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What to Choose: MBA or M.Sc & ph.D Biotech?
-Written by Shekhar Suman, CEO, http://www.biotecnika.org/ with bureau input from other Biotecnika Experts
While working at Biotecnika we come across hundreds of students who are either in a dilemma of MBA over M.Sc/Phd Biotech or do not understand which way to go?
I have seen many of you opting or rather giving in to MBA even after doing MSc Biotech. I am sure you also must have undergone this question time and again of whether to do an MBA and will you be fit to do an MBA?
In this article I will try and cover this question. Feel free to use the comments area to ask any query.
First of all what is the need to do MBA after A Biotech Course?
Every Business today undoubtedly requires Leaders, entrepreneurs and above all managers who can manage the ever growing demands of Business. Now keeping in view the Biotech Scenario and the upcoming demands it poses to the business leaders, It is always ideal to have MBA’s who can handle Business better.
But it is always debatable as why you require entering into a managerial job after a research oriented course. You must ideally go for research, but many a times students feel disoriented about the pay packages/scope after entering this domain and feel stuck here. MBA to them appears as the only dignifying liberation from the Biotech Field. Many of you feel to enter this domain as you want to make a difference to this field after gaining a rare combination of Msc Biotech + MBA.
Lets Break up your motive to do an MBA:
- You want to start a company or
- You want to earn a better pay package or
- You don’t want to be a scientist.
- You are in the Mad race of joining MBA (since you did not got a job after PG)
Whatever reason it may (believe me every one has a unique reason to do an MBA), you must have a passion to enter this domain.
How to find out you have the MBA stuff?
- You are a better manager, handle things quickly and effectively
- You have spark for entrepreneurship (not necessarily)
- You have good networking abilities
- You have a well structured Thinking
- Communication skills
- Presentation skills
- Analytical skills
- Selling skills
- And strong decision making skills
Now this list will not end, but what really matter is you as an individual must have a spark and firm belief in the degree (MBA) and an applicatory mind, because here the skills what you learn is applied not to a Test Tube in a laboratory rather to Live and buzzing market full of analytical people like you.
Ok I have those abilities, now what: MBA regular or MBA Biotech?
Biotechnologist2020 aka Mr Jatropha aka Ravishankar says on his Blog MBA Biotech is Waste!!
"If you have done UG-Life sciences ( B.sc / B.tech) and looking for doing M.B.A., Biotechnology ,then there is no meaning in it.If you like to learn management ,go for general MBA where you can learn what you like and what you actually needed. Nowadays MBA-Biotechnology is yet another gimmick to earn money in the name of Biotechnology where you will learn 50% Biotech+50% Management. Remember you know Biotechnology itself is a generalised course. As you have already learnt biotechnology in your UG, there is no need to pay a huge money in the name of MBA-Biotechnology and learn the same bio concepts and that too what do you think can be learnt in a management department?!! and another half you will learn about management (NOT FULLY). There are many science subjects like Physics, Chemistry ,..and there is no separate MBA courses for them (like MBA-Physics/Chemistry management??!!).But when it comes to Biology/ Biotechnology, people never hesitate to add the prefix "Bio" in front ANYTHING (Bio- MBA, Bio entrepreneurship which is just a marketing/advertisement tool) . So this course is only suitable for those having a management background in their UG and who like to enter into BT " told Dr .Jeevan Kumar, Manager, BCIL (Biotech Consortium India Ltd, Delhi-A Govt. of India company) who is also working for two other private companies during a recent DBT workshop to a question on MBA-Biotechnology asked by a student .Moreover he also did general MBA only" (Source: BT2020)
I totally agree with this, But again you may argue why I shall go for General MBA when I am a Biotech Graduate/Post Graduate?
Answer lies in the market itself!!
Case One:
Think of a situation where you are sitting for an interview for a Executive/manager post in a Biotech Company and another candidate having a regular MBA is also sitting, Now tell me what is your advantage over a regular MBA, No Biological Concepts are applied in Market. It is a simple Marketing strategy by some educational Institutions (just to increase the fee and earn more).
Case Two:
Since you have done a Biotech MBA, In most Non Biotech Companies you may not be recruited, just due to the name of the course (that is specifically Biotech) The Interviewing Committee may simply ask why you applied in a Non Biotech Company when you have done a Biotech MBA.
So By Now you must have concluded that you must go for a Regular MBA rather than MBA Biotech.
Now I am convinced, But from where to do an MBA?
Well that’s a very interesting question. Many of you end up doing MBA from any normal Private College rather than A grade Colleges. (We will be putting the list of A Grade MBA Colleges shortly). Do you know you may end up earning 12,000 Per month if you did an MBA from any small private college. So a background check is always necessary. By saying Background Check I mean you must interact with existing students and alumni of that particular College and its placement assistance record. Do not go by the tall claims of the College rather always go yourself to the college and check it out. Remember Its your Career, so never rely on just one feedback.
How to Prepare for an MBA?
Go for CAT. That is the best mantra for MBA. There are some really good Coaching centres such as T.I.M.E / IMS etc who give better training for CAT.
Ok agreed that I have to prepare for CAT, but I am not that brilliant?
That is not a problem; there are some very good institutions which accept CAT Score. Check out this List at IIM Website.
Are there any other Exams except CAT?
Of course, there are many in the market, some of the good ones are XAT conducted by XLRI, NMAT by NMIMS. SP Jain institute of Management also has a separate interviewing system for recruitment into MBA. You can also try out for ATMA.
What about GMAT?
GMAT is a entrance criteria for getting into MBA abroad but it does not guarantee a seat, you require a high score. Also your financial strength matter while apprlying for MBA Abroad. Experts say that Australian MBA followed UK MBA and US MBA are worth opting.
When you can’t Earn an MBA!!
Well this is the most important question which I would like to deal with, Not being able to do an MBA doesn’t mean the road comes to an End, There are still many ways to go ahead. I would recommend you all to read This eBook (PDF format, 663 KB) by Rajesh Setty of http://www.rajeshsetty.com/ fame.
So what is your recommendation, M.Sc & Research or MBA?
Well I would rather say it all depends on your abilities. Doing an M.sc is not less scopic provided you have a flare and spark to become a good researcher. Doing MBA also depends on your personal abilities (see above)
