09-28-2019, 11:31 PM
Thank you Shannon and CatMan.
I'd like to clarify one thing.
1. I don't think a degree is a necessity to achieve wealth.
There are examples of people who achieved wealth without degrees from post secondary institutions. It can help one gain wealth or it can help one start in a more advanced places. However, I have an opinion that what matters is one's character, determination, ability to gather people who can and will support one's goals, and perhaps the skills to carryout the goal. These are much more important than having degrees.
I pursued degrees/education to broaden my horizon, expand my understanding of the world, and to help find and sharpen my life's purpose and goal. (Although the MA degree in IR had a bit of career aspects to it, but it still had these motivations. On the other hand, MBA's goal would be much more aligned with wealth and career.)
2. I know student debt rather well (quite a lot of classmates have had student debt to begin with. Also, I met an alum from my first undergrad institution, who was working at a top 10 US law firm as a corporate lawyer, and he told me that he will not make any money until he is past age 40s or 50s. Why? Because he has to pay loans to undergrad and Columbia Law, housing, and living cost in NYC.)
Luckily for me, I don't have a student debt to begin with, and the degree I mentioned would not pull me into the debt either.
3. I suppose my consideration came basically from being a non US citizen, and I would like to get back to the US ASAP.
Why do I want to get back to the US? Well, first, I don't think I fit well here. (Here being my home country) Also, it's quite difficult to open a business here, and the job market for youth is terrible. Second, looking at economic output, it seems that US is the only one that's currently doing okay to well. Others are struggling pretty hard. Okay, US may also be struggling, but seems to be doing better than others at the moment. (At least in my opinion.)
Third, I don't know any other place where it would be good for me to go. I'm pretty open, so I'll take recommendations for this one.
Given these, let's talk about US immigration. Based on what I understand there are three ways to get a US green card. The first is through being hired. If one gets work visa, say H-1B visa and has worked for like 5 years, then one can apply for a green card. Unfortunately, this method seems more difficult nowadays. H-1B visa is typically given to workers with higher degree.
The second is basically via family, and there are two types of family immigration. One is basically invitation of family member (like parent, child), and this is not an option for me anyway. (I don't have an immediate family member who's a US citizen, and this immigration process, I believe is on the edge of being shut down, or becoming closed.) The other one is marriage. This I believe is also becoming difficult.
The third is basically through investment/opening business, but there is a minimum requirement (i.e. minimum number of employees, amount of money invested, and etc) for this option.
Anyway, to open a business I will need finance, skills (for products, and to maintain business), a team of people who will support my goal and business. My thought was to start with being an employee to gain at least two or three of above, and was considering whether the MBA I mentioned was going to help me gain that employment.
After seeing your responses, the negative prospective went up anyway.
4. Wealth is and isn't my goal (at least not an end goal). Wealth to me is a means to an end.
Okay, wealth may be part of my goal, but my goal goes beyond obtaining wealth. Sure having wealth is good and can help you enjoy many things you wouldn't have without having that wealth.
However, I want wealth as I am going to use that wealth for greater goals in life. I am going to use wealth beyond the sake of wealth itself. At least, that's my current thought/wish. (Sure, I'd like to also enjoy the comfort and luxury that wealth will grant along the way. Yet, this isn't my end goal. It's more sideline thing.)
Given this, wealth is and isn't my goal.
I just got a reply from my family friend, and interestingly they think it could be worth pursuing the degree. However, they also mentioned to research the credibility and the worth of a degree from the institution.
Anyway, I am leaning more towards passing the stuff as it has quite a bit of red flags, and there are lots of questionable aspects about the MBA from that institution. (For instance, other than obtaining the skills, getting an MBA has much to do with networking and securing a career placement. The later two is questionable with that institution. A thought for MBA was basically to help find talents who will be helpful )
These are the thoughts I got from reading your responses.
Again I appreciate your input Shannon, and CatMan.
I'd like to clarify one thing.
1. I don't think a degree is a necessity to achieve wealth.
There are examples of people who achieved wealth without degrees from post secondary institutions. It can help one gain wealth or it can help one start in a more advanced places. However, I have an opinion that what matters is one's character, determination, ability to gather people who can and will support one's goals, and perhaps the skills to carryout the goal. These are much more important than having degrees.
I pursued degrees/education to broaden my horizon, expand my understanding of the world, and to help find and sharpen my life's purpose and goal. (Although the MA degree in IR had a bit of career aspects to it, but it still had these motivations. On the other hand, MBA's goal would be much more aligned with wealth and career.)
2. I know student debt rather well (quite a lot of classmates have had student debt to begin with. Also, I met an alum from my first undergrad institution, who was working at a top 10 US law firm as a corporate lawyer, and he told me that he will not make any money until he is past age 40s or 50s. Why? Because he has to pay loans to undergrad and Columbia Law, housing, and living cost in NYC.)
Luckily for me, I don't have a student debt to begin with, and the degree I mentioned would not pull me into the debt either.
3. I suppose my consideration came basically from being a non US citizen, and I would like to get back to the US ASAP.
Why do I want to get back to the US? Well, first, I don't think I fit well here. (Here being my home country) Also, it's quite difficult to open a business here, and the job market for youth is terrible. Second, looking at economic output, it seems that US is the only one that's currently doing okay to well. Others are struggling pretty hard. Okay, US may also be struggling, but seems to be doing better than others at the moment. (At least in my opinion.)
Third, I don't know any other place where it would be good for me to go. I'm pretty open, so I'll take recommendations for this one.
Given these, let's talk about US immigration. Based on what I understand there are three ways to get a US green card. The first is through being hired. If one gets work visa, say H-1B visa and has worked for like 5 years, then one can apply for a green card. Unfortunately, this method seems more difficult nowadays. H-1B visa is typically given to workers with higher degree.
The second is basically via family, and there are two types of family immigration. One is basically invitation of family member (like parent, child), and this is not an option for me anyway. (I don't have an immediate family member who's a US citizen, and this immigration process, I believe is on the edge of being shut down, or becoming closed.) The other one is marriage. This I believe is also becoming difficult.
The third is basically through investment/opening business, but there is a minimum requirement (i.e. minimum number of employees, amount of money invested, and etc) for this option.
Anyway, to open a business I will need finance, skills (for products, and to maintain business), a team of people who will support my goal and business. My thought was to start with being an employee to gain at least two or three of above, and was considering whether the MBA I mentioned was going to help me gain that employment.
After seeing your responses, the negative prospective went up anyway.
4. Wealth is and isn't my goal (at least not an end goal). Wealth to me is a means to an end.
Okay, wealth may be part of my goal, but my goal goes beyond obtaining wealth. Sure having wealth is good and can help you enjoy many things you wouldn't have without having that wealth.
However, I want wealth as I am going to use that wealth for greater goals in life. I am going to use wealth beyond the sake of wealth itself. At least, that's my current thought/wish. (Sure, I'd like to also enjoy the comfort and luxury that wealth will grant along the way. Yet, this isn't my end goal. It's more sideline thing.)
Given this, wealth is and isn't my goal.
I just got a reply from my family friend, and interestingly they think it could be worth pursuing the degree. However, they also mentioned to research the credibility and the worth of a degree from the institution.
Anyway, I am leaning more towards passing the stuff as it has quite a bit of red flags, and there are lots of questionable aspects about the MBA from that institution. (For instance, other than obtaining the skills, getting an MBA has much to do with networking and securing a career placement. The later two is questionable with that institution. A thought for MBA was basically to help find talents who will be helpful )
These are the thoughts I got from reading your responses.
Again I appreciate your input Shannon, and CatMan.
