Do you want to keep working full time?
Do you have 5+ years of work experience?
As an adult learner, do you want an in-person, online, or hybrid classroom experience?
Do you want to network with fellow students?
Do you see gaining advanced business skills as necessary for your career?
Thinking about these questions
Do you want to keep working full time?
For some people, quitting your job for a full-time MBA program is not an option. Also, many people like their industry or company and do not want to take a work pause.
Do you have 5+ years of work experience?
This is the normal amount of work experience required for admission into MBA programs. However, there are many exceptions to the work requirements such as students that complete their bachelor’s degree with a high GPA and want to go straight into graduate school. Active duty or retired military that want to prepare for a new civilian career.
As an adult learner, do you want an in-person, online, or hybrid classroom experience?
Everybody learns differently, but some people like a specific format. The MBA program’s structure and discipline needed to complete the program will vary by format. Your personal, work and family considerations may become important considerations on the format that you select.
Do you want to network with fellow students?
The second most common reason given by surveys is networking with fellow students in their MBA program. Some MBA programs are international, national, or regional in reach. Aligning your career aspirations with the likely mix of students is an important consideration in selecting the best MBA program for you.
Do you see gaining advanced business skills as necessary for your career?
Most executives see life-long learning as critical for success. Hard skills such as financial formulas and marketing frameworks are introduced to undergrads and further developed in graduate school. Soft skills like leadership, coaching, conflict resolution, personal branding, and public speaking need to be developed in graduate school.
What is required to gain admission into an MBA program
YOUR APPLICATION PACKET
This starts with your program’s application, plus attachments like undergrad transcripts, a resume, and a personal statement. Most programs also want references. At many schools, a personal interview is required. At most programs, the application is done through an online portal, so all your documents will need to be PDFs or Word files.
What is required to complete an MBA program
TIME MANAGEMENT
Minimizing non-quality time is the key. Look for time spent on social media and streaming media per day, and reduce it. The average person spends over two hours per day on social media. Cutting this by 50% will give you 7 hours per week for your MBA studies. You should plan on 10+ hours per week on MBA studies plus the time in class.
COMMITMENT
Most students that struggle in MBA programs are not prioritizing their mental focus on the long-term goal, which is completing their MBA degree program. Some spend too much time on social media (see above). Others maintain a full social schedule that does not give them enough time to complete the readings and assignments. Given the high cost of MBA programs, making the commitment for the short term to complete the MBA program is an easy decision.