<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I really appreciate and respect the CC community, and i'd really appreciate any of your thoughts on this matter. I did a preliminary search, which didn't turn up anything, but please let me know if there's a similar thread on the forum. </p>
<p><strong><em>My basic QUESTION is this</em></strong>
Especially for those with work experience, have you ever seen a synergistic benefit of getting both a MBA and a PhD? </p>
<p><strong><em>GOALS</em></strong>
I'm very interested in urban politics and policy (ie. jobs, housing, transit, public education policies), and have focused much of my research around the innovation, social justice, and environmental aspects of these issues. My ultimate goal is either a tenure job or advocacy/research around progressive urban policy issues. The ideal would be both; my preference would be toward advocacy/research, despite the potential for less pay and stability. Because of my deep passion for these issues, I definitely want a PhD to develop expertise and research competency, but I also do not want to stay in academics for long. In any case, I will be working/taking time off for at least 2 years before I apply to grad school.</p>
<p><strong><em>MY REASONS FOR ALSO GAINING A MBA</em></strong>
My thought was that a MBA, due to the skills and training one would get for innovation, organizations, management, could help me lead teams, rise in organizations/bureaucracies, or even better prepare me to start my own organization with potential networks and training. With my PhD, I thought this could open doors for me, especially around leadership and more decision-making. </p>
<p><strong><em>My HESITATIONS</em></strong>
However, my understanding is that MBA programs are often "cash cows" for institutions. Getting one is expensive. With the minimum of 5 years for a PhD, I will also be in school for a while. I'm not clear if getting one is worth the financial or time trade-off because I have an inkling I won't be making much money anyway. However, my thought was that having the MBA could provide me a comparative advantage of management and additional flexibility over other PhDs who might be stuck with traditional research jobs. </p>
<p>My question to you: Do you think this is faulty premise? Do you think my focus puts me at a disadvantage for programs like Harvard 2+2? </p>
<hr>
<p>To give you more background on my stats:
GPA: 4.0/4.0 at at first tier private california university. GREs: 1300 (I plan to retake in June). Self-made major.
RESEARCH: won several school competition prizes for best research, won a prize at a 2nd tier national conference and gained acceptance to the conference publication, my paper gained acceptances to the international and the top 3 sociology conferences (including the ASA honors program) in the US, I have been a research assistant with a "leader in his field" on metropolitan innovation
EXTRACURRICULARS: started my own campus coalition advocating for local sustainable urban development within development plans, working now to build a student-led california alliance for urban development, interned with several grassroots organizations dealing with issues ranging from transit to healthcare, elected as a local boardmember for a neighborhood council
FELLOWSHIPS: acceptances to McNair scholar, Mellon Mays scholar, UCBerkeley PPIA, and other similar programs in progressive policy and politics
PERSONAL: first-generation college student, receive pell/cal grants </p>
<p>I would greatly appreciate your thoughts!
sony</p>