Is it possible to get graduate degrees while serving your eight years post-flight school? For example, an MBA or JD?
My room-temperature take is that the Top 20-25 schools are the only ones from whom getting an MBA is worthwhile.Naval Aviation won’t provide you time to get a MBA or a JD in residence unless you’re willing to take a hit on your career progression (and that would only apply for an MBA through NPS).
For connections, maybe. I think it’s ultimately more about who you know than where you went to school, at least within reason. If you’re rubbing elbows with your professional network in your “day job”, then going to a top 20-25 school might not be as important.My room-temperature take is that the Top 20-25 schools are the only ones from whom getting an MBA is worthwhile.
+1. My T20 MBA wasn’t very different curriculum wise from most other programs out there. But having advised a medical device company abroad and having them pay for the trip was unbelievably valuable to expanding my corporate skill set. To say nothing of the friendships I made in that cohort. About 10 of us are flying in from all around the country to attend the Rose Bowl together and pretend we’re undergrads.In terms of an MBA, it would really depend on OP's ambitions. If he/she plans on getting out after their MSR, a T20 or M7 MBA (ideally in residence) will go far.
If it's just a check in the box, not so much.
I have yet to meet a hiring manager or recruiter in the non-tech world that cared where a candidates MBA or graduate degree was from. The connections a person can make are nice IF they are in an industry or a location that they want to be in. The connections a person makes by impressing people with the work they do and the ability to get along with the team members goes much further.My room-temperature take is that the Top 20-25 schools are the only ones from whom getting an MBA is worthwhile.
As an NPS graduate, I'm going to tell you that if you're getting your MBA from NPS instead of a more prestigious school's online program, then you're doing it wrong. Go to NPS for a technical degree (Computer science, engineering, operational research/applied statistics, etc.) or something that will help with the military (Defense Analytics, National Security, etc.). Otherwise you are wasting that opportunity and not setting yourself up for what you need in a civilian MBA grad type of job.Naval Aviation won’t provide you time to get a MBA or a JD in residence unless you’re willing to take a hit on your career progression (and that would only apply for an MBA through NPS).
There are in-residence graduate degree opportunities (NPS, Olmsted, Naval War College), but all of them will take you out of the cockpit/out of competitive tours.
The best way to set yourself up for anything that is off the standard career path is to knock your first fleet tour out of the park. Have the conversation with your detailer when the time comes, and they’ll lay out your options.
You would be correct. MBAs are a dime a dozen these days. They are one of the easiest online degrees to teach, earn, and administrate. You need connections from the program and great internships/co-ops/project experience if you want to stand out. Top tier schools will get that for you.My room-temperature take is that the Top 20-25 schools are the only ones from whom getting an MBA is worthwhile.