in the near future.

Essentially, my two choices are doing a small business type deal or grad school. I'm leaning towards the grad school idea as I feel I'd be better prepared for that.

In May 2006 I graduated with a bachelor's in Journalism (Public Relations concentration,) which I didn't enjoy and thus let my grades slip, but still managed to grab my degree. It didn't help that I was set on playing poker with all the $$$ I was making.

I think my college GPA ended up being 2.6. I know I won't be able to get into a great school, or even a good one. I'm mostly looking at MBA's in southern California, at such schools as Cal-State Fullerton and North Ridge.

I have also been told my best bet may be an MBA from a private-for-profit college.

I was fairly apathetic during my first run at college, but I feel I've learned a lot about what the real world is about in the past year playing poker for a living. I certaintly see the larger "arc" of life and the need for a solid foundation of experience in business if I ever want to be rich and sucessful down the road. I would be much more driven to succeed this time around.

I'm rambling about myself here, so what I'm looking for is:

(Cliff Notes): Basically, I'd like to hear any information you guys might have on grad school, MBA's, different types of MBA's you have been involved with. Any advice, warnings, tips, etc are appreciated.

[ChipStorm]

Business school goes down better with some job experience. Get a real job for a while. While you're working, practice for the GMATs, nail them, and go to the absolute best school you can get into.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

an MBA is a general degree. it doesn't automatically qualify you to work in a specific field, like a JD or an MBA. if you are looking at non-elite schools, it's often best to figure out a specific function you want to do (marketing? finance? etc) and find a school who is particularly strong in that area. in addition, a school in a location where you want to eventually work is a big +. the exceptions are the elite schools...but as you move down the food chain, more and more alum's tend to stay local, creating a strong alumni network for you to tap into

[ChipStorm]

[ QUOTE ]
If you are looking at non-elite schools, it's often best to figure out a specific function you want to do (marketing? finance? etc) and find a school who is particularly strong in that area. in addition, a school in a location where you want to eventually work is a big +. the exceptions are the elite schools...but as you move down the food chain, more and more alum's tend to stay local, creating a strong alumni network for you to tap into

[/ QUOTE ]
Specialization is even true at the top schools. Marketing? Northwestern. Finance? Wharton/Chicago. General management? Harvard. Public/nonprofits? Yale, last I heard. They all try to differentiate.

Agree completely about the location issue.

[Mason Hellmuth]

[ QUOTE ]
an MBA is a general degree. it doesn't automatically qualify you to work in a specific field, like a JD or an MBA.

[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[z28dreams]

My only advice is to really prep for the GMAT - I was told it was easy and went in with 0 prep. While I did pretty good, it probably wouldn't be good enough to get into a top-10 school.

This means I'll have to retake said test and average it with the old score, which makes it even harder.

FWIW, I started one semester at an 'OK' MBA-school, and quit after the first semester because I decided I wanted to goto a better school.

I still have no idea what I want to do with my career.

(background in engineering, currently doing internet marketing, not sure where to head from here)

[jjp]

I got my MBA at Loyola Marymount University, after wasting my undergrad education at an elite University with a crappy GPA. My choices were limited, LMU or USC due to proximity. 20 years later I am hiring MBA grads to do finance/business analysis work and I recommend getting an MBA if you want to work in the world of big business. Right or wrong, our company only hires MBAs. Without it, you need a GREAT work history and poker ain't it. If you are interested in running your own business, look into entreprenurial programs at MBA schools. Pepperdine, LMU, and USC all have those programs.
The above posters are correct, if you can't go elite, go local. We have quite a few LMU grads where I work, because it is 10 minutes away. We've got one Duke grad, one UCLA grad, but everyone else is middle of the road MBAs.
Another option is to go get a low level business analysis job at a big company that will pay for your MBA. You will have to work your ass off to get your degree at night, but it beats paying 30k/year, and you can be done in 3 years.
As for MBA specialization, don't worry about it right now, unless you are set on a entreprenurial track. Take generic MBA classes for the first year to figure out what you really like, kinda like undergrad.

[freekobe]

[ QUOTE ]
My only advice is to really prep for the GMAT - I was told it was easy and went in with 0 prep. While I did pretty good, it probably wouldn't be good enough to get into a top-10 school.

This means I'll have to retake said test and average it with the old score, which makes it even harder.

FWIW, I started one semester at an 'OK' MBA-school, and quit after the first semester because I decided I wanted to goto a better school.

I still have no idea what I want to do with my career.

(background in engineering, currently doing internet marketing, not sure where to head from here)

[/ QUOTE ]

They don't average GMAT scores; most schools average LSAT scores. You can take your best GMAT score - they won't look at the others.

[z28dreams]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My only advice is to really prep for the GMAT - I was told it was easy and went in with 0 prep. While I did pretty good, it probably wouldn't be good enough to get into a top-10 school.

This means I'll have to retake said test and average it with the old score, which makes it even harder.

FWIW, I started one semester at an 'OK' MBA-school, and quit after the first semester because I decided I wanted to goto a better school.

I still have no idea what I want to do with my career.

(background in engineering, currently doing internet marketing, not sure where to head from here)

[/ QUOTE ]

They don't average GMAT scores; most schools average LSAT scores. You can take your best GMAT score - they won't look at the others.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can anyone confirm this? I'm pretty sure I read that they average them.

I'm particularly interested in applying to NW Kellogg and UVA Darden.

[billyjex]

[ QUOTE ]
Business school goes down better with some job experience. Get a real job for a while. While you're working, practice for the GMATs, nail them, and go to the absolute best school you can get into.

[/ QUOTE ]

While it may go down better to have some previous experience, do you feel it is neccesarry? With my now one-year gap after college of playing poker, any job I could get would be difficult to find and would pay like utter crap -- I feel like I'd rather go and get the education now instead of waiting 1+ year to gain some entry-level experience.

Another thing that irks me is that I'm almost 25, and I'd like to get an MBA ASAP so I can start off my career.