Considering applying to Rotman’s MBA program to achieve ultimate #JDMBA hotness? Wise move… maybe. Here are some factors for your consideration:
1. How do you see your career unfolding?
You don’t need to know where exactly you’ll be in 10 years. That’s unknowable. The only real question is if you’ll be deeply involved in decision-making business matters at some point. Though law school can give you a solid understanding of business matters like securities and structuring deals, the legal side will be different from the actual business side. Law will not train you to look at a financial statement for a company, value the company using different metrics, and point out areas of financial concern and suggest a strategic fix that might actually work. The MBA will, and in a quicker and more robust way than on-the-job experience. If you want that kind of know-how, do an MBA.
2. Are you worried about being pigeonholed in law for your whole life?
Lawyers, after years of being lawyers, sometimes go flaccid and no longer like being lawyers. If you’re worried about being one of those lawyers, you might want a safety or an out. A common complaint is, “I don’t want to facilitate transactions (as lawyers do), I want to instigate them (as business executives do).” It’s easier to make this transition if you have an MBA. Note: Law is a sexy job. Don’t knock it ’til you try it.
3. Will you want to do an MBA in the future?
The #JDMBA is only one year over the pure JD. If you want to get an MBA in the future, the best bet is to get it now. That’s because, once you get out of law school and (probably) start with real-person life (family, jobs, house, i.e. the “Golden Handcuffs”), it’s really difficult to go back to school. Do your future self a favour and get ‘er done now. Plus, 20 $30k scholarships are given out each year exclusively to #JDMBAs. Get ‘em while they’re hot.
4. What added value will the MBA give you?
Whatever your background, and whatever your career path, the MBA has something to offer (although those with B.Comm’s will probably learn less than business newbies). There are 10 MBA “Majors” at Rotman, from global management to entrepreneurship to real estate to investment banking. There is also the general degree. Each path will provide you with both general skills and specific knowledge, most of which is highly transferable.
But where the #JDMBA really shines is in its perceived value, regardless of its inherent worth. Pure MBAs will be astonished by your knowledge of the law. Pure JDs will (may) be secretly envious of your financial literacy. Outsiders will probably just be wide-eyed at the long string of letters after your name. Employers will be impressed. You’ll have hot jobs in sexy cities open to you. Take a look at #JDMBA profiles on the law school website for inspiration.
One important point: I hereby want to dispense of any preconception you may have that you need to have an MBA to be a corporate lawyer. That’s false. Law school and articling will teach you how to law. Where the MBA is helpful is in getting hired at big law firms, especially if your law grades are meh. Evidence of this is the #JDMBA placement rate, which was about 95% this year. Plus, some firms, like Torys, seem to have #JDMBA fetishes.
5. Do you respect women?
Rotman has a 70/30 male-to-female ratio (common amongst MBA programs). There have been issues of individuals being openly sexist, which is unfortunately the reality in some business environments. We can all do our part to change that. At Rotman, there are a lot of women-only initiatives and scholarships aimed to bridge the gender gap. Just be warned of equality issues in case you meet a sexist asshole.
6. Are you gay?
There are perhaps five “openly” gay MBAs at Rotman, out of roughly 650 students. If heteronormativity irks you, prepare yo’self. Pedram (the “Out @ Rotman” President) had to explain to some students what “gay” was. Think about that.
7. But… Rotman?
Truth be told, Rotman is not the greatest school ever. The caliber of student here varies tremendously. Grades are returned late, sometimes never. Pure MBAs are stressed like crazy (though #JDMBAs do okay). Many grading policies are bullshit. The administration is just enormously silly. Group-work can be painful, though our team-working skills have blossomed. Oh, and, yeah, some professors suck. And it’s a bubble. That being said, the Rotman building is nice (even though the wifi cuts out and there’s no cell service). The recently retired Dean pushed Rotman up in the international rankings immensely. The academics are (for the most part) rigorous. The caliber of student is going up. Most professors are willing to help out. And chances are, you’ll do well at Rotman (#JDMBA students have taken the gold medal in the past 2/3 years, and 7 of the top 30 Rotman students last year were JDs). Oh, and some professors have big wood for #JDMBA students too, which is nice, but also embarrassing when they express this sentiment in class.
8. Math?
Having a math-heavy background increases the grades-to-study-time ratio. The math here is, truth be told, simple from a computational standpoint, but difficult from a conceptual standpoint. If you haven’t done math since high school, the first few months at Rotman will be a little rough. But don’t panic! Upper years provide intimate tutorials to help you out. And most study groups have a math nerd that will solve the problems and teach you. Haha, okay, maybe that last point is pushing it. But seriously, being math-illiterate is no barrier here. It’s a road bump.
Conclusion
Sure, Rotman isn’t perfect. But ask (almost) any #JDMBA student if they are happy with their choice to do the MBA here, and you’ll get an emphatic “yes.” The strongest reasons are the extra job opportunities available and the new skills learned. The alumni, again, are excellent examples of this. Plus, a lot of us simply prefer the curriculum to the law curriculum. Plus it’s just one more year! Big scholarships!
Another benefit of the program is the peer group. Every #JDMBA student passionately loves every other one in a very real, heavy, and hot way. The intimacy makes all the difference. If and when you want to complain about your completely fucking incompetent group mate, we’ll be all ears. When you’re confused, we’ll help, just like the hot upper years have helped us. And when you want to get a job, we’ll help in any way we can. And the group of us will be collectively envied by both the pure MBAs and pure JDs! Haha, fun!
If you are on the fence about the MBA, message a current #JDMBA student and meet for coffee (my number is 416-305-3444). Or talk to someone at the #JDMBA Association. You have until about the end of February to apply. Just think: one day, your business card might say #JDMBA.
