Going through the MBA application process is not very easy. There are exams that you have to pass, essays to make, and interviews to go through. Although the application process is a bit difficult, the prize would be worth it. If you pass the MBA application process with flying colors, you can secure a brighter future. To pave your way to a prestigious MBA school, make the necessary preparations as early as possible. But before you do that, make sure that your decision to pursue MBA study is well thought of. MBA Channel has various tips to help you decide and prepare for your MBA application.
Considering your reasons for getting an MBA degree
The MBA decision
Different people decide to do MBA for different reasons. There is no one single best reason to do an MBA and its subject to individual needs and thinking. I like to split these group of reasons to two buckets.
1. Push factors
2. Pull factorsPush factors are those reasons which makes a person move away from current state of life. In the MBA perspective, the so called push factors can any of the following
* Sheer dislike for the current job and its career prospects
* Having achieved enough at the current career function and the need to grow to the next phase of career
* Need to change the current intellectual path and look out for a different way of life altogether
* Being tired of the busy work life needing for a change in lifestylePull factors are those which draws one towards a MBA program, ideally independent of his current state of affairs.These can include variety of factors like
* A great B school with top notch MBA program
* The transformational experience promised by every good MBA
It is important that you make your decision as early as possible so you can focus your future efforts in reaching your goal. You have to weigh the push and pull factors mentioned above in order to come up with the best decision.
Preparing your MBA admission essay
The essays and Interview – It becomes very important to personalize your candidacy as you project it to schools via your essays and interview. Be yourself and tell them the truth. Don’t try to be someone who can please the AdCom. Never try to wear a facade of someone who is not you. Here is excerpt from Interview with Sara Neher, Admissions Director, Darden School of business.
“I don’t always expect people to reveal as much about fit as I think some schools might. I think that if you tell me who you are, what you’re about and what you want to accomplish, I’ll be able to see if you’re a fit or not. It’s more important to me that we get personal details, because one of the mistakes people make is regurgitating the Web site back to us. You telling me that you want to take so-and-so’s class or the case method is important because of what we put on our Web site is just a waste of your word count. It shows me that you can read our Web site, but it doesn’t show me anything about who you are.”
The statement above was quoted from an MBA blog. This sums up what the MBA application essay should be about, and that would be about yourself.
Your decision to go or not to go to MBA school will have a great impact on your future. This is why you have to give yourself enough time to determine if you really want to pursue an MBA degree. You have to weigh in the push and pull factors, and if you decide to pursue an MBA degree, start preparing an essay that tells the world who you really are.
