Can An MBA Make You Happy? Apparently So

mbastudentsgraduateMoney can’t buy you happiness. But it will pay for an MBA degree…which apparently brings happiness. Those are the findings of MBA50.com, which recently published a worldwide survey of 1,108 students.

As part of this study, MBA50 produced a Happiness Index, where 1 equals extremely unhappy and 10 reflects extremely happy. Respondents entering an MBA program averaged 5.98. Those students pursuing their MBA scored a 7.71 – and MBA graduates reached 8.53. In other words, happiness rose 2.55 points – or 25% — between the time students enter an MBA program and finish it.

Of course, this study didn’t measure happiness from the same sample over time. However, it does indicate that MBA programs offer intangible benefits that exceed the joy of mastering a curriculum. For example, MBA50 asked students which aspect of an MBA program made them happy. 42.2% of students cited self-development, while 19% answered career progression. Another 19.3% responded with either the pleasure of learning or learning from classmates. Networking came in at 9.3%. Despite the cliché of MBAs being money hungry, financial reward ranked #1 for only 2.7% of respondents.

Bottom Line: Students found happiness in learning, growing, connecting, and seeing their career options expand. According to Peter Rodriguez, Senior Associate Dean at Darden (A study participant), an MBA program provides “evidence of growth…It’s a bit like getting into shape and feeling that burst of confidence and knowing and showing that you’re strong, faster, and fitter than before.”

One more thing: The happiest MBA graduates came from Latin America (9.06). The largest increase in happiness goes to Africa (From 5.97 to 8.87). In the United States and Canada, students entered their MBA programs at 6.14, scored an 8.30 during their studies, and left school with an 8.84.

Source: Forbes 

Two gold rings - reflected candles

Wedding Bells? Which B-Schools Are Producing the Most Brides and Grooms?

 

Love is in the air. And MBAs are not immune. That’s why mbaMission.com published the B-school chart of the week: A ranking of which MBA programs are producing the most wedding announcements in the New York Times (we’ve taken to add the latest announcements of MBAs who marry at the end of every weekly report). The Times, which profiles only the most promising couples, has chosen 10 Harvard MBAs so far in 2013. Surprisingly, Wharton matched Harvard’s totals, while Midwestern powerhouse Michigan Ross placed 4. Of course, the year is young and laggards like Kellogg, Stanford and Yale have time to catch up.

For a listing of which schools made The Times wedding pages, feel free to click below. (Why do I get the feeling that pengyou and highwyre237 will have something to add to this conversation?)

Source: mbaMission 

John Delaney_0010-110314

Ask the Neglected Questions to Find the Best B-School Fit

 

You’ve probably heard that the worst question is the one you fail to ask. That can be particularly true of business schools, where student performance can be influenced by variables ranging from class sizes and personalized attention to philosophy and  academic rigor. John T. Delaney, dean of the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh, would concur.

In a Huffington Post column, Delaney contends that school rankings, placement stats, and prestigious faculty may matter less than the concept of “fit.” For example, he cites faculty experience as one variable that can differentiate schools for prospective students. A school where faculty treats teaching as their second job may provide more real world know-how. However, this model could make it difficult for students to get one-on-one time from faculty. Similarly, Delaney encourages students to look beyond statistics like average salaries and examine placements in their field and support after graduation.

In short, Delaney encourages students to create their own rankings, based on their own career criteria, to find their match. In doing so, he believes students can formulate critical ‘fit’ questions to administrators, faculty, and fellow students that will inform their choice.

Source: Huffington Post

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