Get my MBA at a different school?

[Tex2008]

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.

I am considering going back to school to get an MBA in the fall of 2009. I am looking at two schools right now, one is my alma mater and the other is another reputable state school. Both programs are highly ranked. I have heard from various people and sources that you shouldn't get your MBA from the same school you got your undergrad. Has anyone heard this? Does anyone have opinions on this? I graduated from the college of engineering so if I go back there, I would not have the same professors. I also think my chances of getting into my alma mater is better than the other school (GMAT scores, acceptance rates, etc.). If anyone has any insight into this I would greatly appreciate it as I weigh out my options. Happy New Year!

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Tex2008

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.

I am considering going back to school to get an MBA in the fall of 2009. I am looking at two schools right now, one is my alma mater and the other is another reputable state school. Both programs are highly ranked. I have heard from various people and sources that you shouldn't get your MBA from the same school you got your undergrad.

If the school is a good school I see no downside to getting your MBA from your alma mater.

[funchy]

I have heard you shouldn't, but nobody can tell me why. I presume that anyone looking at your accomplishments would feel like you're more willing to take on change or new challenges if you picked a new school? Or perhaps that you chose the local school for gradschool because it was local, not because it was best?

But once you're hired at that first good job, it may not matter much where you went to school or what your GPA was. As long as you meet the level of education requirements and do well in the workplace, who cares?

[thesecretlaws]

there is no problem going to the same school. i got my mba in business at the the same univ. i got my undergrad at. it all comes down to what you want to get out of the experience.

[Brutha]

A lot of companies want to hire people who have no problem with switching the city they live in.
If you have a history that shows that you aren't bound to a particular place, that's a plus.
Companies probably assume that you are more flexible.

[CStrunk]

You'll want to go to a program that requires some work experience. Otherwise there's no difference between the undergraduate and graduate work, for the most part. You'll have mostly people who are 5th year students staying for the extra year in your classes.

Also, if you are going for an MBA because you are a graduating senior with no job lined up, you should rethink it. I've heard from professionals that loads of students are expected to go for masters degrees now, which will result in a lot of over-educated and under-experienced candidates in the job market next year.