What do you think I should do?

Graduate School Business School - MBA
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<p>I have been reading this board and it seems like there are some highly intelligent people posting here. With that being the case, I would appreciate it if you would allow me to leverage your intellectual firepower for a few moments. Thank you in advance for your advice.</p>

<p>My goal is to be the CEO and/or founder of a medical device company within 15 to 20 years. I realize these may or may not be two different paths. I would appreciate it if you could take both the corporate route and entrepreneurial route into consideration as you answer my questions.</p>

<p>In high school I had a 4.0 gpa and a 1500 SAT. This was pretty much due to innate talent and not one lick of effort. I was far more interested in getting drunk, playing sports, and chasing girls around at the age of 17 than anything else. As such, I decided against attending the Ivy League schools and went to NC State instead. There, I decided that I was going to be a sports agent so school was not a priority. I skipped classes regularly, did not study until the night before, and basically only focused when the subject matter really interested me. I majored in economics and graduated in 4 years with a 2.3 gpa. I worked on the side as an SAT instructor for Princeton Review.</p>

<p>Once I got out, I spent 4 years working in sales at a small medical equipment company by day while I represented a few prominent local athletes by night. I then discovered that being an agent was not as glamorous (or as lucrative) as I thought it would be and that I had developed a serious passion for the medical device industry. As such, I took a medical device sales position with Johnson & Johnson and that is where I have been for the past 6 months. I see a lot of room for growth in this company and am encouraged by the fact that many CEO's and founders in the life science sector are J&J alums.</p>

<p>So here is my dilemma: What do I do next in order to achieve the goal I have set for myself?</p>

<p>Does an MBA fit into my future, in your opinion? I have some doubts because Stephen P. MacMillan, CEO of Stryker, only has a BA in Economics and 11 years of J&J under his belt.</p>

<p>I am confident that I will do well on the GMAT, but there is nothing I can do about my horrendous undergraduate GPA. Where does this leave me in your opinion?</p>

<p>If you recommend the MBA, should it be part time (with J&J covering the full cost and while continuing to build work experience) or full time?</p>

<p>Is an MBA a waste of time if it's not Harvard/Stanford?</p>

<p>What should my next job be after sales?
Sales Training?
Sales Management?
Product Management/Marketing (Stryker CEO's path)
Strategy Consulting? (Medtronic's CEO is a McKinsey alum as well as a Wharton MBA)</p>

<p>For some additional background I am a 27 year old Arab-American. I am already earning a six-figure income so money is really not an issue for me at this point in my life. I am single with zero commitments and I have saved up over $80,000 since I graduated.</p>

<p>Thanks again for your thoughts.</p>

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<p>Ass. wr.wb</p>

<p>I am from the same background. We are not allowed to get drunk...hahaha....</p>

<p>Hey, I am a newbie too.I joined the day before you. nobody actually commented on my "chance thread." I will give my thoughts regarding your matter.2.3 will definitely hurt you since they look on grade trends! you can get 2.3 in freshman year or first semester but 3.8-4.0's trend till the end, that would be impressive</p>

<p>M.B.A is no the "pre-requisite" to become C.E.O . You can achieve the same feat like Macmillan by staying there,especially it sounds like you are doing great job there that they even want to sponsor you.......I mean, why folllow the pack?</p>

<p>Irregardless,you are an excellent standardized test taker,I am also very confident about your gmat....hahaha.....</p>

<p>Product management may be the best choice, but dont ask me.....hahaha....ask consultants instead.............I am just a 2-nd year Analyst who wants to get into M.BA next year. I have only saved little since the cost of living in nyc is damn high.may need the killing loans.....otherwise I will go to lower ranked state M.B.A instead......I have 4.0 G.P.A (sophomore-Senior year), 3.0 ( freshman at community college).720 G.M.A.T</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

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<p>thanks bro... anybody else have ideas?</p>

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<p>Honestly, from what I can tell -given your story- you're in a good position to surge ahead with J & J... sales is an excellent area to gain exposure for promotional opportunities, and it may be in your best interest to put your full energy and efforts into your career and skip the MBA unless you get blocked on your road to executive level opportunities, which won't happen if you are a sales leader. Once you have reached executive level positions, making the move to CEO/President of other/smaller medical device companies won't be that difficult (an MBA probably won't play much of a factor here). With the low GPA, you may struggle to get into a program that would add much more value to your current opportunity base as it stands. That's my $.02.</p>

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<p>That makes sense 311Griff... do you think a school like NYU or Michigan would add enough value (if I could get in)? Considering their part time programs.</p>

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<p>anybody???</p>

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<p>hey closer,
you college undergrad profile sounds like mine in some sense.
i majored in business at UFlorida and didn't really know what to do with myself afterwards...my gpa was a 2.3 as well and i worked for 6 years doing odd jobs eventually starting a small business in my local town...i don't have any ambitions to become a CEO..but i would like to finally get my career started after spending 5 years after college not really getting into any "executive or corporate" type career or jobs. </p>

<p>anyways if anyone has a suggestions for me as well... i'm applying to grad schools in the next 2 months. im taking the GMAT in Oct...i hope to score at least 700. I know my gpa is low and it's going to be a HUGE hurdle for me, but i'm hoping my essays and recommendations will help me out.
my dream school would be DUKE....but i have UF, Georgetown, Emory in my application pile too!! </p>

<p>my major concern besides getting into a god b-school is whether or not i can keep up with my peers at my school...considering most students will have 4-5 years exp working as managers and executive...i feel like i'm starting at the bottom trying to keep up with everyone... well hope i can do it.</p>