<p>Honestly, as an MBA, I think it depends. When I finished B-School, I went to work with a firm and have built a career while still in my mid-twenties. I used my undergrad education (dual-major in International Business and also in Economics) during B-School to leverage my work and in the end it all depends on what you want to do with yourself and how you want to use what you have. The key in any profession is to learn to combine skills to create opportunity. It’s not about prestige, honors, etc. It’s about comfort with yourself, your profession, and your willingness to work regardless of advanced degree path. </p>
<p>I think that in the end, if people spent more time concentrating on improving and strengthening and channeling their skills, the debate becomes marginal. I have been down this road many times with friends in either profession. Just be sure not to lose focus on what is important to you and you’ll be fine. With JDs, I saw many of my friends working long hours, becoming irritated, etc. Same with MBAs. When you have a multi-million dollar client or client-base that you are working with, hours drag on, quality of life suffers and on the financial side, what is the point (regardless of profession) of the income if you can’t enjoy it? I have no regrets in my decision to attend B-School and I think for those who are hunting prestige, I look at this as the “neighbor” example. Most people in the world are focused on their own personal or closely related affairs and could care less as to what it is YOU do for a living. They care about what is important to THEM as individuals and you should do the same. Build YOU and the professional gains will come with that as a secondary benefit. Best of Luck!</p>