Most of the author's points have some merit. However, just to balance the argument out a bit, here are a few truths of the MBA:
1. If you want to become a Goldman (or similar caliber) I-banker or work at a top flight consulting firm, a top MBA is the way to go.
Yes there are other ways to get these jobs, but the recruiting processes for these firms are highly targeted and organized when it comes to hiring people from prestigious MBA programs. It truly is the path of least resistance. And if you truly set your mind to becoming employed by one of these firms, you can likely attain it once admitted to a top business school. We can argue the merits of joining one of these companies, but that's another argument entirely.
2. If you go work at said type of firm, your employment options thereafter are wide open.
I don't have statistics to back this up, but having worked in corporate for a healthy portion of my career, Goldman and McKinsey candidates were often ear-marked for positions that they applied for.
3. The MBA is good for "career changers".
Assuming you want to go the corporate route, an MBA is a very versatile degree. If from a top school, it practically forgives whatever you were doing before the MBA and enables you to transition into something largely unrelated if that's your wish. You need to do a whole lot of networking and build your story to make this happen, but with two years to do so, there's plenty of time. And the fact of the matter is that, regardless of how you regard MBAS, plenty of highly regarded corporates (including Google!) formally plug into the recruiting process at top schools.
EDIT: I understand many of the arguments above may not apply to the HN community as it skews entrepreneurial and perhaps academic, but I believe they have merit nonetheless.
Ah but doing better at business is only important if you care more about creating new things than gating paid a lot. If, on the other hand, you are in it for power and money, being better at "playing the game" is where money and power will come from faster and easier.
1. If you want to become a Goldman (or similar caliber) I-banker or work at a top flight consulting firm, a top MBA is the way to go.
Yes there are other ways to get these jobs, but the recruiting processes for these firms are highly targeted and organized when it comes to hiring people from prestigious MBA programs. It truly is the path of least resistance. And if you truly set your mind to becoming employed by one of these firms, you can likely attain it once admitted to a top business school. We can argue the merits of joining one of these companies, but that's another argument entirely.
2. If you go work at said type of firm, your employment options thereafter are wide open.
I don't have statistics to back this up, but having worked in corporate for a healthy portion of my career, Goldman and McKinsey candidates were often ear-marked for positions that they applied for.
3. The MBA is good for "career changers".
Assuming you want to go the corporate route, an MBA is a very versatile degree. If from a top school, it practically forgives whatever you were doing before the MBA and enables you to transition into something largely unrelated if that's your wish. You need to do a whole lot of networking and build your story to make this happen, but with two years to do so, there's plenty of time. And the fact of the matter is that, regardless of how you regard MBAS, plenty of highly regarded corporates (including Google!) formally plug into the recruiting process at top schools.
EDIT: I understand many of the arguments above may not apply to the HN community as it skews entrepreneurial and perhaps academic, but I believe they have merit nonetheless.