texas tech md/mba vs ut southwestern md only

[textex07]

in my mind, tech's md/mba has a very good match list for the past few years, and you get to stay in lubbock all 4 years.

southwestern has certainly made a name for itself in research though

post your thoughts....what would you do if you got into both? (dream situation)

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[textex07]

any thoughts?

 

[Vvandenn]

any thoughts?

Not really, no.

 

[baylormed]

Not really. How badly do you want that MBA?

 

[aggiesarah2007]

My thoughts are.... Go to Lubbock if you want the MD/MBA. Go to UTSW for an MD if you'd like to stick straight with MD. I know that not super in depth but its really about what type of degree would you like. If you're into administration do the first. Lubbock isn't nearly as desolate as I think most people believe it is and when I went it was actually a nice, VERY friendly town, and its got to have better cost of living than Dallas. But I'm not sure how much there is to compare since you're looking at two different programs.

 

[textex07]

Not really. How badly do you want that MBA?

well i think that it would most certainly help me for what i want to do.

 

[baylormed]

well i think that it would most certainly help me for what i want to do.

Well then you've answered your own question.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

An MBA is only as good as the school from which you get it. Texas Tech is not one of the top business schools in the country (although, to be honest, I haven't looked it up recently -- just, as a general rule, there are no top business schools West of the Mississippi, save Stanford, and maybe 1 or 2 others that I am forgetting (probably in California.)

I would do the MD-only at UTSW, but that's me personally. Perhaps if you were more specific about what you want the MBA for, I could offer more in-depth comments.

EDIT: As I suspected, only 3 of the top-20 business schools are West of the Mississippi (Stanford, Berkeley, and UCLA):

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/mba/brief/mbarank_brief.php

 

[textex07]

but considering southwestern's prominence, will my degree get as much recognition from tech?

at least i have over a year to figure things out.

 

[potato51]

You can do a 5-year MD/MBA program at UTSW through UT-Dallas
http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept21170/files/126421.html

 

[63768]

i would do MD only at UTSW. if you're looking to get into hospital admin, i'd go for an MBA from a higher ranked school. personally, i've never heard of tech's business school and i've been involved in healthcare consulting for years before deciding to go into medicine.

add to the fact that the tech MD/MBA is a 4 yr program. in my opinion, that 1) puts a lot of pressure on you, 2) means you have to forgo a lot of clinical experience, and 3) your mind is split btwn two very divergent subjects.

an MBA is not hard to get and most programs are 2-3 yrs. if you really wanted the MBA, you could get it after med school anytime without much problem. unless you were in a hurry to get to your destination, i'd take it easy and relax (relatively). personally, i see no reason to rush to get your degrees, esp the MBA.

btw, how do you have a year to decide? have you applied and deferred? or have you not applied?

edit: i knew about the UTSW/UTD MD/MBA (but couldn't find the link, thanks potato). that's a 5 yr program which is much more feasible IMO.

 

[sprinkibrio]

Programs that cut out time almost always cut out quality. Also, when getting an MBA, it's a lot more important that you learn something you will be able to use in your field rather than earning just a title. That is why a lot of business schools are reluctant to accept people straight out of college and prefer you have some previous experience in business. Plus if you wait, your job will likely subsidize your education so you can work while taking night classes.

 

[HOLDENc]

EDIT: As I suspected, only 3 of the top-20 business schools are West of the Mississippi (Stanford, Berkeley, and UCLA):

Did you leave off McCombs (#18) b/c there is no MD/MBA combo?


I would reccomend A&M's new MD/MBA program. Mays business school doesn't quite reach jota jota's magical top-20 cutoff, but it comes in at a respectable #31 according to his link.

Best of luck...

