Is the MBA Necessary?

searcher profile

June 13, 2021

by a searcher from Virginia Commonwealth University in Washington, DC, USA

Hi everyone - my name is Prashant. I’m currently 24 working in corporate development (M&A, JVs, strategic partnerships) with prior lower middle market investment banking experience ($10-$100M EV) and would love to launch a search when I’m 27 or 28. Currently, I’m focused on building a network, ascertaining if the search path is right for me, and thinking about what type of business and lifestyle I’d want to have in my 30s.

I have many questions, but the biggest one that has been running through my mind is if the MBA is essential for the search. I keep weighing the cost of forgone income and the actual weight the MBA brings.

What does this group think? Is there anyone on this platform that has embarked on a search or successfully completed their search without an MBA?

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commentor profile
Reply by a searcher
from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Hey Prashant – maybe consider what you hope to accomplish with the MBA and how it will help you with the search process. Objectively, you’ll probably have more transaction experience than many MBA’s with your time in a lower middle market investment bank, but can you convince the owner(s) of a small business that you’ll be able to take care of their employees post-transaction? What other experiences can you gain now to help build your credibility? Best of luck-
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Reply by a searcher
from The University of Chicago in Denver, CO, USA
Experience > Mentors > MBA. If you are focused on what you want to do, I would recommend you save the money on the MBA to subsidize your living expenses while you intern with someone who is successfully doing what you want to do. Your experience will be more relevant, the contacts you make will be more relevant, and you will save some wicked tuition bills.
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