Finding my way

Ms/PhD or MBA?

Thats the question I have been asking myself. A lot of colleagues keep endorsing the MBA to me but I am not so sure. This led to a conversation between me and myself:

Me:Why do you want to go to grad school?
Myself: I have 2 reasons - the more important one being that my not having attended college in the US, I simply want to have the experience of full-time graduate study in the US. Kinda like I want to see how a "US twist" on my earlier foreign undergraduate life would be.The less important reason is hinged on my first reason. If I do graduate study, why not do it in something that will help me in mywork.

Me: So why not an MBA?
Myself: 2 reasons again - first I think I do need a good grounding oncomputer science. I jumped right into software without learning algorithms or data structures. Even if i did, I dont think I was in a position to appreciate the abstractness and the depth of the subjects. Second reason is that I am not sure I am convinced about what the MBA really teaches you. If the purpose of an MBA is to give you public confidence, make you a more sociable person, give you a grounding on corporate basics, I think I already have the first two.

Me: Do you think you will be able to say that you are at a higherstage in your life after your MS/PHD - that is, do you think your income will increase or employers will find you much more appealing?
Myself: Income increase - I am not so sure. But I do think employers or clients will find me more appealing. And besides I am thinking of building my whole career on consulting and being technically sound -either by being an independent consultant or by being employed in a software consulting firm. The idea here is to gain knowledge, make a name for yourself in the corporate and academic software circles and do top-notch technical work for clients.

Me: You could do part-time MS, that way you could earn too.
Myself: From my nature, I dont think I can concentrate equally well on my work and study if I am doing both. Also, I am eager to take a break from the "8 to 5" world. Not that I dont like it, but I want to take a break to see how the other side is. I do see myself going backto the 8 to 5 world though - unless I am completely enamored by the teaching profession. Its true that I will not earn, and thats why I want to do my full-time only if I get financial aid.

Me: Are you sure about this?
Myself: No - but I like the fact that I am having something new to aim for.