 

[textex07]

i would do MD only at UTSW. if you're looking to get into hospital admin, i'd go for an MBA from a higher ranked school. personally, i've never heard of tech's business school and i've been involved in healthcare consulting for years before deciding to go into medicine.

add to the fact that the tech MD/MBA is a 4 yr program. in my opinion, that 1) puts a lot of pressure on you, 2) means you have to forgo a lot of clinical experience, and 3) your mind is split btwn two very divergent subjects.

an MBA is not hard to get and most programs are 2-3 yrs. if you really wanted the MBA, you could get it after med school anytime without much problem. unless you were in a hurry to get to your destination, i'd take it easy and relax (relatively). personally, i see no reason to rush to get your degrees, esp the MBA.

btw, how do you have a year to decide? have you applied and deferred? or have you not applied?

edit: i knew about the UTSW/UTD MD/MBA (but couldn't find the link, thanks potato). that's a 5 yr program which is much more feasible IMO.

im applying next yr, took my mcat in august (thankfully). i certainly want to do an md/mba and i want to stay in texas.

 

[textex07]

An MBA is only as good as the school from which you get it. Texas Tech is not one of the top business schools in the country (although, to be honest, I haven't looked it up recently -- just, as a general rule, there are no top business schools West of the Mississippi, save Stanford, and maybe 1 or 2 others that I am forgetting (probably in California.)

I would do the MD-only at UTSW, but that's me personally. Perhaps if you were more specific about what you want the MBA for, I could offer more in-depth comments.

EDIT: As I suspected, only 3 of the top-20 business schools are West of the Mississippi (Stanford, Berkeley, and UCLA):

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/mba/brief/mbarank_brief.php

you are correct: most MBA programs are heavily dependent on ranking. but in the MD/MBA case, the MBA is worth more because i have an MD. in addition, the MBA at tech focuses on healthcare management versus a regular executive MBA. the MBA from tech is worth a LOT more than the one from UT-D for these reasons, which is why i would not consider UTSW's program.

one question: does going to utsw actually open so many more doors for me that tech cannot? or does it really not matter if i perform well on the USMLE?

on another note, i took my mcat already in august and am preparing for the GMAT (im applying this june)

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Did you leave off McCombs (#18) b/c there is no MD/MBA combo?

Nope, I just missed it.

I would reccomend A&M's new MD/MBA program. Mays business school doesn't quite reach jota jota's magical top-20 cutoff, but it comes in at a respectable #31 according to his link.

Best of luck...

If anything, I think that my "magical cutoff" was too generous. My point was that in the business world, an MBA buys you diddly, unless it is from a top, top school. The degree has become so diluted and easy to obtain (pretty much ANYONE can gain admission to an evening MBA program, and most schools have them because they charge big $$$ tuition -- hey, the business schools are smart business people.

you are correct: most MBA programs are heavily dependent on ranking. but in the MD/MBA case, the MBA is worth more because i have an MD. in addition, the MBA at tech focuses on healthcare management versus a regular executive MBA. the MBA from tech is worth a LOT more than the one from UT-D for these reasons, which is why i would not consider UTSW's program.

...and I still maintain that you can go into healthcare management without an MBA.

What, you think that as soon as you graduate with your MD/MBA you'll be thrown into a heathcare management position? Think again. After some experience, I think that you can get your healthcare management position with or without an MBA.

one question: does going to utsw actually open so many more doors for me that tech cannot? or does it really not matter if i perform well on the USMLE?

on another note, i took my mcat already in august and am preparing for the GMAT (im applying this june)

Maybe if you told us what you want to do, we could actually answer that question.

 

[Mr. Tee]

Go to Southwestern, and do the MBA later or apply while you're at Southwestern.

 

[textex07]

Maybe if you told us what you want to do, we could actually answer that question.

theres a lot i want to do, ranging from medical entrepreneurial to hospital/med school administration. part time that with seeing patients and id be very happy.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

theres a lot i want to do, ranging from medical entrepreneurial to hospital/med school administration. part time that with seeing patients and id be very happy.

My only words of wisdom are that no one can teach you to be an entrepreneur. Either you are or you aren't. The MBA won't make one iota of difference. Same goes with Med. School Administration (especially if it is from a no-name school like Texas-Tech.) How many current Med. school administrators have MBA degrees? (I honestly don't know the actual number, but my guess is that the number that do is very small.)

