Should I apply for an MBA or go straight for consulting?

[luciagomezz]

I’m a US citizen with 5 years of experience in audit, currently living in NY. I’m aiming to get into consulting, either MBB or Tier-2 firms. Do you think it’s worth applying for an MBA, or should I just start preparing on my own and focus on networking to break into consulting?

[John Watson]

I dont have a very strong background in business, so I might be wrong.

 

You didnt seem to mention your academic background. Is it that you only have a Bachelor's degree? Is it related to business? Of course, MBAs are for people who have a few years of work experience, and you certainly qualify for doing an MBA, it is just whether it is worth it to do an MBA before you start the real thing in consulting, etc.

 

You seem to have some ambitions and high standards regarding your new job in consulting, do you have a self-evaluation as to whether you can accomplish your goal without an MBA? One idea might be that you apply for consulting jobs and MBA programs in business schools simultaneously, and you see which track gets a more desirable outcome. MBA offers usually come together with a financial aid, especially if you're American, so pursuing an MBA should not be too much of a financial burden. Also, you mentioned that you want to focus on networking, remember that getting some networks is one of the most significant benefits of doing an MBA, MBA is not about very serious or vigorous academics, MBA is more about the people you will meet and the networks that you can potentially make. In short, you may wish to evaluate these two paths before you decide forward.

 

In an ideal world, you may be able to get whatever job positions you want to get, without the effort of getting an MBA in the first place. But an MBA degree is for life and does not expire, and it can be potentially helpful if you try to get one. Nobody on the internet can know your situation better than you do, so the decision is entirely yours