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Working Moms
MBA?
Anyone here get a MBA while working and being a mom? I have an opportunity (obligation??) to get a MBA that my company will pay for. It's a 16 month every-other-weekend (Friday night and all day Saturday) program. They expect me to do it, so I kind of feel like I have to, plus I know it would help me later on in my career.
But, I have a 7 month old, and we'd like to have another child soon. I wouldn't start the program until next February (might take an elective this summer), and I would hope to be pregnant by then. So, I'd maybe have to take a leave of absence too.
Even though I know it would be good for my job and my career, I'm not thrilled about the work it's going to entail or the time away from my baby. Has anyone done this while working and being a mom? Am I over/under estimating it?
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Re: MBA?
I'm in this camp too. I have my MBA but it was pre-kids and it took A LOT of time outside of class for studying.
I was getting my MBA part-time when I had DD. I took a semester off when I had her and had one semester left once she was here. I had class on Saturdays for one semester, so not quite as bad.
It sucked. It was not where I wanted to be, but it was doable and good for me in the long run.
If it will help you get where you want to be, then I would do it. If you are iffy on the career or not sure how far you want to rise, then it may not be the best choice. The younger your children are when you do it, the easier I think it will be.
I did a full-time MBA program, so my experience might differ, but it took a lot of work outside of class and a good deal of it was team work which meant working around other people's schedules to get projects done. It is possible for you to talk to a few people who have gone through that program, especially people who are in a similar situation to you to find out how it worked out for them and how realistic it is for you?
Best of luck with whatever you choose to do!
ETA: Consider how long you want to stay with your current company for. If you plan to switch employers in the next few years, consider what value the degree will have outside of your company, i.e. is it from a nationally reputable program or a regionally reputable program?
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I haven't done it, but here are my thoughts. I think the one thing that will be key for you is having a supportive DH who will totally be able to pickup the slack. Also do you have any option of cutting down your hours at work to PT maybe 32hrs/week while you are doing the MBA program? I know this may not be an option if you have to be FT to have your company pay for it.
Personally I know I couldn't handle it (especially as a 2u2 mom), but everyone is different. My theory is, I have the next 40 yrs of my life to have a career. I'm okay with putting my career ambitions on hold for a couple years while my kids are little. Good luck to you with whatever you decide.
I have a 13 month old, and started MBA classes last fall. I am only a few classes in, but here is my experience thus far. I looked into A LOT of programs, many of the executive MBA programs had lots of weekend time and even 1-2 week residency programs each semester. I did not want to spend that much time away from E right now, on top of working 50+ hrs a week. How locked into the specific program are you? Would you be able to recommend another program? Lots of reputable business schools are offering online MBAs. I'm doing mine through Northeastern. The schedule is intense, and will take a few months more than the executive programs. I'm willing to spend more time to have more of a balance with E. With the online program, I do my work when I can. Usually I do work after E goes to bed at night, and one weekend morning H will take E (or I go someplace) so I can spend a few hours doing work. So far, it has been a good balance. The professor has set meeting times each week, usually at night after 9pm, and they are recorded and not mandatory. If I am tired or have something else going on, I just listen to the session later in the week. When I finish (2 yr program) my MBA will look just like someone who attended classes on campus.
We're thinking about #2 as well. My current plan is to see how spring / summer session goes, and TTC #2 late summer/ early fall. I want to be mostly done by the time #2 is here, but I can't imagine waiting to be completely finished before TTC.
I selected Northeastern because I wanted a program I could start right away. Each class is only 4-5 weeks long, and they start a new group with each class. It was probably only a month between when I decided to do it, applied and started classes. I liked that I didn't have to wait 9-12 months just to start, I could be taking classes now, which worked better for me.
ETA: I echo what others have said about group work, I meet 1-2x a week for each of my classes. Granted, we do it online via google hangout or other tools, but we still have 2-3 hrs of group meetings a week.
All of this!
Hmm. You all raise really good points!! I just finished a MA program while working full-time and pregnant, finished my thesis after having my daughter. Hubby definitely had to pick up the slack, and he definitely thinks we can do this, especially since it's a shorter program.
I think work does expect me to do it, and I know I'll have some flexibility with hours and will be able to do some homework on work time. But there would be a lot of team/group projects, so I know I'll have to give up some week nights to meet with people to work on stuff. That part really makes me not want to do it.
There is a big benefit to it, career-wise, both at this job and at others, I think. I know that I'm not going to want to do it when my kids are older, and my company is offering to pay for it now. If they weren't, I wouldn't even consider it (it's like $35K!).
I just wonder if I can actually put in the work it requires while maintaining some balance. I'm going to a reception for this year's cohort that's about to start on Thursday, so I'll ask some more questions then.