 

[63768]

i agree with jota. i know plenty of people in hospital admin that do not have MBAs. from what i've heard, as of late, the MBA has become somewhat of a joke degree. everyone knows that business school is easy and that an MBA while necessary for some jobs is not for many others.

however, going to UTSW will open doors for you because there are many more opportunities in dallas as well as doctors that know other doctors that know people, and so on. i am not privy to make judgment here but it seems like UTSW education is orders of magnitude above tech's. honestly, i don't like the idea of a 4yr MD/MBA program because they cut out so much that is essential for becoming a good doctor. do you really want to be working in high gear for 4 years straight or take it easy and learn way more than you could in a shortened time span?

 

[Lonestar07]

I agree with most people here... go with the UTSW MD program. Tech's MD/MBA program is crazy. From what I hear it is a four year, if your going to do it do it right. No way should a school offer a MD/MBA in four years. Maybe I'm wrong who knows

 

[sprinkibrio]

To sum it up, in business, a title means little compared to experience and connections... especially if it is from an average business school. You will have more time to explore your career ideas, make connections, and do things that stand out for your future career if you aren't busy studying business and medicine at the same time. I'm sure there are experiences you can find in med school that have to do with hospital management...?

 

[textex07]

My only words of wisdom are that no one can teach you to be an entrepreneur. Either you are or you aren't. The MBA won't make one iota of difference. Same goes with Med. School Administration (especially if it is from a no-name school like Texas-Tech.) How many current Med. school administrators have MBA degrees? (I honestly don't know the actual number, but my guess is that the number that do is very small.)

MBA opens doors though. its the difference between "earning my bachelors" by going to the library and reading o-chem, gchem, etc. on my own time vs going to a class with crappy professors. i learn more at the library, but it aint no degree. same with the MBA.

and if you think the MBA is about mostly about learning from coursework, you are absolutely wrong. as a student enrolled in a top ten business program (undergrad), i can tell you that the MBA is all about developing connections, and tech's affiliations with the metroplex, parts of new mexico, houston, and even just west texas are amazing.

 

[textex07]

i agree with jota. i know plenty of people in hospital admin that do not have MBAs. from what i've heard, as of late, the MBA has become somewhat of a joke degree. everyone knows that business school is easy and that an MBA while necessary for some jobs is not for many others.

however, going to UTSW will open doors for you because there are many more opportunities in dallas as well as doctors that know other doctors that know people, and so on. i am not privy to make judgment here but it seems like UTSW education is orders of magnitude above tech's. honestly, i don't like the idea of a 4yr MD/MBA program because they cut out so much that is essential for becoming a good doctor. do you really want to be working in high gear for 4 years straight or take it easy and learn way more than you could in a shortened time span?

they actually dont cut any of it out. you just lose your fun summers and doubletime it in business classes that ARENT shorter. so basically, you bust your a$$.

 

[baylormed]

they actually dont cut any of it out. you just lose your fun summers and doubletime it in business classes that ARENT shorter. so basically, you bust your a$$.

Wow, a medical degree and an MBA in 4 years. That is insane.

I change my advice to "Go for Southwestern."

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

MBA opens doors though. its the difference between "earning my bachelors" by going to the library and reading o-chem, gchem, etc. on my own time vs going to a class with crappy professors. i learn more at the library, but it aint no degree. same with the MBA.

and if you think the MBA is about mostly about learning from coursework, you are absolutely wrong. as a student enrolled in a top ten business program (undergrad), i can tell you that the MBA is all about developing connections, and tech's affiliations with the metroplex, parts of new mexico, houston, and even just west texas are amazing.

Absolutely, but you will not develop high quality connections at Texas Tech. I'm sorry, you won't. Why the hell would people go to Lubbock, TX to get an MBA/develop connections when there are business schools in EVERY city in the country?

If there was such a thing as an MD/MBA from U.Penn Medical School/Wharton and you were asking about that program vs. UTSW MD-only, my answer to you would be emphatically different -- DEFINITELY go with the MD/MBA from U.Penn/Wharton, but you asked about different specific programs (UTSW MD only vs. TTU MD/MBA.)

At the end of the day, it's your decision. I've given you my best advice, so best of luck to you.