<p>Penn</a> Law - JD/MBA, The Wharton School - Joint and Dual Degrees</p>
<p>I am curious: Sallyawp, would you take this "accelerated" option if you could do it all over again?</p>
<p>That's an interesting question, wildflower.</p>
<p>On the one hand, as a student who paid my entire way through school myself, it would be tempting to do in three years what I would have had to do in four. Assuming that the tuition is not increased to make up for the "lost year" (as the Northwestern program has done), this could be a very attractive option.</p>
<p>On the other hand, however, I imagine that you would lose a lot in terms of the activities that you participate in (like law review, toastmasters, etc.) and the people who you have time to bond with by doing an accelerated program. One of the nicest parts of the JD program and the MBA program (whether done together or separately) is that as a 1L in law school, you spend the vast majority of your time taking classes with the same group of students, who I really bonded with, and as a first year MBA candidate, you take all of your classes with your cohort (again, the same group of students who move through all of your classes with you), with whom you also develop a real bond. I wouldn't trade the personal or professional relationships that I developed while in school for anything, and I'm not certain that I would have these same bonds if I had a year less and a much more frantic schedule while in school. These friends have worked with me on business deals, have served as sounding boards on business and legal issues and are real friends, who have spent time with me at my home and in their homes, who joined me at my wedding and who do more than just send holiday cards every year.</p>
<p>Further, it was only during my final year of law school and my last semester of business school that I really got to take the courses that I wanted to take instead of the ones that I was supposed to take. For example, even though I wasn't headed for a career as a litigator, everyone took a course in evidence during their 2L year. As a 2L, I also took courses in securities regulation, federal taxation, corporations, etc., all of which are prerequisite classes for the really interesting classes I wanted to take as a 3L. When I was a 3L, I was finally able to take advanced seminars in securities law reform, advanced M&A theory and individual rights and health care, all of which were real areas of interest for me. These classes were very small, very discussion oriented and very interesting. I would probably have missed out on these opportunities had I raced through law school. </p>
<p>For me, the JD/MBA program is already shortened by one year over the amount of time that the separate programs would take to complete. I'm not sure that shortening the programs by another year won't do damage to the experience and learnings of the joint degree program. I suppose that only time will tell.</p>
<p>I might have a different opinion after these programs have been in place for a few years, but for now, I wouldn't choose the 3-year program. I gained so much during that final year of the joint program that I really couldn't imagine losing out on those opportunities.</p>
<p>Thanks, Sally! Very insightful. :)</p>
<p>thank you for your input Sally!! I'm applying to law school for September '09 and considering a JD-MBA (at the schools like GTown where you can apply for the joint-degree program after you've been accepted into the law school).</p>
<p>you gotta remember- all the accelerated programs --</p>
<p>3 year JD/MBA at Penn and Northwestern and the NEW 2 year JD program at Northwestern is geared towards people who have been in the workforce for a few years and have significant work experience.<br>
I can see why an accelerated program may be viewed positively by a 24+ year old who has been out of college for a few years , is economically independent, and has already established relationships in the business world.
I can understand why they may want to acquire the higher degree- but get back into the workforce ASAP!! (especially in this economy) </p>
<p>Once you are used to getting a steady paycheck and being financially secure, one may want to get the JD/MBA in a shorter period of time.
I think anyone who can get through the accelerated programs at Northwestern or Penn will be in pretty good shape re: job prospects. </p>
<p>A recent college grad who goes directly from UG to law school may see things differently. (JMO)</p>
<p>Yes, I think marny1 is right. </p>
<p>The program website almost explicitly states that 2 years of work experience as an analyst at an investment bank is a requirement (or probably similar experience, though I can't think of many comparable experiences except strategy consulting). </p>
<p>I really wonder, though, what Penn Law/Wharton is thinking now that it'll be pretty much literally impossible to get top banking jobs for the next few years. Perhaps they wanted to get a couple of the 24,000 people to be laid off by the BoA/ML deal?</p>
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The program website almost explicitly states that 2 years of work experience as an analyst at an investment bank is a requirement
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<p>Wharton seems like an IB whore. Thanks for their grads for leading the way to give us this mess....:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Well, Wharton is (arguably) the best school in the world for finance. So that should not come as a surprise. </p>
<p>But even then, I would not be so harsh on them. People from many other top and not so top schools were caught with their hand in their cookie-jar. And many of them were actually former lawyers (e.g. Chuck Prince, from Citi).</p>
<p>nothing moves that quickly so I doubt Penn just decided to start the accelerated JD/MBA program based on current economic realities. (but there probably are alot of IB people looking for jobs now)</p>
<p>my guess is that Penn is trying to emulate the Northwestern 3 year JD/MBA program which has been around awhile.
Penn may also be monitoring (as well as other top schools) the 2 year accelerated JD program at Northwestern which is going to start this year. </p>
<p>My gut feeling is that once you have matured to the ripe old age of 25 and have been in the workforce for awhile, it may be more desireable to get the advanced degree ASAP so you can rejoin the workforce.</p>
<p>if business and law schools find it beneficial to admit students who are a bit more mature and have significant work experience, there may be additional accelerated programs in the works.</p>
<p>"My gut feeling is that once you have matured to the ripe old age of 25 and have been in the workforce for awhile, it may be more desireable to get the advanced degree ASAP so you can rejoin the workforce."</p>
<p>That's a possible scenario. But it presupposes those people liked the workforce in the first place ... I mean, a 4 year vacation doesn't sound all that bad. :)</p>