<blockquote>Dear All, I need some of your advice here on which direction I should pursue.

My background:
- 7 years operation & mgmt experience in a top notch US corporate firm; global experience in both US and China.
- No banking/investment background.


I would like to move to investment banking or asset management eventually.

Currently I have an opportunity to move to a Investment bank working in backoffice and operations in HK.
I am debating whether I should go take up a part-time MS Investment Manager in HKUST or, forget about the IB operations job and instead, go pursue a Full time 2 year Ivy league MBA (Columbia/Harvard / London Business School)

I am inclined towards the former options -- as I will get a foot in the door in an I-Bank while completing my Ms.Investment Management. The other pro is it will be a part-time program and I don't have to take any time off from work. Can anyone out there give me some good reasons to consider the latter option?

Appreciate any advices/suggestions..Thanks!</blockquote>

how realistic is it for you getting into Columbia/Harvard/LBS?
I think thats the first question you need to answer.

also, have you looked at m.s. global finance hkust/nyu, part time one year program in HK? if your company can cover tuition that would be a great option for you as well.

http://globalfinance.bm.ust.hk/schedule_view.asp

Copernicus, Thanks for your notes..

A few more details on my end regarding your questions: "how realistic is it for you getting into Columbia/Harvard/LBS?" I think I would have an 80% of acceptance to get into 2 out of the 3 if I apply (GMAT 720; GPA 3.7; 7 years working for a Co that's reknown for its management and leadership training; speaks 4 different languages; spent equal time working in both US and Asia)

As for HKUST options - yes I am actually interested in either Ms.Investment Management or Ms. in Global Finance with NYU (I checked that program out -- definitely very interesting).

Thus - going back to my earlier post -- do you think it will be an absolutely risky move for me to forfeit the IB ops job opportunity and go get a full time 2 year MBA; OR, take up the IB Ops job and get a part time HKUST Ms Sc program in either Investment Banking or Global Finance?

BTW - the ops job is also paying rather well (above 6 figure USD) , thus making it harder for me to forfeit this for a full time 2 year program! >_<

Thank you for any enlightenment!

<blockquote>Copernicus, Thanks for your notes..

A few more details on my end regarding your questions: "how realistic is it for you getting into Columbia/Harvard/LBS?" I think I would have an 80% of acceptance to get into 2 out of the 3 if I apply (GMAT 720; GPA 3.7; 7 years working for a Co that's reknown for its management and leadership training; speaks 4 different languages; spent equal time working in both US and Asia)

As for HKUST options - yes I am actually interested in either Ms.Investment Management or Ms. in Global Finance with NYU (I checked that program out -- definitely very interesting).

Thus - going back to my earlier post -- do you think it will be an absolutely risky move for me to forfeit the IB ops job opportunity and go get a full time 2 year MBA; OR, take up the IB Ops job and get a part time HKUST Ms Sc program in either Investment Banking or Global Finance?

BTW - the ops job is also paying rather well (above 6 figure USD) , thus making it harder for me to forfeit this for a full time 2 year program! >_<

Thank you for any enlightenment!</blockquote>

720/3.7 certainly very impressive, but thats not that much higher than average for Columbia/Harvard/Wharton

where do you want to work post-graduation? certainly if you want to work on wall street do your best to go to columbia/wharton.

i think M.S. Global FInance is the best alternative out of everything you mentioned, with recognition in US and HK and only 1 year part time to complete. you get a degree with both NYU and HK UST on the diploma and specifically targeted Asian finance curriculum unavailable anywhere in the world.

since you are already in HK and working for IBank over there i am guessing you would get tuition reimbursement from your employer. so out of pocket difference to you between m.s global finance and mba from US could be anywhere from $250,000 to $350,000 USD in lost wages, tuition cost, and living cost in Manhattan or Boston. I mean its a no brainer to me... Also you must know that hiring on wall street is going to be very slow in the next 3, maybe even 5 years so your US MBA may not be worth as much as one might expect.