HOW DO I KNOW WHICH DEGREE TO TAKE? MBA, MSC, MA, PHD?
There are many graduate business degrees out there. An MBA may not be exactly the right degree for you. Don't cross off a school just because it doesn't offer an MBA; it may offer a Master of Science (MSc), Master of Arts (MA) or other graduate degree in business administration, finance or other business related subject. You have options other than the MBA, but if you intend to continue to the PhD, make sure you know the school's requirements for this degree.
If your ultimate PhD school requires a Master of Science in a business related field, such as finance or economics, make sure you cover that base. Some schools feel that the MBA is more of a practical degree and therefore not up to the rigors of an academic degree necessary to prepare for the PhD. You don't want to spend all that time and effort earning one degree only to find that it won't get you where you want to go.