Any consultants here trying to pursue a non-MBA masters or PhD? If so - what subject?

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@ EY1, consulting was something I fell into! I still love it, but think I’d want to be closer to the impact - whether that’s through teaching or practicing medicine, both of which were big considerations of mine in college.

Realistically, I’ll probably end up doing an MBA...but I often wonder if I should just veer “off path” and take the plunge

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Having gotten a PhD in the Sciences and then going into consulting my advice would be only do a PhD if there is absolutely nothing else you would rather be doing. It takes a long time, results are not guaranteed, and the only door it really opens is into academia. Consider that you will invest 5+ years of your life getting paid next to zero with no job security during or after your PhD and the actual experience can be highly variable. Ask yourself very carefully if the academic question you want to answer with your PhD worth that sacrifice.

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I have an MFA in Design. Wouldn't recommend.

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PhD in behavioral science yep! Still thinking about it...

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Following because my parents still think I need to go to law school

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Leaving to get my PhD in Psychology next month!

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I keep revisiting the idea of a postbacc and med school or a PhD to teach at a business school

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B&C1, I’m starting med school this summer after a considerable time in consulting. Let me know if you have any questions or if I can offer advice

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EY1 and B&C1 - I was a chemical engineering major + premed. In all cases, I knew I wanted to take a gap year because I was burned the fuck out in undergrad and, during interviews, consulting won me over with its flashy lifestyle (heh, I know right?).

Anyways, that was 5 years ago. Somehow, life kinda just happened. I was too busy traveling for work and for leisure to slow down and decide if I was in the right career. I spent the first 3 years in another industry, but my last 2 years in consulting have been in healthcare.

First, those 2 years reminded me of what I had always loved about the healthcare field and what I don’t like about consulting.

Second, I have a fiancée who was insightful enough to see my reaction to different things in medicine and consulting and who one day point blank asked me, "If money and time were not a concern, what do you want to do?" I didn't think and responded medicine. We were out on a walk and we cut if in half and straight home to see what I needed to do to get into medical school.

Third, in an attempt to verify that medicine was what I hoped for, I called a friend and shadowed him. During that experience, I saw things I felt were missing in the practice of consulting that I wanted to have in my life. It was the one of many experiences I had that helped make me sure that the career jump was the correct decision.

There is a lot more there so if you are interested, we can take it offline for more details or if you have specific questions I'd be happy to answer those as well.

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I've thought about getting my Masters in Data Analytics. I already have an MBA with an emphasis in IT Management.

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I’ve thought about going back for PhD in Economics

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Congrats, A1!! What changed for you and triggered the career jump? I think my biggest hurdle is deciding whether I want to put in the postbacc applications and time, since I’d have to start from scratch to even be in a position to apply to med school.

EY1, I was an English major but premed for a bit. For me, the shadowing and medical service trips I did suggested that I appreciated the individual impact but wanted to have broader reach and see things at scale. Consulting seemed like the best way I could do that, and when I got the offer (which so many folks didn’t see coming, given that I hadn’t done anything remotely business oriented in college), it felt like the right place to be to me, something that I really wanted.

So now I’m here and thinking hey, I need to go back to something more direct and empowering. I think there is an element of grass-is-greener and imagine that with more client exposure and relationships, perhaps I’d feel more of the individual impact in consulting as well...but I can’t help but think about the other side, too.

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Bain 1 and Accenture 1- I really like hearing about people’s unconventional path to consulting/unconventional exits post-consulting. Just read through A1’s post and other thread and it’s inspiring. Good for you for pursuing your dream!

Are you still going to be on fishbowl when you leave Accenture? I’d love to be kept up to date as you transition from consulting to medicine! Is your burner the same as the one in the other thread?

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Yep, I’ll still be on FB and same burner! I still enjoy reading the comments on here.

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5 years this past January

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Writing dissertation now. Will be done in early 2019. Started in may 2014 but got lots of classes waved due to double masters in counseling and public administration

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Following

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@Accenture 1 - congrats on getting in
Bain 1 and Accenture 1 - were you both science grads? If so, what made you go into consulting/not pursue med/dent/research?

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Already have the master's, but thinking of the PhD in I/O Psychology or a related field. Looking for either part-time or accelerated programs, preferably.

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