<p>I got into the Duke MMS program. I wasn't awarded any grants, but I got about 70k in federal student loans to cover the entire estimated COA(tuition&fees + living expenses) for the one year program.</p>
<p>Fuqua is a great name brand, but I still won't be qualified for anything more than an entry level position after the program.</p>
<p>If I were to pass on Fuqua, I don't have any job prospects right now. I'd probably find something low paying if I tried though. </p>
<p>My parents will provide minimal assistance because they have already fully funded my 4 years and my sisters 5 years of undergrad. </p>
<p>What is your goal for attending this program? Is it just to kill time because you don’t have job prospects? I think $70k is a lot of debt for little guarantee of a higher paid job. </p>
<p>I see that this degree is meant to be “pre-experience” as they call it, but if you really believe it won’t provide you with better prospects, I don’t see it’s purpose for that large of a cost for 10 months. It seems to be an alternative to the MBA for candidates who don’t have professional work experience, but I wouldn’t use it as a way to pass time while you wait for a job to come your way. Of course, you may have solid reasons for applying there in which case you must weigh the pros with the cons.</p>
<p>Want a good watch or car? You’re going to have to pay for a name brand.</p>
<p>I was considering Fuqua’s MMS. If your other options are minimal to none, it’s a good place to be. One of my friends from HS ended up there and landed an investment banking gig. The upside on that, is quite a bit more than 70k for one year of schooling. You’re not going to learn anything too substantive, but you are going to go through Duke’s on campus recruiting. The first year of the program, I’d say steer clear. But now stats are out saying they place decently well into career fields that have high-earning potential and will give you a solid shot at a top MBA program later down the road. That is a golden check if you play your cards right. </p>
<p>Still, I’m not entirely sold. Career placement stats within the school itself. If I’m dropping that money at a business school, I don’t want to end up working there. </p>
<p>I ended up at a masters of accounting program pretty close to there. No, I won’t have the same shot at consulting or IBanking right out of the door, but I’ll be learning real skills that will help me get my foot into business and perform well enough to let me have a chance at a great MBA program later down the line. Everything you do at the MMS will be redone if you go back to an MBA. You’ll forget most everything you learn (once your boss tells you to do so and your at first-year training) at your first job. It’s nothing more than 70k for recruiting form what I can gather.</p>
<p>That could be a good bet, it could be a terrible bet. You decide.</p>