I'm interested in either enrolling in an MBA/MSW dual degree program or an MBA program with a strong non-profit management track. I'm drawn more to the MBA/MSW because I like the idea of getting hands on experience through internships with social service agencies. Of course because I'm interested in the non-profit world I'm worried about tuition costs. I haven't taken the GMAT yet (will in late June/early July after a Veritas prep class) but I feel like I will have a pretty strong application. Good grades from top university, years of volunteer work and a fairly prestigious job with about 5 to 6 years of post-college work experience.

Has anyone else on this list considered either of these routes? Any recommendations on schools? I'm interested in schools that would encourage an entrepreneurial/revolutionary approach to the non-profit world. Any ideas for scholarships etc? I'd like to apply to the top schools but I'd consider lesser ranking schools if I could get a better deal on tuition. This recession has made me very debt averse. However, I'm not interested in just getting a degree from any old school, I feel like I'd be better of sticking with my current career and just doing a career switch without getting an advanced degree.

I'm already in the process of emailing some alum from MBA/MSW programs but I can use all the input I can get.

Hello,

If hands-on experience is what you're most interested in, then I do think an MSW (or dual MSW/MBA) program makes more sense for you. An MBA program at a very non-profit-oriented school (such as Yale or Haas) will give you great training, but it will definitely be more theoretical than hands-on. Depending on the school, you will probably be able to get involved in at least one class/project with meaningful hands-on experience, but that will be a relatively small drop in the bucket compared to most of the learning, which will take place mostly in the classroom. Beyond those opportunities, at a traditional business school you may need to go make your own opportunities (which isn't out of the question).

Re: financial aid, you could try to hook up with a more significant organization that may ultimately be willing to sponsor you after you spend a couple of years at the organization. They sometimes have partnerships with good schools where the NGO sponsors you, and the school essentially gives them a heavily discounted (or even free) price. Alternately, I don't know a ton about them, but I know there are federal grant opportunities for students who are interested in studying social work and devoting their careers to that line of work. There are also a lot of loan forgiveness programs in this area, too, although they sometimes have pretty strict requirements.

I hope that helps!

Scott