If you have decided you want to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, your next step is to choose which MBA program you want to attend. There are numerous factors to consider when picking a business school (B-school), including your personal interests, career aspirations, and experience level.
Prospective students should spend ample time researching their target MBA programs before beginning the application process. This research extends beyond reading the business school’s website or consulting online rankings. Thoroughly researching prospective business schools is not only helpful for choosing the best MBA program for you, but can also enhance your chances of getting the offer you want.
Although it’s true that the most competitive business schools look for high GMAT scores and high GPAs, these results will not dictate your chances of admission. Business schools are looking for applicants with compelling essays, strong letters of recommendation, and defined career goals, on top of an exceptional academic resume.
This article will discuss how to choose the right MBA program for you, in addition to addressing the benefits of spending ample time researching your target B-schools.
There are different types of MBA programs available, including
Many in-person MBA programs offer part-time and full-time degree paths. Although they may differ in program length, most general MBA programs consist of a well-rounded curriculum with core courses such as managerial economics, business analytics, global operations, and marketing.
These MBA programs are a good fit for midcareer professionals with an average of six years of work experience hoping for increased career opportunities. Many of these programs also offer the opportunity to earn an MBA concentration in areas such as finance, healthcare, marketing, or international business.
Online programs have similar course content to full-time MBA programs, offering flexible online classes as opposed to in-person lectures. Finally, executive MBA programs appeal to individuals with around 12 years of professional experience who currently work in senior management. EMBA programs are unique as they require students to continue working while earning their degrees.
When choosing between business programs, many MBA candidates rely on the rankings of top business schools. However, there are many other factors to consider.
Receiving a quality education is arguably the most important consideration when choosing an MBA program. Thus, you should find out if your target business school is accredited. Only quality programs receive MBA accreditation. So, if you are looking for a program with high academic standards, finding out its accreditation status is a good first step.
Next, you should make sure you are interested in the course content. If you are not excited by a program’s course offerings, it may not be the right MBA program to choose even if it checks all other boxes. Further, you may find it easier to excel academically if you enjoy what you are learning.
In addition to making the decision about which MBA program most appeals to you in an academic sense, you should consider how well you believe you will get along with your fellow MBA students.
In other words, if you want to choose the right MBA program for you, you need to figure out how well you will fit into the business school’s campus culture.
Campus visits and networking with current and former students will help you establish your “fit” with a school, which in turn will help you craft personalised essays for each of the MBA programs you’re interested in.
There are also practical considerations when choosing between B-schools, such as program fees. Each individual MBA applicant must weigh this factor based on their current financial situation. Financial aid opportunities may be a deciding factor for some MBA program applicants but not for others.
Determining your budget and the anticipated pay-off of an MBA program is an important step to take when deciding between MBA programs.
Having a bachelor’s degree and a proficiency in the English language are the two most important entry requirements for business schools. International students may be required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET exam to demonstrate their understanding of English.
Further, before pouring yourself into the admissions process, you should ensure you have enough professional experience and competitive standardized test scores (GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE scores).
Many programs publish the average test results of current students, so it can be helpful to consult this information before setting your target score. To establish whether your GMAT score is competitive, it can be helpful to research the Average GMAT Scores at Top Business Schools.
Finally, students interested in receiving MBA degrees may want to get more information about the following factors:
An active alumni network often correlates with increased career opportunities for MBA students. Meeting and connecting with like-minded professionals during your MBA is one of the most important aspects of an MBA program—and, ultimately, one of the most fruitful!
An expansive network composed of meaningful connections generates a host of professional opportunities down the line, so the alumni network’s openness and activity is a factor worth considering before choosing your MBA program.
Geographic region is an important consideration when choosing an MBA program for a number of reasons.
Firstly, some locations have better internship opportunities than others for the industry or company that you are interested in. For example, in 2021, McKinsey was the top employer for MBA interns at London Business School.
Secondly, if you’re hoping to work in a given area, it is often worthwhile to expand your network within that area throughout your MBA—and what better way to do so than to do your MBA in that location.
Further, personal considerations are equally important when deciding on your MBA program. Many MBA students would rather study closer to their own home and family. Others might enjoy the opportunity to move to a new location altogether.
