Dear Samar! Thank you for comment. I am glad that you have found your passion. I tend to think that MBA from Wharton or Harvard still opens multiple doors because those institutions have very strong reputation and pool of employers. Also, MBA is evolving. Some institutions began changing their MBA and gearing programs toward more specific skills. For example, make them more quantitative to produce graduates with strong analytical skills. Specific skills. I do not regret getting an MBA. I learned some very useful knowledge which I would not be able to learn on my own. However, it is the low employment rates of MBA’s from lower-tiered schools that spoils whole picture. Its about time to reform MBA programs to give students some very specific skills they can apply on the job right after graduation.

I have a family friend who graduated as an Engineer from GA TECH in 1995 and pursued a MBA with concentration in Information Systems from Georgia State while working. That is whole another matter if one works and employer is paying for unlike putting one’s job on hiatus and taking out loans to study. I personally do not see the idea of taking out hundreds of thousands in loans even at Harvard or Wharton because being enslaved to huge loans is predatory no matter how prestigious the school and the mind will be on how to pay off loans after graduating rather than pursuing one’s passions.

Even as the business subjects you mentioned are useful, honestly they can be learned for free anywhere by anybody.

I am glad to be studying a Master’s in Urban Planning which is required and recommended in the field and Urban Planning evolved out of Civil Engineering and plan to have 0 debt and with my goal of wanting to help with infrastructure, communities etc.

Thanks!