Smarter Route to Success: Full Time MBA Vs Part Time MBA (Post on Request)

Author: Sheena Anand

Sheena Anand is a Software Engineer in Tata Consultancy Services. She’s a part of the 1000 Crore “Passport Seva Project” at Tata Consultancy Services. She is pursuing her Part Time MBA Program from IMT Gaziabad, a Premier MBA School of India.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101452380400.htm

Case – I: An Out-of-College Graduate going for a Full Time MBA Program

 Final Year Undergraduate School Student studies 24 x 7 to get admission into an A-grade Business School (One of the toughest task in India); manages to bag in a seat; and joins an MBA program for 2 years on the completion of his Undergrad Course. Being a hardworking guy, he manages to get a job in one of the top companies.                       

Case – II: An Experienced Professional going for a Part Time MBA Program 

A professional having 5 years work experience, doing great in job, after exploring all his areas of interest, wants to move up the organizational ladder, to switch to a coveted managerial position, which he feels would escalate his career further. He joins a Part Time MBA of an A-grade B-School.

 I look in for a Conclusion:

Out of the above two cases, it’s difficult to objectively decide which has been a better decision. But analyzing both the scenarios, both of them did just the best suiting the situation. After discussing both the situations with a large number of people having expertise in this area, I reached a conclusion which was otherwise difficult to arrive at.

Expanding on Case I:

Since the person is just out of a Grad School and has no work experience, he in general lacks soft skills and the attitude one develops in time, by associating oneself in a professional environment. A full time MBA program can help him achieve instant nirvana, without much of struggle and get him into the organizations management. This approach promises a perfect investment of time and money and pays dividends immediately after graduating.

Expanding on Case II:  Since the person has a substantial work experience, and is looking for a career lift in the same industry, nothing can be better and satisfying for him to pursue a Part Time MBA from a reputed B-School. 

What about Switching Industry post MBA?

Switching the industry is generally not a choice of such experienced professionals for a switch would erode away all his previous work experience. As a matter of fact, even the employers don’t appreciate it. For a person working as a Software Engineer with an IT company for the last 5 years, wanting to get into Marketing of FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods), the first thought that would tickle the mind of the employer would be that why at all did the person work in an IT Industry for 5 years if he eventually wanted to move into FMCG – Was he indecisive? Would he be able to cope up well with no prior experience in the FMCG domain?

 A subjective comparison on how the Part Time MBA stacks up against the Full Time MBA:

1) Recruitment opportunities post Full Time MBA Program is tremendous when compared to the limited opportunities post Part Time program. Moreover if the Part Time program is sponsored by your own company, the employee cannot try for recruitment with a new employer.

2) An advantage with Part Time programs is the rich experience brought to classrooms by working executives enrolled in the program which is mostly missing in the Full Time.

3) Part Time program offers a challenge to balance study, work and personal life. 

4) Part Time program is more hands-on and practical when compared to a Full Time Program. On the other hand, a Full Time program endows the student, straight out of books, with business skills and jargons even though the “Practical Implementation” of the concepts is missing. 

5) A Part Time MBA offers earning, learning and experience, all at the same time. On the contrary, a Full Time MBA demands a huge amount of money to be spent, and compromises on your professional experience. 

6) To career changers, a Full Time program offers the advantage of declaring experience to the potential employer through internship. 

The choices are not always digital, “0” or “1”; At times we need to think keeping our mind in the analog state !!!