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Is it difficult to get an MBA?Things to consider before applying

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To Kara DriscollMarch 10, 2022 14:05

A student after an MBA class at George Washington University School of Business in Washington, DC, seen in September 2021. (Photographer: Stefani Reynolds—Bloomberg / Getty Images)

If you want to get an MBA, but have graduated from undergraduate and then academic, you may be wondering how difficult it is to get back to school. An MBA expands a valuable business network and may lead to salary increases and promotions in the future, but getting a bachelor’s degree is not a walk in the park.

Still, the years at school can really be rewarding. According to a 2021 recruitment survey, the median starting salary for new MBA graduates is $ 115,000, 77% higher than the median of $ 65,000 for those with a bachelor’s degree. According to the Graduate School Business Administration Admissions Council. In addition, 90% of corporate recruiters expect demand for business school graduates to increase or remain stable over the next five years.

Among the main challenges that can make it difficult to obtain an MBA are returning to life as a student, finding the right balance between the personal, professional and academic disciplines of life. And we may guarantee that you will return to school for the right reason. ..

Get an MBA for the right reason

It may seem basic, but even the most rigorous MBA programs can be made easy if you register for a clear purpose and for the right reason. Successful students do not get an MBA degree because someone has been told to get an MBA degree or their parents have offered to pay for it. Rather, there is a real desire to promote education, network with like-minded professionals, and seize new career opportunities.

Jim Holmen, Head of Admissions and Financial Assistance at Indiana University, said: University Kelly School of Business MBA Program.

Holmun encourages students to understand the program and check in to the admissions team before enrolling in any school. Many MBA programs, such as Kelly, have student ambassadors or current students who have volunteered to be contact information for future students.

These ambassadors can help future students understand the unique opportunities that exist in a particular program and provide “great” advice on how to facilitate their transition to academia, Holmun said. say. “They can give them a better sense of the type of resource and the support that schools provide to their students through both academic programs and their career search.”

Return to academic life

Once you accept the offer from your dream business school, you need to change your mind and return to an academic life. Also, depending on the program you choose, you may need to maintain that mindset for several years.

Credit time requirements vary from school to school, but most full-time MBA programs take two years to complete, but there is also a one-year option. Similarly, an Executive MBA program can take approximately two years to complete. Part-time programs, on the other hand, depend on the number of courses you take each semester or quarter. For some programs, it may take several years for students to complete their requirements.

Regardless of the type of MBA program, you need to bring an academic mindset, a commitment to complete the required coursework, the ability to schedule, and a general desire to take advantage of networking opportunities.

“You really need to get a degree,” says Greg Beaver, Executive Director of the Master’s and PhD programs at Purdue University’s Cranato School of Business. “The MBA program is challenging and designed to prepare students to become good business leaders.”

For example, Krannert was born from Purdue’s Faculty of Engineering to bridge the gap between engineering and business. Some of the quantitative and critical thinking curriculum dating back to the age of engineering remains, and Beaver says that Cranart students usually see business problems differently than other MBA programs. Therefore, in order to manage qualitative and quantitative coursework, students should be prepared to move from a career mindset to an academic mindset.

Find a “compromise between work and life”

If you are already planning to add a school to your busy life, you need to seriously consider how your MBA program fits and add more stress. Part-time, online, and executive MBA programs are aimed at those who want to continue working full-time while earning a degree. A full-time program may be more appropriate for those who want to be more active in networking and focus on their course work.

“Life becomes more complex, so working professionals may face greater challenges than full-time graduate students,” says Beaver. “But working professionals are great students because they bring real-life work experience into the classroom, which enriches everyone’s experience.”

What makes the MBA program difficult for many students is finding the right balance between school, work, friends and family obligations, says Beaver. “It’s important for each student to evaluate their length of free time and get support from their managers, friends and family with clear expectations,” he adds. “It is important to recognize that there is rarely a balance between work and life, but rather a compromise between work and life.”

Students are realistic and need to discuss them before starting the program. It will be difficult to get an MBA. But it should be an experience where you challenge yourself to take risks in pursuit of higher learning, Beaver says. “Graduate school is a collaborative environment that helps both faculty and students succeed throughout their journey.”

Find out how the school you’re considering has reached the rankings of Fortune’s best business analytics program, Data science programs, and part-time, executive, full-time, And an online MBA program.

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