May 18 2006
Checklist to consider before you choose an MBA programme
I began my search for business school last year by identifying those programmes that fit my basic requirements. There are two aspects to this:
- Your Needs i.e. what you want to learn and gain from the programme, the type of experience you want to have etc.
- Your Circumstances i.e. the practical considerations.
You will want to decide if on the content of what you want, what your MBA focus will be and the electives you will be interested in. Moreover, you need to find out if the programme runs where you are or want to be. Do you want to study in Europe or America?
Another great point to consider the the type of learning or teaching methods that you prefer. I prefer a business case method and that explains why I settle for Darden Business School. I have come to understand that we all learn differently. That means you have to find out the style of programme that suits you. You also need to consider the reputation of the business school. Getting an MBA is one thing – getting one that is respected and recognised, is sometimes another. The status of a programme will often be reflected in the level of competition to get into it. So, you may want to know how many applications a programme receives – and what proportion is admitted. You may need to compare the number of places available on a programme – as identified in the entries in the database – with the actual number that entered the programme the previous year.If your aim of going to do an MBA is to get a new job on completion, you need to find out how the programme can help you achieve this. I am sure you will find relevant information as regards this on the business school career development centre. Above all, ensure that you understand the reason why you want that MBA…
Technorati Tags: business school, MBA focus, MBA
Hi, I just wanted to say that this was a very informative post. As someone who has an MBA, I can verify that what you’re saying is very good advice. I’m sure this will help lots of people!
[...] Another Friday has arrived, and with it another edition of FFF! Continuing the trend established last week, many Class of 2009 applicants are chronicling their progress – UniQpath relates visits to the Stanford and Haas campuses while MaelstromX remains determined to draft essays in spite of having made little progress recently – while current and future students offer their advice to those just embarking on the application process. Jacek continues to share his application essays (this time those for IESE, Imperial and Georgetown) for the benefit of others and MBA Jackass offers a recap of his Kellogg essay advice, while mbaxploit provides some pointers on school selection, Andrew Pickett highlights some general web resources for applicants, and INSEAD student L’Optimiste shares some admissions insights he gleaned through his own application experience. [...]