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  • [-]Columbia MBA. Worth it? Considering applying for the Jan. 1 start date. I went to Columbia undergrad, I now work in media but would like to transition to finance. I'm 30.

    38 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
    03.12.10, 10:56 AM [ Flag ]
    • an MBA is about 2 things, imo. 1, you need it for your job, so it doesn't matter where you go. 2. contacts. if it is a totally new area for you, go to the "best" place you can. the contacts and help you receive there will make a huge difference.

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      03.12.10, 10:57 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • Thanks! I am VERY interested in finance and have tried applying to things without a background and I'm getting rejected left and right. I particularly like sales/trading and private equity.

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        03.12.10, 10:59 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • good luck. if you're in the city and totally unconnected to the business world, try for columbia or nyu. but it all begs the question: are you sure this is the career change you want?

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          03.12.10, 11:03 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
          • NP: How will she get a job with zero experience in finance? Actually how will she get into the MBA program for finance without experience or a prior degree in the field?

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            03.12.10, 11:09 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
            • good questions. maybe her media experience is financially related?

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              03.12.10, 11:10 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
            • OP here: a friend of mine, who is not a VP at Citi, did just that a few years ago, also from media. Like, three years ago. And she's married with a kid. A very inspiring woman, IMO.

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              03.12.10, 11:11 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
              • Have you ever considered taking an entry-level job in finance for a few years to make sure you like it? You could pick a firm that offers tuition reimbursement, if you have a Columbia BA, I'd imagine....

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                03.12.10, 11:12 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
                • OP here: I tried that...and even worked a few connections...and NO ONE would take me with an undergrad degree in English. Plus, I really want the MBA...I've gone as far as I will in media. I don't love it anymore, yet I read the FT every day. And no, I won't go work for them.

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                  03.12.10, 11:20 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
                  • if you are serious about ST, you have to be able to talk about stocks. do you manage your own portfolio? how did you do last yr? are you willing to work at a day trading firm? when you send out cover letters, do you also send a summary PL?

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                    03.12.10, 11:23 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
            • You don't need prior finance experience to get into Columbia, you need a kick-ass GPA, GMAT, excellent letters and essays. In order to get into finance, she needs to at least do a finance related internship. getting excellent grades in all finance related subjects also helpful.

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              03.12.10, 11:11 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
              • OP here: anyone know if being a legacy of Columbia helps? I did well at the school as an undergrad and have had some GREAT jobs in media. (Big, brand names, etc.) All this input is helpful.G ood, bad and ugly.

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                03.12.10, 11:14 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
                • it helps because Columbia is a great school. did you take any business-related courses? were the grades good? if your media experience was related to strategy, finance, biz planning, it will be helpful.

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                  03.12.10, 11:16 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • you realize PE and ST are two totally different things, right?

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          03.12.10, 11:04 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
          • Yes, I do. But I'm interested, very much so. I think I'm at a place in my life where I would really appreciate the school. I live in NYC, yes.

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            03.12.10, 11:09 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • why not a different school?

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      03.12.10, 11:02 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • it's awesome. are you looking at the full time or part-time program?

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      03.12.10, 11:03 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • If you are planning to go into finance, you shouldn't apply to the January Program

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      03.12.10, 11:03 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • Interesting. I'm trying to decide between 3 schools, 1 with a great name and $120,000 tuition, one with an okay name and $50,000 tuition and one with a no-name, but $20,000 tuition. The no-name program best matches my interests, but I obviously want to be able to find a job after grad. and not sure I should pay the extra $$$$ for the name. I'm making a career change as well and have no connections in my new field of choice.

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      03.12.10, 11:06 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • If #1 is a top 10 business school, I would go for it

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        03.12.10, 11:07 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • first or: ita.

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          03.12.10, 11:08 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
          • The top expensive school is one of the top 3 in the world according to the Economist and Forbes, but seems better known in Europe. I only hesitate because in the US, my friends only seem to know Harvard and Stanford. They don't pay attention to top Euro MBA programs.

