Seems like a pretty straightforward and innocent question.
I am sure the inquirer is a little overwhelmed as I rabble on for
the next 5 minutes explaining my situation. Here, let me try
with you. I am a DVM/MBA student who is currently working
through my MBA year. I have already finished two years of vet
school, and after my MBA, I will go back and finish the last two
years of my education as a veterinary student. Whoa, that is
a mouthful. Let me explain it in detail.
At Texas A&M, we have an unique opportunity to graduate with
both a MBA and a DVM degree in 5 total years. Typically, a
DVM takes 4 years and 2 years for a MBA. Texas A&M
already offers a compressed MBA program that lasts 16 months.
Notice, I said compressed, not shortened. A&M MBA
students take all the same courses with the same amount of
information as students at other schools, but they compress the
schedule down to 16 months instead of the standard 2 years.
For all co-op students, such as DVM's and MD's, our schedule is
compressed further to 12 months. The only difference between
the "regular" MBAs and co-op MBAs is that co-op students don't have
to complete an internship during their summer in the program.
Co-op students simply take the last 4 months of classes and
curriculum over that summer. An internship really wouldn't
have anything to offer a DVM student compared to a finance oriented
MBA.
Not only does A&M's compressed MBA schedule make it easier
for DVM students to jump into and out of the program, but it is
also ranked in the top 30 MBA programs in the US. Additionally, it
has been named the most valuable MBA in the country the past 2
years based on cost of tuition and starting salary. Texas
A&M veterinary students are afforded the opportunity to get a
world-class veterinary education and a world-class MBA in only 5
years. This was too good of an opportunity for me to pass
up.
I am now 12 weeks into my MBA experiment. I have had a
blast. I have thoroughly enjoyed the other MBA students and
the opportunity to use the non-science part of my brain.
Granted, most of the information is corporate based, but if I know
how big, corporations work, I know I will be able to translate that
information to my little veterinary practice.
There will be some drawbacks. I will miss my class.
We had been in the trenches of vet school together for 2 years, and
now they are a full year ahead of me. But I will get the
benefit of a new class of friends. Getting back into the
veterinary mindset will also be challenging. I know I will
have to work twice as hard as my classmates at the start of third
year, but I know it will all be worth it. I will keep
everyone up to date with my progress and the MBA program.
Thanks and Gig'em!!