My criteria

When I looked through some of the grad school guides, I actually read all of them, there was the raging debate about even getting an advanced degree. With a crap economy and many people with advanced degrees out of work, there are as many proponents of advanced degrees as there are detractors. I have friends with masters degrees who bag my groceries.

I realized that if I was going to do this, I was going to have to swing for the fences. I'm in my 40s and, at best, I have another 30 years of working. I feel I'm a bit behind in my career and I need to have a kick ass school to help me cut a few career corners.

I also figured out that an online degree wouldn't work for me. A good friend who is twenty years my senior and ultra-wealthy, with a great family life, told me that grad school isn't just about the degree; it's about networking and having a peer group that can give you access to resources and opportunities. Also, when you're in classes with people who have amazing potential, they help to raise your game.

There was another thing that concerned me about some programs. The purpose of getting a degree is not just the degree; it's about who you become as a person while working towards that degree. The you that goes in is a better you when you come out the other side. Any program that would try to make things easier or help me take less credits, was out. When talking with NYU/Stern, I was told the degree was 60 credits. I asked if, while waiting to begin at NYU, I could take classes at another local college and if the credits could go toward my NYU degree. I was told "yes." So I said "so that means I would have less classes to take at NYU?" The answer I got was "No. If you're getting your MBA at NYU/Stern, you're taking 60 credits at NYU/Stern. If you take a class at another college, we'll count that towards your NYU degree, but you'll have to take an elective class to make up for it. We're not cheapening our degree to make it easier for you. When you graduate with your NYU MBA, you'll know we gave you the best education possible, and you'll be the better for it." And then there was one.

Willard Marriott said "Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees."