[Don Plumley]

It paid off for me in spades. I went to UCLA's Executive MBA Program 94-96. It was like working two hard jobs at once (2.5 counting the family with young kids too). It helped me break out of "Major Accounts / National Sales Manager" into strategic marketing, which lead to corporate development, which lead to my last job as GM of a $30M manufacturing company.

From my perspective, and similar to Dennis, having a top-tier MBA and minimal work experience is worthless. I wouldn't hire someone with an MBA and no significant experience - that's what the consulting and Wall Street firms are for. However, if you've had managerial responsibility, a good MBA program can help bring a quantitative dimension to your thinking that is valuable. The ability to see patterns in data, substantiate theory with fact, and back up "gut instinct" with analysis separates leaders from staff.

It's not right for everyone, nor is it the "golden ticket". You still have to be smart, motivated and in the right place at the right time. Bottom Line: Get it because you want it and because you think you will learn something valuable.

Good Luck!