Hello,

I will be graduating from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth this spring and am looking to attend Boston University for my MBA in healthcare management. The student profile says that they require at least 2 years of work experience. I currently do not have any work experience relating to this field. I was wondering what the best type of job would be to get into right now to help me attain work experience and to be able to get into Boston University's program. I was thinking maybe an entry level position in a hospital?

Thank you so much!

Hello,

What is your degree from Dartmouth? Is it a bachelor in health administration? If so, I would suggest looking at getting work as an administrative assistant or assistant department head in a larger hospital.

My degree from Umass Dartmouth is Accounting with a minor in Management of Information systems.

I suppose it depends upon which fields of Health Care Management you're most interested in. I've read that many Health Care MBA programs ask for 2 - 5 years of work experience, which vary among several strands, including consulting, health management, biotech, pharma, etc. The best bet is to figure out the areas you most likely see yourself working in. I hope this helps a little.

Thanks so much! I have also been debating as to either attend the school I am attending now which is Umass Dartmouth or go to Boston University. Umass Dartmouth has a one year MBA program with a concentration in Health Management. Boston University has a two year MBA Health Sector program that includes an internship. Boston University requires at least 2 years of work experience while Umass does not require experience. Umass is also A LOT cheaper than Boston University and I would be saving a lot of money if I attended Umass Dartmouth. I wonder if the investment at BU would be worth it.

I would be able to attend Umass next year, however I would not be able to attend BU next year since I do not have any work experience in the field which I will be working. I know that BU is a great program and is well known in the city of Boston with many networking opportunities and such. Umass also is a good program but is not as well known since it is a brand new program and I'm not sure what my chances are of getting a job after graduation are compared to my chances with BU.

What would you do?

Personally, I would gain some work experience and apply to Boston University. I'm a true believer in both life and work experience, it can definitely motivate you and open up doors that were unexpected. Taking time out from University to prepare for the next level of your education can come with a lot of rewards. Plus, gaining the proper work experience for Boston is challenging (as is applying to the top-ranked B-school) so why not push yourself a little further? Of course, this is only my advice, as I'm sure you'll do what is best for you. Good luck!

That's what I was thinking about Boston University. I know it's a great school and I would probably have a lot more opportunities with BU than Umass Dartmouth. The only things holding me back is the money and the time. I would love to go to Umass and get my MBA next year in one year and be done rather than wait two years and then apply and hope to be accepted and then attend a two year MBA school for WAY more money than Umass. There's just so much to think about, and I have been thinking about this for such a long time now.

So, if you were in my shoes, you would definitely work for a few years and then apply to school after?

Thank you for your feedback! It's helped a lot!

I have still been thinking about my opportunities about colleges for next year and I am pushing a little more towards Umass Dartmouth than BU. I will be saving a lot more money, however, I'm just not sure what my opportunities will be like once I graduate. The Health Administration MBA program at Umass Dartmouth is brand new and only one year and cheaper than Boston University's. I also can attend Umass next year and get my education out of the way, whereas if I wanted to go to BU, I would have to wait a few years.

Still very confused as to where to attend.

Wes

Hi Wes,

I definitely understand how challenging these decisions can be. You sound like you're really ready to dive into school and get it out of the way to jump-start your career, which is great. The fact that you're so motivated right now seems like Umass might be the best option, and money of course is a reality that should be factored into your decision. I've talked to a lot of Alumni from different schools recently and they say what really matters is what you take from the school, how you apply yourself, and how willing you are to jump into the work force, rather than just the ranking. Your intuition seems like Umass, so I say go for it while you're motivated! I hope this advice helps a little.

All the best!

Thank you so much for all of your help and all! It has helped me a great deal! And I think I will come right back here to Umass after I graduate to get it done and over with and to attain a job to help out my career.

Thanks again!

That's great news. I'm glad I could help, and it's good to know you made a decision. It sounds like a good one for you. Having the drive to kick-start your career is a wonderfully productive feeling. Your motivation is going to make you successful at what you do, not just a school ranking. So congratulations and all the best!

To me, the best Healthcare MBA programs are 1. Wharton 2. Duke

Did you study Healthcare management at either Wharton or Duke?

Did you study Healthcare management at either Wharton or Duke?