Why?
Do you know why you want an MBA? Common reasons include
- Personal satisfaction and achievement
- Increase marketability
- Advance in your career
- Keep up with colleagues. Some fields are flooded with MBAs, subtly raising the bar and making an MBA an unstated requirement for success
- Increase salary
Can you put the time to earn an MBA? Are you prepared for 2 years of study (more if part-time)? Are you prepared to sacrifice leisure time or time with friends and family? If you attend part-time, will you be able to sit in class after a long day of work? How about read after class? Write papers and prepare projects over the weekend?
Can You Pay For It?
Can you afford the expense of business school? Will you take out loans? Will your employer pay for at least part of your education?
Do you have business experience?
If you don't have business experience, seriousy reconsider your desire to apply to graduate school now. Business experience is critical to your application. An MBA is an applied degree - you'll apply many concepts to typical problems that occur in business settings. Some experience in the business world serves as a foundation for graduate education. Experience also assures business schools that you have some business-related knowledge and interest. The top business schools only accept applicants with 2-4 years of experience. Most successful applicants complete their undergraduate education and get entry-level jobs. If you're in college now, plan on getting out into the real world to amass some experience. Once you have some work experience, take the GMAT and prepare your application.
