• Murli Nagasundaram
  IIMC, PGP, 1980. Retired Old Fogey/Professor, Manipal Global Education/Boise State University

The election results have no direct bearing on choosing to study in the US except for two things--getting a study visa; and, getting a position in the US post your MBA, given the large sums you will be paying to obtain the credentials. It's been getting harder to get a visa and also to land a position except for high demand fields. The heydays of the classical MBA are over. Peaked a decade or more ago. Many full-time classical MBAs have shuttered, scaled down or drastically pivoted. An MBA is worth the expense only if you get it from a brand name institution--that determines quality of your peer group, critical for a high grade academic experience as well as for lifelong networking. A quality MBA from India is no inferior. Ask yourself if you really need an MBA: it's most useful for landing a plum position in consulting and BFSI. Less useful for other areas except for "nice to have" reasons. Do you need to stay back in the US or are you OK with leaving upon graduation? Can you handle the financial debt that a US MBA entails?

Murli - An experience at an American institution is worthwhile in and of itself. Can you afford the debt which you might not be able to repay in the few years you might spend in the US? If you return to India, you don't have a network to plug back into. Or will you? It might still be worthwhile if you're able to leverage both your US and India networks.

Cherian K Cherian - Thanks for the answer Murli. I plan on going to a name brand college and wish to stay and work in the US for a while after graduating. The primary driver behind getting the MBA is a transition in my job role. Do you still think it is worth it?