M.B.A.?

Many Sauder undergraduates aspire to become tomorrow’s business leaders. But as we may well know, lack of accreditation from a credible institution hinders us from pursuing our dream careers. Some of us may be planning on obtaining a Master of Bachelor’s Administration (MBA) degree after completing our undergraduate program. With a weak economy and lack of good opportunities in the workforce, is it still worth it for individuals to forfeit their time and money for a MBA?

Wall Street Journal discussed this dilemma with a prospective MBA student, Allison Silverstein, a one-time prospective student,  Andrew Myerson, a current student, Paul Margarites, a recent graduate, Ariel Fish,  and an admission director, Bruce DelMonico.

Here are some of their opinions:

Silverstein

There’s so much talk about GMATs and essays and letters of recommendation, but no one talks about what there is to gain by getting an M.B.A.”

Myerson

“You’re taking out serious loans, and you have to think about the opportunity cost of not working.” 

Margarites

“Seizing the day is actually something the M.B.A. program has allowed me to do.”

Fish

“The money wasn’t something that was going to thwart my decision to go.”

DelMonico

“They’re doing a lot by instinct, and they want a place where they can learn a more comprehensive and structured set of skills.”

What are your opinions? Is it worth it?

 

For full text: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904060604576574963215607744.html

 

Avoid Vector Marketing

Vector Marketing, a sister company of Cutco Cutlery, a high end cutlery company, has been hiring youths on mass as “independent contractors”. This loophole has allowed the company to escape many legal liabilities while greatly maximizing its profits. Students yearning for a summer job are scammed into believing that Vector will help them earn fast cash on a flexible schedule. Unfortunately, Vector forces its contractors to attend unpaid training sessions and to purchase a $150 display unit. In fact, many believe that Vector will assist in their sales, but in truth, Vector neither compensates for travel expenses nor helps in scheduling appointments with potential clients. As a result, many contractors end up selling products to their friends and families in order to recuperate the cost of their initial investment.

Not only has Vector’s unethical business tactics received vast negative criticism on many internet sources, but it has also produced the student group Students Against Vector Exploitation, which sole purpose is to prevent youth from being deceived. However, no matter how bad Vector is portrayed, students still flock to the company in hopes of successfully selling over priced kitchen knives.

Read full article: http://scandalousmuffin.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/the-cult-of-cutco-how-vector-marketing-mass-hires-students-into-dubious-contract-labor/