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            03.12.10, 11:23 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • You only go to business school for the name, or if you never worked in finance and want to enter it and it gives credibility. if you alreadu work in finance, you go back for the name. Have you been accepted? BC its really really hard to get in.. particularly right now with so many unemployed wall street folks.

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        03.12.10, 11:16 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • I come from a non-profit background and want to switch to business, so I think I need the credentials of a good name, but it's so expensive!

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          03.12.10, 11:25 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • I was in your shoes a few years ago, switching from non-profit. Went for the well-ranked but $120K program, and I'd advise you to think very carefully about this. I did NOT go into finance, so even though my salary is good, it'll take a good 10 years to pay off my loans even though I'm aggressive about it. It costs me $1500-2000 per month for loans alone. I'm in my 30s, living in NYC, and it's meant putting off some other important financial goals (owning a home, etc). Soon I'll have childcare expenses on top of that. Sometimes I look at my budget and want to cry. That having been said, forget the "no-name" school, as that's a waste of $20K. Can you name the names of the schools? Would make it easier to advise.

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        03.12.10, 08:02 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • Sorry, I've been away for a few days. IESE in Barcelona and Hult. Also, Presidio School of Management.

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          03.17.10, 01:38 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • It's worth it if you do it full time w/a break for a summer internship bw first and second years. You need that in order to be able to 'switch' careers. I was a career switcher at Columbia moving from marketing into finance.

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      03.12.10, 11:07 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • met dh when he was a student at cbs. he is very successful now, not in the finance field, but many of his classmates have gone that route. however, i can think of three couples that met while there.... with the three dws doing nothing with their mba, they are simply the mrs.

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      03.12.10, 11:15 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • Don't do the January admin. as you'll miss out of the summer internship possibilities. BTDT.

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      03.12.10, 05:41 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • Same here, although looking for a summer job beginning about five minutes after starting school didn't look like it was much fun either!

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        03.12.10, 08:36 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  • [-]Fascinating article about highly educated women opting out of career -- please read and comment. http://hcwc.fas.harvard.edu/NYT%20Women%20at%20Elite%20Colleges.pdf.

    16 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
    03.16.10, 09:27 AM [ Flag ]
    • This is really old, sorry - the whole "opt out" revolution thing that's been pretty much debunked.

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      03.16.10, 09:56 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • ITA. This has been proven to be a MYTH. I read and enjoy the NYTimes, but I take their "sociological" articles with a grain of salt. Basically, they have a journalist interview 3 of her friends and then call the results a new societal trend. The "opt out revolution" is just one such example.

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        03.16.10, 10:38 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • Hadn't seen this. Thank you for this. It is so refreshing to see young girls with this viewpoint. Maybe there is hope that society will move back in the right direction. Wish it was easier for more women to be able to stay home if they want to. We all need to get our priorities back in order.

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      03.16.10, 10:05 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • Nice. WOHMs don't have their priorities straight, then?

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        03.16.10, 10:13 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • Sooo retarded. Don't take her stupid bait. I love how smug people can be..."our" priorities? Speak for yourself, mmkay?

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          03.16.10, 10:20 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
          • Don't forget that society will be moving in the right direction. I don't consider 1950s the right direction but oh well. SAHM, BTW, just sick of this self-righteousness sh*t. I SAH because I chose to, other people can do whatever the heck they want, what's it to me?

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            03.16.10, 10:26 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • WOHM, this SAHM is behind you. Do what's good for you and for your family and tell these sanctimonious fools to STFU. Rock on!

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          03.16.10, 10:34 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • I am SAHM by choice and you'd don't speak for me. "Get our priorities back in order"??? I just threw up in my own mouth a little. GROSS.

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        03.16.10, 10:32 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • which priorities are our priorities. i don't remember signing anything or getting any memo.

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        03.16.10, 10:34 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • I think by the time she graduates law school at 25, she'll spend five years working before she SAH. Knowing this at 19, and still choosing to study at Yale, wastes resources.

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      03.16.10, 10:15 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • are we assumin gshe wil never go back to work? and waht if seh never meets the right guy, or that right guy doesn't make that much money?

