MBA: the right age to consider it

Deciding to complete an MBA (whether part-time or full-time) is a massive decision. You need to consider:
- The cost of the program
- The impact on your income (especially if doing it full-time)
- The social impact (you’ll make new friends, but your existing friends will definitely see you less, if at all)
- The family impact (do you have the right support system in place to get you through it)
But one thing that gets less attention is whether you are ready for it. In my experience there seems to be a wide age, and experience, range completing MBAs. There are younger “kids” who have finished an undergrad and have only one or two years of professional work through to experienced professionals with over a decade in the workforce.
What’s the right age? It obviously depends on the individual and what they’re trying to get out of their MBA, but I think that sweet spot is someone with 5+ years of experience, including managing direct reports. Without this experience you’ll fail to get the best bang for buck from your MBA.
While some of the most impressive people within my MBA cohort didn’t fit within that sweet spot, they were the exceptions that prove the rule. Overall, the students who got the most out of the MBA (and that doesn’t necessarily equal the best marks) were those who were emotionally and professionally ready to make the commitment to the MBA and to actively participate in the experience.