The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is professional degree designed for individuals to develop the skills required for careers in business and management. If you are interested in having a career in business, acquiring an MBA can help further your goal. Understand that you don't need to have an ambition in chasing after your own business career before you can go for an MBA degree. You can also use it to gain employment in any company around the world. Acquiring it, makes you stand out in the society as a professional, it gives you an edge over a number of things
In this article, we will take you through all the basics you need to know about acquiring this professional degree.
* Qualifying for Business School
Get a bachelor’s degree in a subject that interests you. Before you can pursue an MBA degree, you must first and foremost get an undergraduate degree. Since the MBA is such a broad graduate degree, you can study practically any course in your undergraduate degree.
Take the GMAT or GRE. The GMAT is the most popular standardized test for getting into business school, however, many business schools will accept either of the two.
Get real-world work experience. Most MBA programs don’t hire candidates who are straight out of an undergraduate program. You need to have some years or few months of work experience before you may get considered. This is very important. It proves that you already have some knowledge about business.
* Choosing a Business School
Research schools to find the right match for your goals and experience. Take out your time to choose any business school you would love to get to your MBA. Make sure it is a school you can afford and all their academic settings is something you can cope with or adapted to.
Examine the cost of an MBA to make sure it's right for you. You must realize that business schools are expensive, so be fully aware of the cost before you enroll. Some schools are more expensive than others. Just have different options you need to explore as regards this issue. Â
Look for a program which fits your schedule. Most business schools have different programs for part-time and full time students. If you wished to go to school full-time to finish faster, or attend class part-time so you can still have time to work, Some schools offer executive MBAs for business professionals, and other schools have online MBA programs.
Apply to more than one business schools. Stand a chance of getting admitted by applying for at least 3 to 4 business schools but no more than six.
* Applying to MBA Programs
Build a business school resume. Just like a job seeker, list your skills and qualities in our resume. Your resume will also include your goal and what you wished to achieve by obtaining an MBA.
Choose current and recent employers to write recommendation letters. Most time business schools will ask for recommendation letters from your employer or previous employers. Try to build relationships with your employers from the beginning of your employment. This way, their letter will seem more natural and personal. If you don't have recent work experience, you may ask your college professors to write you letters of reference.
Write your MBA essay. Your MBA essay should show the admissions board your personality, your reason for wanting to attend their business school. Make sure you write a unique essay for each school you've chosen, demonstrating why you think you are fit for their program. However, the length of the essay may vary depending on the school, so go through their requirements thoroughly before doing this.
Prepare for an interview. You are going to be interviewed if your application is successful, just like a job seeker -prepare for it. Be prepared to answer questions about your education and work history as well as personal questions about your hobbies and personal history. They may also want to know about your leadership abilities, if you have once been a leader in any organization. You must realize that getting an MBA means you are a professional so do not be amazed at the questions you may be asked during the interview.
But all the same, the interview is not a rocket science, so don't let it freak you out. Once you've been invited for an interview, just know that no matter what you already stand a chance of being admitted at least a little. Good luck.....