[adpiucf]

I've been pondering an MBA for about a year now. I think I might begin preparing for the GMAT this summer, as the thought hasn't left me and I've attended a few program open house events.

I'm of the opinion that unless you're going into medicine, you should take a year or more off once you get your BA/BS before diving back into a grad program. Work at a job and experience the real world. You may find yourself going down a different path or the time off may clinch your decision that a master's degree is right for you.

This opinion comes from knowing so many friends who dove headfirst into grad school after undergrad and are miserable with their degree, career and saddled with debt.

I hate debt. I think that's why I don't understand the perpetual student-- those who keep getting degree after degree with no intention to ever use their education. It's great to have a PhD in Philosophy, a master's in Chemistry and an undergrad degree in pre-law... but if you're happy working at Starbucks as a barista, then what was the point of all that time and money? Not everyone needs to go to college. And there are a lot of people floating around with MA's and PhD's who only got them because they "could"-- I'd rather have the $80K in hand than to float a piece of paper in someone's face. But... whatever turns you on.

So as I said, I'm thinking about it-- do I really need the MBA? It's debt and time, and I don't know that it will make a difference in my marketing career salary. I don't intend to change professions and would probably attend school parttime for this reason. I could probably benefit taking a course here or there at a local university and attending conferences. So we'll see.