<p>I would appreciate any thoughts on this.... At one point in my life, I had strongly considered applying for MBA programs. I even contacted some professional MBA application counselors. They were actually pretty negative about my chances and said I had little chance at a top 10 school. It wasn't because of my grades or the prestige of my undergrad, it was because they said "MBA programs are not looking for the professional student!"</p>
<p>At that point I had only been working for about 2 years following a Masters degree in Engineering. My work experience was solid from the technical point of view, but my experience was nowhere from the "leadership" point of view. I worked a few more years after that, and I will be going back for a to start a PhD program in the same type of engineering in a few weeks at a great engineering program that I am was very happy to get accepted into and am completely commited to.</p>
<p>I still might be interested in a MBA someday. I really enjoy the technical aspects of being an engineer, but also enjoy reading about business. I have read many business books such as "Den of Theives" and "Barbarians at the Gate". I regularly read the Wall Street Journal or the Business section of the New York Times. Anyway, here are my questions. Please be honest.</p>
<p>If I did go back to get an MBA, I'd actually consider doing it Full Time. It would be part of a pseudo career change. Maybe I'd work playing a significant role at a technical start-up after receiving a PhD and then try applying to full time MBA programs after that. Maybe the goal after that would be to try to get into Venture Capital(yea, I know...like everybody else). </p>
<p>Here are some questions...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Will getting a PhD kill any chance of getting into a top Full Time MBA program?</p></li>
<li><p>Will my age hurt my chances at this point. I'll be in my late thirties?</p></li>
<li><p>Would ventrue capital firms be interested in somebody with this background?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Why do you want the PhD? It seems unnecessary given you’re interested in something like VC. And yes, the older you get the less interested VC firms will be interested unless you hit a business home run first.</p>
<p>The engineers I know with PhDs are either Upper Middle on their way to Sr. Management, Sr. Management, Consultants, or Professors. You could start or work for a start up as a Middle or Sr. Manager to gain the leadership experience you need. However, you should be able to learn the teachings of an MBA from the teachings of life and work with a PhD and enough time in industry. If you really want to add MBA to your growing list of credentials EMBA programs would be more suited for someone with the number of letters you’ll have after your name. </p>
<p>As for VC, what I have learned from researching that industry is that it’s not the number of letters that follow your name, but the string of successes that follow your life. VCs like business success, not academic success. The degrees you are compiling will do nothing to help you get into them, though you may end up working with them as a technical consultant.</p>
<p>That may be an issue, not so much in that your chances of admission will be hurt, but because you may find the prevailing student culture - which will obviously be much younger - to be offputting. </p>
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<p>Sure, but as others have said, what is more important to VC firms is your business success, particularly entrepreneurial success. The very best way to impress any VC firm is to start a successful firm.</p>