Does anyone on this board have any experience or knowledge of the program? Particularly the real estate investment and finance concentration?
They’ve got a pretty baller website for one.
[URL]http://belkcollege.uncc.edu/[/URL]
I received an undergrad degree from the Belk College…that’s really the extent to which I know anything. Are you looking for info on specific professors, or post-grad opportunities, or what?
Well I am interested in getting involved in real estate development and already have a Master’s degree in City Planning. I figure since Charlotte is a booming area the real estate concentration would be well connected, but some people’s opinions of MBA programs is if its not NYU, Harvard, U of Chicago, etc. it is a waste of time and money.
^ If you get into real estate development, I know a real good real estate attorney you can work with 
I’m a Charlotte MBA and graduated in 2001. The program has grown by leaps and bounds it seems since I graduated. Steven Ott, the interm dean and also head of Real Estate program is an excellent professor and generally all around nice guy. I was actually a grad assistant for him when he first got to Charlotte.
I’m actually a little jealous that the program now offers Sports Marketing as well as Asia and Latin American programs. I wish those programs were around when I was at Charlotte. Also, the city itself offers great internship as well as job opportunities for graduates.
[QUOTE=VA49er;313273]I’m a Charlotte MBA and graduated in 2001. The program has grown by leaps and bounds it seems since I graduated. Steven Ott, the interm dean and also head of Real Estate program is an excellent professor and generally all around nice guy. I was actually a grad assistant for him when he first got to Charlotte.
I’m actually a little jealous that the program now offers Sports Marketing as well as Asia and Latin American programs. I wish those programs were around when I was at Charlotte. Also, the city itself offers great internship as well as job opportunities for graduates.[/QUOTE]
I recall the last name Ott from back when I was in school for the Real Estate classes. I never took any though, not usre if I could have as an undergrad.
Do you think he is approachable via email just to ask a couple questions regarding the program and how it would help a person in my situation with regards to working in real estate development?
[QUOTE=Charlotte2002;313308]I recall the last name Ott from back when I was in school for the Real Estate classes. I never took any though, not usre if I could have as an undergrad.
Do you think he is approachable via email just to ask a couple questions regarding the program and how it would help a person in my situation with regards to working in real estate development?[/QUOTE]
He should be. He probably has a lot on his plate with teaching and being the interm dean and all so it may take a little while. I’d give him a call or shoot him an email. It couldn’t hurt.
but some people's opinions of MBA programs is if its not NYU, Harvard, U of Chicago, etc. it is a waste of time and money.
I couldn’t disagree more. The networking opportunities alone make getting an MBA worthwhile.
I’d suggest working out the numbers for yourself. Take your expected income with an MBA compared to what you think you’ll achieve without one. Try and be as honest as you can with both and determine your NPV in a five or ten year time frame.
If you can, I would continue working while getting your MBA part time especially if your company will cover some/all of the cost of attending. Going full time is definitely lower EV unless you do not have a business background from what I’ve seen (but still positive in most cases).
[QUOTE=NovaNiner;313516]I couldn’t disagree more. The networking opportunities alone make getting an MBA worthwhile.
I’d suggest working out the numbers for yourself. Take your expected income with an MBA compared to what you think you’ll achieve without one. Try and be as honest as you can with both and determine your NPV in a five or ten year time frame.
If you can, I would continue working while getting your MBA part time especially if your company will cover some/all of the cost of attending. Going full time is definitely lower EV unless you do not have a business background from what I’ve seen (but still positive in most cases).[/QUOTE]
I guess that point of view is for the NYC market. I would think that a MBA at Charlotte would lead to tons of good connections in the Charlotte market and maybe some to the whole southeast.
I don’t have a business background, but I figure to try to get a grip on the basics before I would start the program. I wish I could do full time, but unless I want to bartend or serve tables, I will be a part time student.
[QUOTE=Charlotte2002;313524]I guess that point of view is for the NYC market. I would think that a MBA at Charlotte would lead to tons of good connections in the Charlotte market and maybe some to the whole southeast.
I don’t have a business background, but I figure to try to get a grip on the basics before I would start the program. I wish I could do full time, but unless I want to bartend or serve tables, I will be a part time student.[/QUOTE]
It’s like any other degree. There will be snobs that say only Ivy league degrees are worthwhile and in some places that may be true but definitely not everywhere. As long as the school is accredited, that’s the main thing. Is a Charlotte MBA equal to a Wharton MBA, hell no, but it’ll get you in the door nonetheless and that’s the key. Once you get in, you have to prove yourself to your employer or the MBA won’t mean diddly.
I didn’t have a business background either and as a result I had to take severl prereqs before I could start the actual program. Also, I started out full time but, thanks to contacts, got a paid internship with GE for the last year of the program. The contacts you’ll make are great as most of the people in the program already work and have some connections.
I guess that point of view is for the NYC market. I would think that a MBA at Charlotte would lead to tons of good connections in the Charlotte market and maybe some to the whole southeast.I don’t have a business background, but I figure to try to get a grip on the basics before I would start the program. I wish I could do full time, but unless I want to bartend or serve tables, I will be a part time student.
I forgot about your location. Yeah, a Charlotte MBA would lead to good connections in the Carolinas. You probably wouldn’t get as many connections in NY, but you’d still have some doors opened just by having those three little letters on your resume.
As long as the school is accredited, that's the main thing. Is a Charlotte MBA equal to a Wharton MBA, hell no, but it'll get you in the door nonetheless and that's the key.
The dirty little secret is that if you go to a Wharton or a Harvard you need a job in investment banking or consulting to get a good return on your investment. Otherwise you’d be better off going to a good public university program.
[QUOTE=NovaNiner;313694]I forgot about your location. Yeah, a Charlotte MBA would lead to good connections in the Carolinas. You probably wouldn’t get as many connections in NY, but you’d still have some doors opened just by having those three little letters on your resume.[/QUOTE]
Well I would be relocating to Charlotte to do the MBA and to get involved in development, more opportunity to learn / get involved in the Charlotte region than up here.