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  • From: "Austin, Roger D." <rda AT rti.org>
  • To: "'internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org'" <internetworkers AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: RE: [internetworkers] The value of an MBA
  • Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 08:17:45 -0400

I'm not sure of the intrinsic value of any degree, however, Thomas has
nailed a general point in that those people who look at life experiences
in terms of dollars probably don't have the best experience in life.
This theme can be expanded to other educational, travel, career, sports,
and a lot of other areas. Dollars do matter some of course. I'm no fool.

Sadly, a lot of people look at a college degree as the ticket to
(monetary) success rather than an experience to open your mind. The
current theme of constant testing in schools and the universal
education, no matter the cost, is a symptom of this thought. The
college experience has been made a ticket to future career goals
rather than an experience to be savored for its on value.

People should want to be more educated for the value of understanding
the world, not essentially for the greater dollars it brings in. That
is just a side benefit of the education at times. If you want to be a
poet, do you go to engineering school so you can make money? Your
life experience may include a shiny new car, but are you going to
have your best life experience?

I've taken a lot of courses at the local schools just for fun, much
to the amusement of some of my friends. "You took linear algebra and
matrices for fun?!" was a refrain I heard. What those folks didn't
understand is that years later, the knowledge I picked up in some of
the courses allowed me to have greater understanding of other issues.
Eigenvalues? I still kind of remember what they are, but I do have
a broad understanding of them when I read something.

Understanding the world and educating yourself is a lifelong
process. I would go for the further education if you have the time
and energy. As you get older, it becomes harder to take advantage of
it due to many family and career issues. Get the MBA, travel, explore
cooking and art classes, and anything else that interests you.
Someday you will be sitting in a home wondering why you didn't
make the most of your life.

My answer to the original question of the value of a MBA is the
same as Thomas'. Life experience is not a mathematical function.
Wait, perhaps it is!
Education != Training.
Life experience != $.

Roger (in RTP, feeling old today and ignoring ROI)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thomas Beckett

> I find one consistent theme between b-school and law school, however. The

> students who go for the degree with the primary purpose of getting a
> "ticket" to some sort of high-paying career path do not usually have an
> optimal experience. They get their ticket without an understanding of
what
> they're doing and what they really want. If you go with an intellectual
> curiousity, an open mind, a sense of the value in the journey and a
> willingness to follow where things lead, any good academic program will
> change your life for the better.




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