Finally, many MBA programs have a career services team to aid new graduates. The necessity of this resource will vary depending on whether the MBA graduate seeks a career change.
Pivoting from one career to another can be a difficult task, and working with your business school’s career office can help you navigate this difficult transition.
However, some MBA students will have already decided on their post-MBA career, and the career services provided at a given program would neither add nor detract from their experience at business school.
There are three main reasons to research prospective schools before choosing an MBA program.
The following sections of this article will delve deeper into these topics, starting with how you should begin your research.
As mentioned above, research can increase your chances of being admitted into the graduate school of your choice.
This is true for two reasons:
This might seem obvious, but it is important to note that business school application committees only want to offer admission to individuals they believe will accept this offer.
To convince MBA programs of their commitment, prospective students should overtly state and illustrate their interest in the MBA program to which they are applying.
Your active participation may be as important as your application materials in convincing a business school of your dedication to attend their MBA program. As business schools are able to track applicant behavior, you should make an effort to attend and ask questions at information sessions, reach out to student ambassadors, and go to coffee chats.
Without taking these steps, the admissions committee may assume that this is your safety school and, in turn, might be less likely to give you an offer of admission.
MBA program research will help you write better essays and application materials. Applying to one of the best MBA programs is daunting for many prospective students.
However, spending time getting to know the business school in a meaningful way will allow you to better answer the question most MBA programs ask in the application process: how will this program help you achieve your career goals?
It is easier to write a convincing essay on this topic after having had real-life conversations with current MBA students and MBA graduates.
This video will cover the basics of how to best articulate your career goals for MBA admissions committees, with tips on how—and how not—to make your case.
There are many opportunities available to MBA candidates to get to know the MBA program they are applying to, including:
Some of these opportunities may be more helpful for MBA applicants than others. However, any admissions event has the potential to provide important information and possible opportunities to connect with the current campus community.
Although general info sessions may provide mostly factual information that you could find on the business school’s website, these events give you an opportunity to not only demonstrate your interest in the program but ask the admissions officer specific questions about program resources, such as career services, recruitment events, and classes available.
Interactive events may include alumni chats, in which you can ask questions about the alumni’s individual MBA experience. This is a unique networking opportunity, allowing potential MBA students to get acquainted with the alumni network of different business schools.
Special-purpose events may be admissions events or industry conferences in which you will be able to interact with current students and see the business school’s resources. Finally, campus visits expose you to the location of the program and might allow you to interact with current students.
Although campus visits technically aren’t necessary—especially post-COVID—visiting a business school’s campus gives you the opportunity to investigate aspects of the program that would be impossible to learn through your own online research and information sessions.
Trying to establish “fit” and understand a school’s culture is very difficult without spending time on campus and chatting with current students, so if you can at all, campus visits are a worthy investment of your time and energy.
Alongside allowing you to research the program and its culture, campus visits give you the opportunity to further demonstrate your interest in the program—which would never hurt your chances of MBA admission.
MBA graduates tend to have increased job prospects and opportunities for career growth. Prospective employers may be more likely to hire MBA holders, so, if you are hoping for a career change, earning a master’s degree in business may be a good strategy for achieving advanced positions with higher starting salaries.
Choosing the right MBA program for you is the best way to make sure you will succeed in earning your MBA degree. Your personality, skillset, and goals for future success will help you determine which program is right for you.
Choosing one program over all other programs is a difficult decision that will depend on your preferences for program length, location, and cost, along with other factors.
The best strategy to choose the right MBA program is to do ample research. (Again, not only desk research!) University-sponsored admissions events are a good way to start exploring your options in your search for the best MBA program for you, but developing a strategy with an MBA admissions consultant might be a good place to start.
For personalized guidance on selecting the best MBA program and navigating the admissions process, connect with our expert MBA consultants.
Joy Pincus
Sr. Consultant & Director
Education: BA
With over 20 years’ experience in MBA admissions and marketing communications, Joy helps applicants develop persuasive, goal-oriented messaging. Joy is also a master of confident delivery and nonverbal presentation, drawing on her days in Theater Arts at NYU to prepare clients for the crucial interview stage.
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