PMBA. Reader's questions

A reader sent to me a few questions about PMBA. I'll answer here to (hopefully) benefit future readers. An overall disclaimer is the answers reflect my own conclusions and opinion as of today. Of course it's questionable and may change in the future.

1. Do you know of anyone who have graduated from this program getting significant pay raise at their current company or a new company with a new job? I think that the only way to get a significant rise is to change the job one's doing. Apparently if it's just the next step on the same career ladder in the same profession the first raise won't be significant. If, on the other hand, one's changing the profession then even losing the formal grade may bring the raise in a long-term perspective. I personally ain't changing the industry I'm in and don't expect immediate raise (hope my boss doesn't read it:-) I believe in a long-run the MBA will make me more attractive candidate for executive roles than I am today and will help me perform better with my current job.
2. Will this enable you to rise through the corporate ranks quickly? Here I believe it all depends on the industry and the employer. In IT an MBA doesn't matter much. It may be a NO-filter for exec roles but if one adds MBA to the VC it barely affects her position. For sure not in SAP, for sure not for the current position. I'm clueless about other companies or industries although from conversations in the class I feel my perseption is quite common.
3. Will this PMBA help if you want to start your own business? That's an interesting question. I'm sure it will but at the same time it's not a must - many great entrepreneurs have reached great success with no formal degree. I'm saying an MBA exposes you to the areas you didn't know and makes you consider options you weren't aware of. Lots of my classmates are planning to take the entrepreneurship concentration.
4. Are any good companies contacting the career center to interview graduates of this program? I think all of the contacting companies are great. Whether you want to work there or not is another question:-) There is the career service in the school and we can contact personal career advisers and coaches. I haven't done it yet (just finished the second semester) but once I do I'll write about it.

To add I'd advise to read my thoughts before I joined the MBA and definitely attend open days in GSU and other schools you consider. I'm very positive also that before you go to school you must know why you do it, what your target is, and what you will do the first day after you graduate. Having answers will help you to find right school and justify your decision to pursue it or reject.

Technorati: MBA, GSU, PMBA