Trying to assess if an mba is worth it (25 year old male). I am a VP making $200 K in pharma transaction advisory considering moving to IB. Worth the two year hold on my career and $400 K in lost salary? It’s terrifying to go back into debt...

likefunnyupliftingsmart
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If you think that Investment Banking and Corp. Development are more fulfilling career-wise, maybe. Other than that, hard to think this would make financial sense.

I’m extremely skeptical you’d find IB or Corp. Dev. more fulfilling beyond the $.

What are your hours right now btw?

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Dude! You are making $200k and working 60hrs a week?? Stay there for a few years and build up a pile of cash. Then, you can look at options

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Was given this advice by a young CEO that I’ve been working for recently, I think it applies to your situation:
the worst trap a young leader can fall into is putting too much weight on opportunity cost. When you’re afraid to take the next step in your career because your current job pays a lot you get stuck, you become someone who’s doing it for the money, and you lose your purpose.

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Love it!

likeuplifting
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Ok, let's talk about how are you a VP at 25 making $200K? You are either bluffing or Einstein? I'm willing to bet on one of the two.

likefunny

I absolutely love the confession bowl, by the way!

Bruh- you make 200K at 25. How tf have you not saved anything?

likefunnyuplifting

Thank you for the thoughtful response!

likehelpful

You’re making 200k now and want to take on all that debt to get clapped in IB? Why?

likefunny

You’re definitely rocked on this thread but I had a friend who had similar comp (albeit at 30) and went to MBA -> Tech IB -> Boutique IB -> big tech Corp dev. I could imagine something like that as your desired path. If you step back for a second, the answer depends entirely on what motivates you. If it is power / influence / bigger ponds, this path makes sense. This path is only maybe worth it for straight cash. It is definitely not worth it if you hope to slow those 70 hour weeks down sometime in the next 5-7 years

There is virtually zero chance you would do better with an MBA than you are doing now. If you are a VP at 25 and succeeding, the realistic track is either c suite in industry or partner in consulting. Either way is the pinnacle of the overwhelming majority of careers.

If you want to go into IB, I mean fine... But there is no guarantee of similar success, you'd lose two years of salary and career progression, and you'd be starting from scratch, with thousands of others.

You've skipped ahead of about 99.9% of people, and your thought now is to fall back. Sounds unwise

likesmart

SVP - It all depends on the metric for considering it "worth it". It absolutely does not make financial sense, which is what most ppl are saying.

If the career change and MBA are intrinsically worth it...that's up to OP and no one else will ever be able to decide that for him/her.

Based on what you said, it sounds like the money didn't matter, but you missed the intrinsic value the experience could provide. Both angles are solid advice.

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I can't solve your problem, but damn, you making like 3x my salary when I was your age. Congrats on already breaking $200k

- A severely indebted MBA

likefunny

Same

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Weekend MBA if you are desperate for the framed paper.

likefunny

MBA Associates are certified idiots in banking.. you’ll get roasted by first year analysts

likefunny

Can you refer me to your company (26 year old female who makes less than half of what you make)

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Deloitted to meet u 2

likefunny

Regardless of whether you have been able to save or not, I do not think this is worth it in your position. The opportunity cost is too high with your comp and you will be making x more in 2 years then you are now.

likesmart

If you’re at 200k that young what in gods name do you think an MBA will give you?

likefunny

Worth it by what metric?

Because it damned sure won't make any financial sense 😅

likefunny

If you will only feel fulfilled by changing careers, you do you. I personally only work for the money; hobbies and volunteering do the fulfillment.

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Hi I’m in my 30s and make 250% less than you can we trade??

likesmart

Lmfaooo this is the thread I’m here for

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I understand making an absurd amount of money at a young age, it happens, but how the hell is someone ~4 years out of undergrad (following traditional path) a VP?

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Whats the cap on earnings with your current role vs. what you’d like to pull i ?

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I was making like $20k before my MBA lol. I’d say no unless you really really believe that you need an industry shift and IB is the dream.

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🥴

likefunny

🧢

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🚫 🧢

Do you have/want more close friends? If no, then skip school. If you’re feeling like you dumped your youth into a lucrative career path and worry you’ll be alone on your death bed, I’d consider going to school.

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I think the $$$ is believable but the VP role and title is incredible. I think plenty of MBAs make $200K+ and still go for the network or fun. So there’s always some value. I agree the value to you is probably not as high but it’s more of a personal decision than those here make it seem.

I wasn’t a VP but also cleared $250K at 25 and chose to not go to business school. But every single one of my peers who went to business school cleared $200K before they left. With that said, they were all in finance 😢 so 60 hour weeks weren’t necessarily the norm.

The main point is: you can rationalize going and you can rationalize not going. Just a personal preference on the tradeoffs. I don’t think you’ll be “stupid” either way

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How were u clearing 250 at 25? What were you doing?

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