<p>I am having a lot of trouble deciding what program is best suited for me. Here is some information:</p>
<p>Undergrad:
University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business (Graduated April 2006)
Bachelors of Business Administration
GPA 3.8 / 4.0</p>
<p>Work Experience:
2.5 years+ in a Management Consulting Company (small, not a brand-name firm)</p>
<p>My goal down the line is to run my own business. </p>
<p>Now, having a BBA from Michigan's business school, I really do not believe that I will be learning too many new things from having an MBA. I'm sure there will be some incremental learning, but I already took 2 years in a Business School which gave a very good business background. It was the #2 ranked business undergrad program at the time I entered.</p>
<p>My question is --</p>
<p>Would it be better to get a JD, MBA, or go for a joint-degree program?</p>
<p>Yes - It was be a waste of money if that were the case. However, having never been to law school, how do I know if law is something that may interest me. What are some good resources?</p>
<p>^ something else to think about. Do you really need an advance degree? </p>
<p>In terms of a JD, wiki it, and look up books and browse this forum on stories. Its a big decision to make. In addition, it is important to note that to practice law, you must not only pass law school, but pass the Bar Exam, which is very comprehensive. Definitely do lots of research before making a decision like that.</p>
<p>From the research I've done and people I've spoken to, here are a few things I have been able to conclude about the JD/MBA:</p>
<p>1) It can be a bit off-putting to employers, as they may get the impression that you may be a bit fickle and indecisive in choosing your career path</p>
<p>2) If practicing law is not something you envision yourself doing then the JD has very little immediate value due to the fact you probably will not be sitting for the bar.</p>
<p>3) The added compensation to JD/MBA grads on the law side is not equal in proportion to the added cost of attaining the MBA. And overall, I haven't heard or read much about how the JD/MBA has opened more doors for a graduate as opposed to each of those degrees by themselves.</p>
<p>All in all, you should think about how much the degree costs and what it is you plan to do in your life. If you only want to do business, then the JD is not necessary.</p>
<p>Getting a JD is a huge commitment--you have to really want to practice law otherwise it can be a miserable (and wasted) 3 years. If your goal is to have your own business, I'd advise you to start your own business. You don't need a degree to do that.</p>
<p>As your goal is to run your own business, I'd say you really don't need either. JD <em>may</em> be helpful in sharpening your analytical ability... but if you don't plan on being a lawyer, it's really not worth it (and I'm sure you could strengthen that skill on your own). An MBA would help more, but if you took enough courses to have that business knowledge that an MBA wouldn't be beneficial, then there's not much of a point. An MBA might help you with the specifics of launching a business (and wouldn't be a bad credential if you're in need of funding from others), but it's probably not necessary.</p>
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My goal down the line is to run my own business.
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<p>You have already adequately prepared yourself to run your own business by getting a BBA. Only if the type of "business" you wish to run is a law practice, would I recommend you go to law school. Much of what you have learned getting your BBA is what you will learn by getting an MBA. The advantage of an MBA is better name recognition if you want to work for a big corporation or consulting firm. If you want to run your own business, your skills are what matter not how many degrees you have.</p>