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        03.16.10, 10:28 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • It does not "waste resources." Too tired to type out the dozens of reasons why you're dead wrong on this.

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        03.16.10, 10:33 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • This is so stupid. I don't know one woman who raised her kids and then did nothing else for the rest of her life. You're still alive after your kids have left home, you know. It's not like you keel over and die when they turn 18. Most women have another 20+ years of earning potential.

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        03.16.10, 10:43 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • I'm so sick of these posts. Many of us have no choice. I'm near the top of my career, I'm 41 with young kids and I'd LOVE to stay at home, or at least transition to part-time. But I'm the primary breadwinner, so it's not an option and may never be.

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      03.16.10, 10:48 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • This was written in 2005, well before the current recession led to higher rates of unemployment, especially among professional men. I think the next generation of "highly educated women" will have a different perspective on the "opt out" issue.

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      03.16.10, 10:59 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  • [-]thinking of going back to school... if i get an MSW, can i work privately? TIA!

    5 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
    03.05.10, 06:37 AM [ Flag ]
    • yes, I know a number of people who do

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      03.05.10, 06:40 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • PLEASE could you tell me a little bit about this. I dont even know where to begin research. there is nothing on google that specific... :( I looked into NYU School of Social Work but not so sure it is even worth the money, considering social workers are making so little. I have an MBA but i hate HATE HATE my job and everything about it. And i want to have a flexible schedule, etc. Have an undergrad in psych and had a fellowship counseling the homeless for a year afterwords... TIA!

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        03.05.10, 06:47 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • np: i have several friends who have their own practice as therapists. all worked relatively full time before kids and all now work PT since they had kids. i have to say, they are some of the "happiest with their careers" people i know (all women FWIW). i will add though, that it's not financiall lucrative. they make money, but all had other sources of income (family, spouse). and all of them start out working in another setting - clinic, hospital, etc. and transitioned to their own practice.

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          03.05.10, 06:55 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • Buy a book from Amazon about mental health counseling and the reality of it before pursuing a career in the field. I'm getting my phd in psychology and I think a lot of people romanticize the field (maybe you don't, just saying some do). GL!

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      03.05.10, 07:03 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
  • [-]How does the au pair thing work? Considering live in help for db #2 down the road. Have space but not a lot of cash. What would be considered fair salary if you are suppling room & board? Thoughts?

    6 replies [ Reply | Watch | Options ]
    02.19.10, 12:32 PM [ Flag ]
    • There is a set stipend for au pairs through an agency from overseas plus you pay the costs and they can't work more than 40 hours I think. If you just mean a live in nanny, that is different. Pay depends on whether they live with you and don't maintain a place of their own, how many hours they work, duties involved, etc.

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      02.19.10, 12:37 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
    • It is agency based and the numbers are set by the State Dept. Right now the au pairs get a $197 weekly stipend. The out of pocket to you is $350/week but when you consider food, car costs, cell phone (many provide this) it ends up being $400-450. They can work 45 hrs/week up to 10 hrs/day and require 1 weekend a month off. BTDT many times and it's tough. You can get lucky and get a great ap, but most are not great. Most are young, inexperienced, and misinformed about what to expect. Reasonable to try if you have school age dc and need wrap around care.

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      02.19.10, 12:44 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
      • very helpful! thanks!

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        02.19.10, 01:07 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
        • np. no first-hand experience but gf used several and found them to be a very mixed bag with most of them more trouble than they were worth. typical young girls who are not yet responsible. looking to have fun in nyc and the dc was a distant second priority. didn't clean up after themselves much less dcs. would forget to pick up dcs, spend hours and hours on the computer. boy crazy. etc.

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          02.19.10, 01:35 PM [ Flag | link to this post ]
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      02.26.10, 09:10 AM [ | ]
    • Hosting an au pair is a wonderful option for thousand of US families. It is flexbile and affordable. For approximately $340 per per family you'll receive 45 hours of live-in childcare. You set the schedule.Sick days, holidays and vacations are covered. Snow days are no loner a problem. Karen

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      02.26.10, 09:18 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
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