Oxford EMBA vs Northwestern MPD

nnn2021

3 6

Posted May 01, 2021 09:49

I need serious advice here.

I got accepted into the following program.

Oxford EMBA
Northwestern MPD2 (Master of Science, Product Design and Development Management (mpd²)
Link : https://design.northwestern.edu/product-design-development-management/masters-degree/curriculum.html

Which has the highest reputation and would open doors to more opportunities and a quality network?
I plan to migrate from Japan ( originally South Asian, not India ) to the US or UK, which would be the safest choice. I would appreciate your votes, and any thoughts would be welcomed!

I am 33, 3 years in automotive product planning > failed entrepreneur for four years (co-founder of a healthcare startup, Series B and then kicked out due to unable to manage US visa, I was supposed to CEO of US branch, B1B2 visa was under administrative processing for 2.5 years) > then Consulting for the last 4 years,

Post MBA/masters goal: Mainly relocate and get a job in a Tech company ( either in a Product or general management role)
Looking at entrepreneurship one more time in the long term ( maybe within five years)

Oxford :
Pros :

Great brand
Entrepreneur spirit
my wife is coming with me with her consulting job (reputed firm,internal transfer)
Visa is easier

Cons:
heavily expensive
curriculum is weak
not sure about ROI

Northwestern :

Pros :
core product management degree (?)
North American network
My wife can get a job in US, too, as she has a good network in Midwest too

Cons:
the curriculum is weak, although all the great faculty
not sure about ROI as the Kellogg career office is not related to this department
Visa not sure as last time visa was under AP

Please give me some solid, brutally honest feedback so that I can choose the right path for me

Legendary all moderator or users, help me please , I need to deposit within May 10.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 01, 2021 09:59

This is not a choice between degrees, but between visa regimes. Unless you are taking a STEM certified degree, the US is very challenging. In either case you would be better off deciding whether a general management role is a realistic target if you are moving continent. Look on LinkedIn. What is the educational background of UK automotive product managers?

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 01, 2021 10:01

Just to be clear, that Northwestern degree is a vanity degree aimed at helping firms retain and movitvate plateaued product leaders.

There is very little hiring targetted at part time programmes. Why not take a full time degree?

This looks interesting: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/taught/global-product-development-and-management

[Edited by Duncan on May 01, 2021]

Just to be clear, that Northwestern degree is a vanity degree aimed at helping firms retain and movitvate plateaued product leaders. <br><br>There is very little hiring targetted at part time programmes. Why not take a full time degree? <br><br>This looks interesting: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/courses/taught/global-product-development-and-management

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nnn2021

3 6

Posted May 01, 2021 12:20

Hi Duncan san
Thank you very much for your kind reply. I was really waiting for your reply.

Actually mpd is a full time program as well and could be completed within 9 months and its stem certified

" Full-Time Program (Nine Months)Students who are willing to leave their workplace in exchange for accelerating their studies and moving to their next professional step more quickly will prefer the full-time program. For nine months, classes for the above program will be held on both Fridays and Saturdays in the fall, winter, and spring quarters."

Rest of the part, like vanity program xxxx ,its completely true. Saw the LinkedIn of current and alumni, Didn't find that rockstar of the companies.

Hi Duncan san<div><br>Thank you very much for your kind reply. I was really waiting for your reply.</div><br><br>Actually mpd is a full time program as well and could be completed within 9 months and its stem certified<br><br>" Full-Time Program (Nine Months)Students who are willing to leave their workplace in exchange for accelerating their studies and moving to their next professional step more quickly will prefer the full-time program. For nine months, classes for the above program will be held on both Fridays and Saturdays in the fall, winter, and spring quarters."<br><br>Rest of the part, like vanity program xxxx ,its completely true. Saw the LinkedIn of current and alumni, Didn't find that rockstar of the companies.

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nnn2021

3 6

Posted May 01, 2021 12:25

What is the educational background of UK automotive product managers?

-- In uk , automotive companies are not hiring that much . Most of them are ex engineers became managers.

Cranfield course are interesting.

@duncan san , whats your final thoughts about the 2 school I mentioned.
Thank you once again

What is the educational background of UK automotive product managers? <br><br>-- In uk , automotive companies are not hiring that much . Most of them are ex engineers became managers.<br><br>Cranfield course are interesting. <br><br>@duncan san , whats your final thoughts about the 2 school I mentioned.<br>Thank you once again

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nnn2021

3 6

Posted May 01, 2021 12:27

The Master of Science in Product Design and Development Management is STEM eligible under CIP code #14.9999 and is eligible for OPT. Copied from Mpd hp

The Master of Science in Product Design and Development Management is STEM eligible under CIP code #14.9999 and is eligible for OPT. <div>Copied from Mpd hp</div>

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted May 01, 2021 13:29

If you want to work in a new country, take a *really* full-time masters (i.e not a part-time degree where you take both years at the same time) in a business school with great career services and a proven track record of placing international students. I am not sure that there's much demand for people with masters in product management, but it's not something I follow.

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Inactive User

2.941 1.801

Posted May 03, 2021 19:09

Given your background in product planning, do you really need a specialized degree? Seems that your goals mostly include transitioning to a new country, so why not go with a well-regarded full-time MBA in the place where you want to work? Something STEM-designated would be helpful for the US.

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nnn2021

3 6

Posted May 04, 2021 13:43

Duncan san and Mba hipster: thank you for your kind response, actually I tried MIT SF ( waitlisted), Stanford MSX ( rejected after the interview) , have offered for FT MBA Imperial ( but declined due to very young cohort and class quality was not that good ( joined 3 mock classes, seems i should teach them - no bragging ), so ultimately decided these 2.
and i am so much exhausted by GMAT, essay, and admission preparation.

As my wife got a job in the UK, desperately wanna get out of Japan .
really appreciate your expert views.

Duncan san and Mba hipster: thank you for your kind response, actually I tried MIT SF ( waitlisted), Stanford MSX ( rejected after the interview) , have offered for FT MBA Imperial ( but declined due to very young cohort and class quality was not that good ( joined 3 mock classes, seems i should teach them - no bragging ), so ultimately decided these 2. <br>and i am so much exhausted by GMAT, essay, and admission preparation. <br><br>As my wife got a job in the UK, desperately wanna get out of Japan .<br>really appreciate your expert views. 

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StuartHE

1.200 720

Posted May 04, 2021 16:28

If you applied for the MSx, why not apply for its twin, the Sloan Fellowship at LBS? Maybe Cambridge, Cranfield or Warwick will give you a better cohort?

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nnn2021

3 6

Posted May 04, 2021 16:42

Thank you StuartHE , actually Sloan LBS was last hope for me but received this reply at the same day of Oxford "

I am afraid your work experience is not quite aligned with the requirements for our Sloan program. Sloan fellows must have a bare minimum of 12 years of experience and this year we are looking for more around 16-22 years of experience."
rest of the school you mentioned, i should try Cambridge as well.

Thank you StuartHE , actually Sloan LBS was last hope for me but received this reply at the same day of Oxford " 
<div>
</div><div> I am afraid your work experience is not quite aligned with the requirements for our Sloan program. Sloan fellows must have a bare minimum of 12 years of experience and this year we are looking for more around 16-22 years of experience." </div><br><div>rest of the school you mentioned, i should try Cambridge as well. </div><br><div>
</div>

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