What to Think about as You Begin the MBA Application Journey

mba application journeyAs a prospective student, you’ll benefit enormously from taking time at the beginning of your MBA application journey to contemplate the path you’re about to take. This is a great time to ask yourself some critical questions. Self-evaluation and reflection are crucial. Set aside some time for heavy thinking before you start writing your essays. This will prepare you for a solid and strategic application.

What are your career goals?

As you contemplate applying to MBA programs, the very first step in your self-evaluation process is to consider where you want to be in your career. Ask yourself what you would do if you didn’t need to work for money and what your core values are.

If your career goals are not immediately revealed, ask your friends and family what they see you doing. This process should reveal good ideas and a spark of passion for your career path.

Do you work in a field where MBAs are not traditionally required? You may still benefit from the degree. Especially if your career goals include rising to senior management within your company or starting your own company. As a first step, look around at the people you most admire and want to be like within your target company or industry. Read their bios to see their skillset and educational background.

Talking to people who are pursuing your target career, at any level, is also a great way to understand what you need to do to accomplish your goals. Harvard Business Review has a helpful article on the subject: A Simple Way to Map Out your Career Ambitions.

Why do you want an MBA?

While an MBA is a great experience, ultimately it’s a tool to advance your professional aims. The degree is highly focused on practical business applications, not intellectual curiosity.

Preferably when you answer the question of your career goals it will be clear why an MBA is the right degree for you. If your career path doesn’t immediately reveal the need for an MBA, yet you know you want one, you may want to delve into your motivations.

Consider your expectations for the degree and critically evaluate whether your hopes match the reality of an MBA program. Do you know any current MBA students or alumni? Sounding them out is a great way to start your research and make sure you are committed to the MBA application journey.

Is an MBA the right degree for you?

Evaluating your professional goals might reveal that a different type of graduate degree would be useful.

Those interested in finance might also consider a master’s in finance. This degree typically prepares students more specifically for a career in corporate finance, financial analysis, or investment management. That degree may prepare you to be the chief financial officer of a company, but may not be the ideal degree for a general manager or CEO.

Does public policy work or management in the nonprofit sector interest you? You might look into a law degree, a master’s in public policy or master’s in public administration. On top of those options, you could pursue a joint JD/MBA or a joint MPP/MBA or MPA/MBA.

Any one of these degrees can help you achieve your goals. But you may want to consider the environment of each school. Think about the academic focus, the time you will spend pursuing the degree, and what works best for you personally.

Are you competitive in the MBA applicant pool?

As you think about launching your MBA application journey, you should be aware of the competitive pool of candidates who apply every year. Evaluate yourself against successful candidates to the schools you are considering. Find out what is the mean GMAT and GPA for a successful applicant to your target programs.

Finally, there’s still hope if your “numbers” are much lower than the mean at your dream schools. You may want to consider taking classes to build an alternative transcript or retaking the GMAT. No candidate is perfect. But minimizing any red flags in your application will ensure that you have a strong chance at admission.

If you are looking for MBA application guidance but are always on the go, consider downloading the audio version of The MBA Application Roadmap. Now you can develop your admissions strategy while you exercise, clean up or during your morning commute.

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