I would totally take advantage of it. I did plan to start my MBA last year (company will reimburse the max allowed annually, but I would have to pay for classes up front and then submit grades at the end of each semester), but opted instead to work on me for a while...and take a huge chunk out of the student loan I currently have.
For what it's worth, when I was working on my bachelor degree, a woman in one of my classes was pregnant with her 13th (I think it was her 13th...can't remember now). She had the baby over Easter break and back the following week. Not exaggerating.
I did an accelerated MBA before kids and it was a lot of work. We had classes 3 nights a week, plus meeting at least once a week for group work and independent study. MBAs tend to have LOTS of groupwork, executive MBAs have even more. It would be VERY different if you were able to go at your own pace and get it done in 3 years. But, these programs are usually pretty intense. Mine even included a mandatory 9 day trip to China.
Honestly, I don't think I could have handled it with a baby and pregnant. My first 3 months of pregnancy with #2, I was literally falling asleep during dinner. And that's when I wasn't hugging the toilet bowl. There's no way I could have survived a 3 hour lecture after work.
And then there's the emotional issues. I already feel soooo guilty about having the kids in daycare for 10-11hours a day. To take away my night and weekend time with them....no thanks.
I'll echo what many others have said... it sounds like this might be an Executive MBA course. I got my Exec MBA, but my program was every Saturday (no Friday work) for 2 years. It also required periodic week-long trips. My typical schedule was to get to work by 7:30, study until 8:30, study at lunch, stop work at 5 and either go right home to study, stay at work and study (both until 10 or 11) or head to a group meeting. For 2 straight years. I took every Saturday night off and studied for a few hours on Sundays when I could.
I did it before I was married and before kids, but I was engaged. The program took a toll on our relationship, and we broke up in my last semester. There were a LOT of issues with the relationship, but the program sealed it.
My dad did the same program when I was about 13 (sisters were 15 and 8), and it was really tough. He worked 60+ hours a week as the breadwinner, and then had meetings, class, etc. Somehow my mom made it all work.
My BIL is in an extremely competitive Exec MBA program right now (complete with a ~$200K price tag) but he will be able to write his own ticket when he gets out. But he and my sister have 4 kids, and she would have drown if it weren't for my parents giving up their weekends to help out. I think my parents knew how hard it was, so wanted to be there for them.
My program was a wonderful experience, and I wouldn't trade it. But think carefully about what you want. I have a 3 year old and am 31 weeks pregnant, and there's NO WAY I'd start up a program like that right now. But I know my limits... and that would be way past my limit... and everyone is different...
Good luck with your decision.
Personally, I'd be really excited about this, but I'm in a different situation than you. If they let you take every other Monday off to make up for the lost Saturday family time, then perhaps you'd feel better about it? But there's probably no way around studying outside of work hours, which will eat into family time. If you can save it til after your little one goes to bed, that might make you feel better.
Since you'll be doing it for your job, you don't necessarily have to be the top student in the class. If you're ok with getting mostly Bs then you can do what is needed for that and just accept that's all you can give at this phase in life. Getting a B is a lot less work than getting an A. My mom had two children under 5 and was pregnant with her 3rd by the time she finished her MA and she said that accepting she would do fine, but not the best, was what got her through it.
Also, some one mentioned this going along with a raise - is that a possibility? If so, those extra funds could go towards more frequent ordering in & housecleaning services to reduce your household tasks and free up more time for school & baby.
So, can you do it? Sure. But, it sounds like hell to me. I know those programs are very demanding and you can't let your groups down on projects.
My company will pay for my MBA. I started before I got pregnant and have taken a break since the baby was born. I don't regret it all. I have had years to do stuff for me. Now, when I'm not at work , I just want family fun time.
The only difference is that for me an MBA will not give me a great raise in salary. It is really just a nice feather in my cap. I will still be quite successful in my field without. If it meant a huge pay raise and more job security it may be worth it.
Also, I agree that some online programs may be more flexible than the weekend ones. I was part of one run by Colorado State. I could take the classes online or in the classroom and end up with the same degree.
I got my master's (not MBA) pre-baby, pre-hubby, and did not work (full time grad student w/a grad assistantship). I personally couldn't do it, especially with you looking to become pregnant. The timing just doesn't seem right, IMO.
Pick 2 of the 3: work, school, baby.
I did full time work + MBA and I did not have a life, no time for basically ANYTHING else. MBA took up so much time and energy...no way would having a baby fit into that scenario at ALL. Really, it's not just the time you spend physically in class, the group projects and papers and studying will take up the rest of your time at home, you will feel like you never get a day off.