Would you. . .

[CAPiTUL]

separate from your family (including children) for 1 1/2 to 2 years to earn an MBA (or whatever advanced degree there is in your given field) at a top ranked university overseas, which could propel your career to new heights and provide a dramatic change in standard of living post MBA (or whatever advanced degree there is in your given field)?

[celsdogg]

thats a very tough one. they cant come with you? where overseas?

[CAPiTUL]

Western Europe (Manchester, Rotterdam, or Milan). And I say no, probably not, because my daughter's mother and I are no longer together. I'd love it my daughter could follow suit, but most likely that would not be the case.

[dinan540]

Yes, I would do it. The opportunity to advance your career now will pay many rewards in the future. Distance can work. It would suck to far from your daughter, but you can visit over some holidays and two years goes by extremely fast.

[Dudesky]

^^^Yes. I think it's a no brainer if it benefits your family afterwards. You can stay in touch much easier nowadays than decades past. There's internet webcams & other new technology that can keep you close to family at all times, and like Paul said, you can come back to visit here and there.

[RSF5]

Oh I thought you were gonna ask if I would mutilate a small village of Chinese people for a Klondike Bar.

I say yes, it isn't for that long.

[CAPiTUL]

Originally Posted by RSF5

Oh I thought you were gonna ask if I would mutilate a small village of Chinese people for a Klondike Bar..

whaaat would you do for a kloooondiiiike baaaaaarrrrrrrr

[stevo]

opportunity of a lifetime, go for it, my daughter is in australia bettering her future halfway around the world from me but the internet is a fantastic way to stay in touch.

[cainchapman]

No, they call it the 'divorce course' for a reason.

An MBA will make you more employable, and seems to carry more weight in the USA than anywhere else in the world. But it won't make you rich.

Only hard work and smart choices will do that.

Unqualified people.

Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell and Sir Richard Branson to name a few.

Having an MBA to gaurentee getting ahead is like having a nuclear weapon to win a war. Just naive.

[nick_318is]

Im not a good source to ask being a new college grad, but I would say go for it, it can help your career and make your daughters life better when its done. It's too bad that you will have to seperate from your daughter.

My Parents recently moved to Hong Kong (well 2 years ago) and the time has gone by quickly and it has furtherd my dad's career. Granted your daughter is younger so you don't want to miss out but 2 years really isn't very long in the scheme of things.

Good luck with your decision.

[drz]

I voted yes, but because you asked "would you" instead of "should I." I still say it is something you could do, but the case is that you already live in a country in which you can earn a respectable MBA. In my case, and that of many people I know, it has been about leaving a small poor country to go to a developed nation to further one's education. If it weren't because you have a daughter here, it would be a much easier decision.

Is she old enough to get her involved in the decision (read: can she talk already)?

This seems to be the oportunity of a lifetime, but keep in mind that being heavily involed in the deleopment of a human being you love into a succesful adult is also the opportunity of a lifetime.

If you must do this overseas, I would suggest taht you budget enough money to come see your daughter every few months.

Also take into consideration how often you see her now. Do you live in different states? Opposite coasts? If you already don't see her very often, then maybe you can just be ready to swallow hefty phone bills, pay for a several cross-Atlantic flights, and trying hard to get that MBA finished in the minimum time.

Hard decision. we appreciate you here, and can give you our opinins, but you need to make sure you include your loved ones in this one.

How is your relationship with your kid's mother? Will she brainwash your kid against you while you're gone?

I am not asking that you answer any of these questions here, but rather that you ask these questions to yourself before you make your decision.

What about compromise? Will that business school accept credit transfrs? Maybe you can start here, and then just be away for 9 months to wrap things up. What about if you get an MBA from a university here in the US, but spend a semester abroad in that business school, which would allow you to have their name on your resume?

Best of luck with everything.

- Daniel

[celsdogg]

i cant say anything about how an mba will make your life better, i dont know about that stuff. but being away from those that you love for a period of time such as that is a very, very difficult thing to do. it is true that there are many ways to communicate easily now, but its still not the same as being there.

i had friends who had kids and had to be away for a long time. the thing that happened in there case was that their child grew so much, and they missed so many "firsts" and big things in their lives. i dont know how old your children are, but that may be something to consider. additionally, on returning, some of my friends children had a hard time re-relating to the parent for some time.

i spose this can all be offset by returning every so often, so that may work as well.

since the question is would i, i would say this: if i did not have a family of my own it would not be a question. i would be gone and have no hesitation. for me to go when i do have my own family, i would have to be pretty hard up to make the sacrifice. if things were well enough as they were, i wouldnt.

good luck with your choice. i hope whatever you decide works out for the best for you and yours.