Great success! So far so good.

As an informed consumer of higher ed, I pay attention to what people say about the cost-benefit analysis of Grad School, and here in particular about MBAs.

Here's the calculation going on, which in the end renders this adventure worthwhile: I am switching careers, and my degree in Civil Engineering and background in Infantry and Intelligence don't translate accessibly into general management oomph. Additionally, as a former government employee (and as Ms. Penelope says to Don't Do), I'm still looking for that Thing That I Will Do since I spent my entrepreneurial early 20s overseas doing bad things to bad people. Which doesn't help me in business.

Given all this, B-school looks like a good deal for me. Given the degree and the institution of origin, I will incur a pretty good debt and pretty much wipe out what I've saved so far. But, by age 30, I'll increase my last salary by 60-70%, get another immediately business-related network, and get an idea of some other careers to pursue.

Also, and this is not to be discounted from this guy's perspective, I get another chance to meet and marry a nice girl. This social opportunity is also another key component of the adventure, given the total lack of opportunity in such places as Afghanistan.

In sum: It looks like each individual has to plot out his own personal cost-benefit analysis, and that the received wisdom of Always Go To School should be replaced by Analyze Your Situation, Then Act Accordingly. The one-size-fits-all go/don't go comments and posts seem to be a bit narrowly defined. What's good for one may not be for another–so kudos to Penelope for encouraging the critical thinking necessary to make those good decisions.

As for networking, you didn't think I spent $150,000 to get a degree, did you? I bought an alumni network as well. If you are great at networking now, just imagine what you can do with a massive alumni base.

I doubled my salary, learned skills I never would have picked up on my own, gained an incredible network of people I wouldn't have met otherwise, increased my confidence tremendously, and was able to switch from a position with low satisfaction and career/money prospects to one in the same industry I love, but with more satisfaction and more money. I think it worked out pretty well, all things considered.

I agree that a top ranked MBA is incredibly important. I would also agree that self-awareness is not to be brushed over. You will have little time in school, and spending it "finding yourself" is a waste of time. Know what you want, don't go with the herd and you can get exactly what you needed out of the experience. There are plenty of people who will never really succeed with or without an MBA, but I wouldn't argue that an MBA is pointless just because some people don't need one.

I'm sorry Rebecca is having such a poor experience, but I'd suggest looking back after 2-5 years after graduation to determine whether it was a good idea. You have no idea what doors are going to be opened for you if you are willing.

I do believe that the right people can learn a lot from business school. The important thing is to decide if you are one of those people, or if there are other, less expensive options that will provide just as much benefit.

If anyone is trying to decide if business school is right for them you can read more what it did and didn't teach me at my blog, http://caitlinweaver.blog.com/

I was searching in google for "How to zero in on the right business school" and this was the 6th link that I get :). I am thoroughly confused. I have always wanted to pursue an MBA; a good reason being learning the intricacies of economy and the human aspect to it. At a later point in life, I want to be an entrepreneur and work in the field of "social entrepreneurship". Now I have no idea, from one end of the spectrum – "Checking out scholarships available" I am on the other end "Are B Schools really worth it"; I have read both sides. I guess I will keep on searching !

Unfortunately what I'm finding is that business schools are much like factories, and the students are like monkeys. Train each monkey to calculate, use snappy business lingo, and read between the lines on financial statements and "poof!", you have an army of robots with no creative ability ready to take on the next generation of business. To further support my point, any applicant monkey will do! I happen to work for a company that will pay for my MBA (which still only marginally lessens the pain to attend). If your application has this company's name on it, you are in! I happen to sit directly next to one of the most ignorant individuals I have ever met in my career, and she of course is attending the same high-ranking MBA program and passing classes with flying colors. Of course, she does no homework and misuses "commodities" in casual conversation on a daily basis, but of course the school would not leave such a well-funded monkey out of the program! Ugh, how insulting! And to think that I had a 4.0 in undergrad and actually TRIED on my GMAT!

So, bottom line, if you have above average intelligence (even slightly above), with a strong work ethic and creative ideas, I think business school is a horrific waste of 3 years of your short life. I'm having zero trouble advancing at work without my MBA, and I'm sure if I read the right materials and get the right work experience, I'll be a successful small business owner someday soon. I just have to find the courage to go against the status quo and not take it as a personal hit to my ego that in 2.5 years Miss Ignoramus next door will have her MBA and I won't. Now I'm off to research drop dates…

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What a wonderful comment to leave here. Thank you for taking the time to write this, Becky. Everyone thinking about business school should read this. You give great, specific examples. Great candor. Of course, this is only one person's experience. But it's so well written :)

-Penelope