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CPA vs. MBA: What is their true value?

1 points by JamesAmba ↗ HN
I am a first year auditor at a public accounting firm. I do not want to be an accountant in the future but want to start a business or work for a start-up. Does being a CPA hold true value? I have an accounting degree and am thinking about my MBA to allow me to get different jobs other than accounting. Thanks in advance!

3 comments

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uberman
I believe the "true" value of an MBA is the connections you make to/with the other students and the alumni network.

This is why (IMHO) an MBA from Wharton for example is worth almost whatever they wanted to charge and why an online MBA taken from the typical for-profit provider or even one cobbled together via coursera is worth nothing.

JamesAmba
Thank you, that makes total sense. What about an MBA from a mid tier school?
uberman
Likely more than worth it, if you go in person and form a real connection to your peers. In my opinion, the more of an introvert you are, the less you will get out of the true benefits of an MBA.

Ask your prospective admissions department about the strength of their alumni giving. This can be a good proxy for the strength of the alumni network. Ask what percentage of graduates are hired by alumni. Ask if the program supports an entrepreneurial incubator and how. Are faculty actively involved in the incubator? Has the faculty or department ever invested in projects coming out of the incubator?