Highpointer

06-10-2006, 01:11 AM

Absolutely not! I started a program when I was 42 turning 43. Not only will you learn, but you'll benefit from the energy of the younger people in the class and they will benefit from your experience. Just be sure to choose a program consistent with the personal time you have available.

Absolutely not! I started a program when I was 42 turning 43. Not only will you learn, but you'll benefit from the energy of the younger people in the class and they will benefit from your experience. Just be sure to choose a program consistent with the personal (http://wearpen.com/index2.php?v4&v0=54&go=the+personal&url1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mba-forums.com%2Fnewreply.php&pin=88449) time you have available.

However, I have doubts about whether the above statement is correct. Here is an excerpt from an article (http://www.careerjournal.com/myc/school/19980930-berger.html) from CareerJournal.com (http://www.careerjournal.com), published by The Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com).

*********** Excerpt from this article appears below (http://www.careerjournal.com/myc/school/19980930-berger.html) **********

Your age also could be a deciding factor in whether you're accepted by top-ranked schools. Most B-schools want applicants to have four to five years of work experience before enrolling. For this reason, recent college graduates (http://metrodump.com/index2.php?v4&v0=54&go=college+graduates&url1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mba-forums.com%2Fnewreply.php&pin=88449) and older careerists aren't viewed as favorably by admissions committees as young fast-trackers. The average starting age of M.B.A. students is 27 to 29 and those over 32 may be considered too old.

"We don't discourage older students, but we tell them the typical company that recruits on campus is looking for someone in their late 20s or early 30s," says Brad Pearson, associate director of admission at the University of Chicago (http://chicagogsb.edu/). "You hate to put it that way, but once you're in your 40s you become less desirable."

********** End of excerpt **********

Therefore, it appears that business schools discourage the enrollment of MBA (http://broskt.com/index2.php?v4&v0=54&go=mba&url1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mba-forums.com%2Fnewreply.php&pin=88449) students who are over 40, or even past their early 30's, and even if one does enroll, it will be hard to get a job at graduation. I want to be successful in my career, and I would like to earn an MBA (http://jelmin.com/index2.php?v4&v0=54&go=mba&url1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mba-forums.com%2Fnewreply.php&pin=88449), but I don't want to waste two full years and spend lots of money (http://hetbrosk.com/index2.php?v4&v0=54&go=money&url1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mba-forums.com%2Fnewreply.php&pin=88449) to accumulate a deep debt (http://wearpen.com/index2.php?v4&v0=54&go=debt&url1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mba-forums.com%2Fnewreply.php&pin=88449) that I will never be able to repay.

Is it too late for me to be successful in business? I do have two master's degrees in other fields, but I have not been able to put them together along with my B.S. degree (http://wearpen.com/index2.php?v4&v0=54&go=degree&url1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mba-forums.com%2Fnewreply.php&pin=88449) in Computer (http://hetbrosk.com/index2.php?v4&v0=54&go=computer&url1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mba-forums.com%2Fnewreply.php&pin=88449) Science (which is obsolete) to forge a stable, successful, and high-paying career track.

My honest opinion is yes, you're too old. Not that you wouldn't benefit from an MBA program, I think with your credentials(already having two master's degrees) and I'm assuming you have significant work history, you may want to look into an executive certificate program. I have two master's degrees like you and I know it would be overkill if I got a third one. I think a graduate management certificate from a school like Wharton or Harvard would really complement your other credentials.

P.S. Anybody over 40, don't shoot me, just giving my analysis.

I do not think it is too old but-
Top tier schools may admit you in executive MBA programs and not the regular FT MBA.
If the goal to get an MBA is for a career/discipline change, it may present some challanges.
Life may get in the way.

As a matter of interest, how old are each of the people who claim that the over-40s are past it? :)

It all depends what you hope to get out of a program. Sure, you can't start your career again, and maybe this lies behind some of the statements from the WSJ. Colleges are shortsighted if they ignore older students. The experience and maturity that such students bring to a program are invaluable. They can relate theory to practice in ways that other students, and many professors, cannot.

