Altruistic_AD

Question: Pursue full-time 1 yr. w/ cohort or part-time 2 yr. while working a full-time in a mid-tier job ($140kish) in the hopes of career transition down the line? In a complete state of decision-paralysis here. Hoping that this community can assist. Long time lurker. First time poster. Employer will only sponsor around $20k of tuition reimbursement over a 2 yr period. Afraid / worried that taking the 2 year school pathway will lead to bare minimum focus on schoolwork and the end result = another degree while working in the same industry as before with a comfortable paycheck but little intellectual stimulation. Program Details: Program: UPenn’s MBDS (Masters in Behavioral and Decision Sciences program). Yes, I see the irony in my indecisiveness here. Cost: $81,000, no scholarships, no financial aid. Post-grad ROI: Unclear. $70k seems to be the median annual pay. Higher end tends to be $115kish or so. Unsure if this data is skewed by new grads in entry-level roles. Profile: Mid-career professional w/ 15 years of experience looking for a career shift. Ideal post-grad role = boutique, specialized consulting firms w/ high growth potential or start a new thing with contacts in the program. No MBB (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, et. al.). Full-time School Pros: Be done in 1 year. Career shift transition to desired industry / field / role (no guarantee but worth a shot). Better focus on the content / possibility for cool deliverables (i.e. projects) in capstone (practical). More time to network Full-time School Cons: $81k in student loan debt opportunity cost of 1 yr of lost income ($140k annually). No guarantee that income will be replaced at the same level post-grad ROI on this program is uncertain Out of school commitments = a toddler + a spouse who is very supportive. I understand the position of privilege I am in but the level of indecisiveness is getting pretty stressful — and I must make a decision in soon (and live with it). Advice from random internet strangers is welcome / appreciated.