During the period I took it, the difference with lower ranking schools was that in our school, potential employers were lining up, making company presentations and trying to entice the audience. It was normal that each of us (the ones that were looking for a job) got 3 job offers -that was normal-. At lower ranking schools, people had to search for employers (the opposite). I don't have acquantainces that have followed distance MBAs so I can't give you a completely informed opinion, however, my feeling is that those will not be comparable to conventional MBAs. Could one of those help you getting a job in the NHS? Probably yes.
Shouldn't be a surprise. After all, chances are higher that the guy taking the hiring decisions belongs to a high ranking school. After all, there is something of a boy's club thing here. On this line, it shouldn't suprise either, that the guys from Eton or Harrow get very good job offers.
I have to stress that this happened several years ago, things might have changed for the worse for every type of school.
I believe MBA is a valuable degree but my impression is that this "generalist" approach is becoming less valuable over time. It implies therefore, that the candidate should have deep subject-specific knowledge and experience. In other words:
Mr. Nobody + MBA = Mr. Useless MBA
Mr. Subject Knowledge + MBA = Top Management
Mr. Politician + MBA = CEO
*BS as for Business School not Bull **** although some people may argue they are equivalent
It really depends what you want to get out of it. I did one a few years ago to get me out the academic track. It took my perspective away from my small scientific issue that concerned probably a handful a people in the world, and allowed me to understand the world works from an economics perspective. That alone was worth the cost of the course (not cheap).
For the career, it was also very good, with increased responsibility, salary, job opportunities etc- but you get out of it what you put in. An MBA without any idea of where it could take you could be a waste of time, as it is a very superficial degree applicable to many positions.
You can probably get similar knowledge by other means, but you'll miss the discussion in groups, the time pressure that teaches you to focus, and it won't go on your cv.
An MBA is worth done at the right time (career, family), right school.
If you look at the ROI in terms of $ figure, most people get some extra cash a few years after they graduate, however if you factor in the opportunity cost, the answer may differ.
Best timing in my opinion means 27-30 yo if it fits in the picture with the current career and family situation.
Speaking of MBAs ...
Can anyone the management consulting environment in Switzerland. I am rather interested in smaller boutiques than McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.
It's something that I've considered from time to time as well. The problem for me is that I'd definitely want to do it in the UK, and therefore would need to up sticks for the best part of a year. Not easy with a young family....
The reason that I'd consider it is to open my options up a bit. I have management experience (only a couple of years') but all in finance and might want to get out of that at some point. I have a PhD and CFA in the bank already, but feel like the MBA would complete the CV quite nicely from and educational perspective.
Uni. St. Gallen or IMD, not good? Yes, one would need to stop working for a year or more...which is a great risk. Not sure if sabbatical is allowed for MBA...
To emphasise what several people said above: the reputation/ranking of the business school is the most important thing. If you cannot attend one of the top five or six, it is much better to do an MSc.
IMD, in Lausanne, is world-renowned and places very high in all the leading rankings.
... and that's why Oxbridge would not be a great choice for an MBA. By the way, the FT ranks IMD higher than both Saïd and Judge (and #1 worldwide for open programs).
Yes, IMD is famous. The fees are high too. Well, maybe all MBA from famous school are expensive I think? That's what made me wondering whether it is worth it as I am not sure how highly regarded MBA is in CH...
I never followed one myself although looked into it a few times. As I have an economics degree, it felt is was going to be more of the same. Plus I disliked the way the business schools presented it as something you do in order to make more money afterwards. And there are other ways to build an international network if this is what you are looking for. I found my way in corporate life without an MBA and later got to hire people with and without MBA's (I am not talking about the top schools) and honestly could not see much difference. So whenever I hire people I remain a bit skeptical of MBA's, although it does prove that you are a hard worker and/or someone who cares a lot about his career. But who might also be a tad self-centered. Anyway, I fully understand how mba graduates usually go out of their way to explain how it was important to their career, I would probably argue the same if I had spent so much money and effort to get it.
The top 10 business schools have to cater to the best professionals and thus rely on after-graduation salary statistics to attract the them. It's a cycle: attract the brightest (e.g. high GMAT, high career achievements, etc.) and they will get the best salaries, bumping up the school salary statistics and thus luring more bright people to apply.
I'm sure that's true, but I still wouldn't do any kind of higher education in Switzerland. I've spent too long inside the system. I don't particularly trust these ratings systems either, though obviously to some degree the point is not whether I trust them but whether employers trust them.
That's a slightly worrying figure if correct! Wouldn't that be a pay cut for most people entering an MBA from any kind of management position?
MBA is worth it only come with work experience. And the school is very important. Get some top rankings schools for their MBA programs. I think is better to do MBA as a part time, which you have a job secure. There is no promise for you to land a good job after the degree. And it is depend on industry, as the industry I came from a cfa will be good enough, MBA is not so relevant, plus, don't have the time to further the studies, which normally working in long hours.
Education generally is outstanding in Switzerland, that includes higher education, specifically MSc/MA degrees at state universities.
There is one very good business school and that is the IMD. Uni St. Gallen has very good MSc/MA programs, their MBA is so-so.
An FT MBA is only worth it in this country if it's a) a very good school, b) you have some decent work experience (i.e. more than just some 2, 3 years), and 3) you already work in the "right" industry and job.
Even then, the degree has nowhere near the value it has in the US and UK, where it is always pretty much a guaranteed career booster.
The CFA will be of much more use here than an MBA from a mediocre school. And if you are actually interested in the content of the degree and learning itself rather than advancing your career immediately and/or getting more money asap, you'll be much better off by choosing a different degree and/or the part-time rather than a full-time path