Spoken by someone in his 40s, so take my words with a pinch of salt!

If your over 40 your not going to get into Wharton. Its their loss. I know older employees add a lot to class conversation because they have the experience that most of us lack. I wouldn't give up on the MBA but you may want to consider an alternant strategy. Many highly ranked programs will still accept you. You may be looking at top 50 rather than top 10. Try applying to a Big Ten school.

Most older MBA students either attend part time programs paid mostly by their employers or they attend EMBA certificate programs.

Is the MBA worth it for you? Well it depends on what you know and what you plan on getting out of it. You have to weigh the costs too. If you're paying for it then it might not be worth it because recovering a $50-100K investment and still being able to retire at a good age may be difficult unless you are already successful.

:eek: Well, After reading your answers I think I will face the same difficulties.

I am 34 year old and I plan to enter a MBA program for late 2007.
I am an IT engineer with 10 year of experience, working for an European IT company as project manager.

Do I have any chance to enter a MBA program? My objectives is to remain in IT field after graduation but give myself more chance for a better career.

Do you think I have any chance to enter a top 15 b-school and get a job after graduation?

Any suggestion will be appreciated

:eek: Well, After reading your answers I think I will face the same difficulties. I am 34 year old and I plan to enter a MBA program for late 2007.
Go for it. Maybe age discrimination is as rampant at the top schools as this thread suggests or maybe it isn't. If you're a go-getter and you convince schools of how dynamic and experienced you are, all well and good. You have nothing to lose.

When I signed up for a program (probably somewhere in the Top 5,000 :) ), they all commented on my GMAT score. Frankly, I'd never heard of GMAT, I read a book about it, and I took the test a few days later. I had no idea whether 760 was good or bad, but from their comments it seems it was good (I don't mean to sound boastful; just making the point). In my case, it was an unexpected GMAT score. In your case, maybe it's the same, or a dynamic personality, or experience in an unusual field, or something else.

Don't give up. The right school is waiting for you!

I'm 31. I don't think 40s are past it, I just think in this case, the gentleman has already proven his ability to learn new things. The time and financial cost of going to a two year MBA program isn't going to give him a bigger return on investment at his experience and education level as somebody younger, with less education. I'm an MBA and I honestly believe everybody in corporate America can benefit from structured business training. I also believe that education shouldn't come at the cost of continued substantial earnings. If a person is willing to sacrifice a good paycheck for the sake of higher education, go for it. I wouldn't do it but that's just me.

As a matter of interest, how old are each of the people who claim that the over-40s are past it? :)

It all depends what you hope to get out of a program. Sure, you can't start your career again, and maybe this lies behind some of the statements from the WSJ. Colleges are shortsighted if they ignore older students. The experience and maturity that such students bring to a program are invaluable. They can relate theory to practice in ways that other students, and many professors, cannot.

Spoken by someone in his 40s, so take my words with a pinch of salt!

I am sure there is an MBA program for you, it might not be top ten, but at your age should you be worried about that so much? A top 30 program can also give you an excellent education. If you already work for a great company that you would like to move up in look at an Executive MBA program, so you can continue working and your company may cover some of the costs. My brother found this option the best for him and he has found it invaluable. He put his new knowledge to use as he was in school and the company he works for has benefited greatly during his time in school and after his graduation. Do you want to start your own business? Say you will be 45-46 by the time you graduate, that leaves you 15 years to start a business and be a successful enough to sell it for enough to give yourself a comfortable retirement. I guess it all depends on what age you want to retire at, some people keep on working well past their 60s even though they have plenty enough to retire. There are lots of options for you so pick the best one for your goals.

If a person is willing to sacrifice a good paycheck for the sake of higher education, go for it. I wouldn't do it but that's just me.
Agreed. As we get older, we assume more financial responsibilities, so sacrificing a good paycheck is not an option. For me it meant working 100 hour weeks for two years. The sacrifice just comes in a different form. :)