MBA Profiles - An Introduction
Congratulations! You have taken the first step in acquiring a Master of Business Administration. The road to completing your MBA is much easier than getting into the university of your choice. This directory was created to help potential MBA candidates choose the university that best meets their personal, academic, and professional goals.
It is important to select an academic institution that is close to where you would like to work. It may seem desirable to attend a university in a warm climate or one that is close to the mountains, but this is not the best way to select an MBA program. This mistake is easy to overcome after completing an undergraduate degree, but not upon the completion of a graduate program. The university you select will provide several connections, and few universities outside of the top 20 travel well outside their respective states. If you obtain your MBA on the east coast, it will not carry the same weight and cache on the west coast. Employers familiarize themselves with local universities and graduate programs, but rarely take the time to research universities on the opposite coast.
Networking is extremely important and is as valuable as your actual degree. Remember the old saying, “It is not what you know, but who you know.” If you select an executive MBA program, your classmates will provide a wealth of opportunities and job offers in the local area. Full-time MBA programs offer job placement or career development programs, and most universities offer both. They will provide job fairs and on-campus interviews for all current students and alumni, but few offer these programs outside the local business community; exceptions are mostly limited to top tier universities.
It is essential to have a minimum of 2 full years of work experience. Many MBA programs will not consider your application without the standard 2 years of work experience. Work experience is mandatory to survive and benefit from the business school curriculum. The curriculum will be based on case studies provided by the Harvard Business School. It will be impossible to contribute to class discussions and group projects without having been in situations similar to those of your peers and to the people appearing in the required case studies. It is recommended that you read a couple of Harvard Business Review case studies before attending your first class.
MBA degrees can be expensive; it is important that you consider the return on your investment. You will need to figure your current earnings, the cost of your education, and your future earnings into the equation. Do not be shocked by the initial outlay of money. You are making an investment in your education, career, and personal growth. If you are looking to obtain an MBA to triple your income, you are headed down the wrong path. Do not go to business school because of the three little letters you can add to your business card upon graduation. Bill Gates, Michele Dell, and Larry Ellison did not receive an MBA; you do not have to have an MBA to be rich and successful.
Good luck and enjoy the directory!
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