In order to determine whether business school is the right choice and whether now is the optimal time to go, ask yourself these critical questions:
- Is a career in business what you really want?
- What do you want the MBA to do for you? Specifically, are you looking to gain credibility, accelerate your development, or move into a new job or industry?
- If you want to move into a new job or industry, is an MBA essential to make the switch?
- What is the outlook for newly-minted MBAs in the job market now, and what is it expected to be two to three years from now?
- Is it the right time in your career to get an MBA, or should you wait a year or two? Do you have enough business savvy from firsthand experience to enhance your business school classes right now?
- Or, have you already reached a point in your career that an MBA is no longer essential to your advancement? If that's the case, an Executive MBA Program might be more suitable.
Once you've decided that you are at the right point in your career for an MBA and you are committed to pursuing a career in business, you're at the next stage in the process: finding a school that fits your individual needs. The more you know about what you want from an MBA, the more likely you are to choose the best business school for you. Consider the personal and financial costs. This may be the single biggest investment of your life and it will impact your life and your lifestyle now and for years to come, and, if you have a spouse or significant other, his/her life or lifestyle as well.
- How much salary will you forego by leaving the workforce? Can you live without it? What fixed costs (mortgage, daycare, etc.) do you have that will persist through your MBA program?
- What will the tuition be?
- What's the cost of living in the area where the school is located? Is it higher or lower than where you are now?
- How will you pay for it? Will you need to borrow money? If so, what are potential sources of funds? Will you have family assistance (parents, spouse, grandparents, etc.)? If not, how will loans affect your standard of living?
- If you have a family, spouse, or significant other, how will getting your MBA affect them?
- If your spouse or significant other works, will he/she be able to find a new job in a different location? Will school interrupt his/her career progression?
|
Gathering the right Information
What kind of information should I be looking for?
- School Materials
- Internet Research
- Media Guidebooks and the Popular Business Press
- School Rankings
Who can answer my questions?
- Admissions Staff
- Students and Alumni
- Faculty
- Career Services Staff
- Nonschool Contacts
How do I find the right Program?
- Core and Elective Course Work
- Registration, Course Selection, and Sequencing
- Faculty and Teaching Styles
- Career Services
- Financial Aid
- Lifestyle and Environment
|
