Not necessarily (and I'm working for a big consulting company as I type). One of the top schools will get you a better job with NO experience primarily because the major companies (when hiring) recruit heavily from there.

Outside of that an MBA is like having the 737 type rating @ Southwest - it's needed to move up the ladder or to increase your pay (since you'll be in a different compensation (and billing for clients in my case) category. If you bring it with you, you start in that new category and it can set you apart from someone that doesn't. Once you're employed, nobody cares where it came from. Heck, most companies that place any weight on Masters degree will pay for part or all of it if you get it while you're there and will commonly have programs set up with the local school.

I did an online degree from a brick and mortar university...based on my diploma and transcript you'd never know I didn't attend that school in residence - I even walked in the graduation. First time I ever touched campus. I found the MBA program incredibly interesting and I got 2 concentrations - Information Systems and Project Management that directly relate to my work. I started while in the Navy then finished while working a 121 job and ran from flying right after getting it.

So, if you want to be recruited by a top-20 company, spend the $$ to go to a major biz school. Outside of that..get one from any accredited school. It will set you a part from the new college grads (since you both have 0 experience) and may boost your pay.

Feel free to PM me...

Spongebob

 

Absolutely ! You need a Masters Degree to get into Mahogany Row or the VIP Suites at the airlines, which is where you want to be. I would suggest that you gaduate with the absolute minimum GPA possible to obtain the degree so that airline managers will realize that you are not an overachiever. You want to get into the club but show the other top level managers that you are a slacker who wants to be promoted based on incompetence and laziness !

Great pay, good job security and you get a bonus no matter how poorly you perform, in fact the worse your performance review is, the higher the percentage of bonus pay. (At Harvard, they teach the TBPS; Tilton Bonus Compensation Scale). Also, if your airline fails, or can simply move over to another carrier and assume the same position with a higher base compensation (experience !). The PhD is not a necessity as it shows too much drive and determination.

G'Luck Mate and Congratulations !

 

That was my point, and re-reading my post I didn't express the idea very well.

The question was if an ERAU masters was looked at as any less valuable than one from another school....and my point was that unless your MBA says "Wharton" on it (or any of the other top business schools, in which case it will mean something), then all MBAs are looked at essentially equally (on the second tier).

 

Thanks ghilis. I will have to check it out. I was looking at the University of Florida and a few others. I am still trying to figure out what the on campus requirements are to get the post 9-11 GI bill housing allowance.

As far as the previous discussion regarding top B-schools. There are some great programs out there now you can do in a part-time status or through distance learning. Not top 10 schools..but then again if your primary plan isn't to climb to corporate ladder paying $100K plus for a degree might not make sense. Also, going school full time or even part-time on a weekly basis is something guys flying are going to be able to do.

 

Hello,


I left aviation after the Go Jet debacle and currently attend Duke University (pursuing the MBA). I did quite a bit of research before I jumped, and I’d be happy to talk if you want to PM me.

 

Gotcha!

The only thing I would add about ERAU is to be as broad as you can. Anything that specifically says "Aviation" is going to limit your marketability...it's kind of like a house: if you personalize it too much it'll never sell.

One other consideration; the perception in some companies is that if you get a degree while working full time it's an example of being able to managed a workload that a full time student won't be exposed to (I have first hand knowledge of this)...that excludes the top 20 though.

HTH
Spongebob

 

So which masters programs are you guys/gals taking? I'm getting a masters degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. All classes but 1 are available on-line. One class requires a 3 day visit to the campus (in Spokane,WA). The rest of that class also takes place on-line. Classes are 8 weeks each. Thus far, I've only taken 3 courses (9 more to go). But it's been a great program so far. It's more of a management type degree than a business degree.

Gonzaga University Online | Masters Degree Online Programs | Online Masters Degree

 

Confused Question here.

You guys have much more experience than me in all these fields, but I've got a question regarding the masters.

I was working for a large piston freight operation for the last few months after my undergrad in May. Got furloughed in October, and started a full time Master's program at LA Tech on an academic scholarship this month. The recall is coming rather quickly, and I'm still kind of up in the air on what to do.

I can either delay the recall for a year, hold seniority, and finish the masters (33 hour masters in I/O Psychology) or,

Forfeit the scholarship and go back to flying full time. With the scholarship, the masters will cost me 3,000 in tuition/fees. Without it, over 6000.

Any Advice?

 

Large piston operator - hm. Up in Alaska? Is it NAC or Everts? They are the only piston operators I can think of, except that one that operates for DHL in OH.

Anyway - I would say it depends on how much time you have - were you looking for a flying job before the furlough?

My recommendation is that with the current economic climate, even if you were recalled, another furlough could be around the corner. I'd bypass the recall, use the scholarship and get the degree. In a year, there may be better jobs out there if you don't want to go back to the piston operator. Personally, I think a masters would look better than a year of flight time at a piston operator, down the road.

 

Good advice on sticking with the scholarship. It's a sure thing where having a job after recall isn't as certain.