Choosing your MBA is not the easiest task. The number of business schools is growing, offering a variety of relevant and modern programs. Understanding the do’s and don’ts of the process is critical especially if you want to pick the curriculum that best meets your goals while avoiding any pitfalls.
An MBA can also help you prepare for changes in the business world. The skills you acquire are also the best tools you have for adapting to the inescapable changes in industries, markets, and business practices. Here’s how to get started with choosing your MBA.
Choosing Your MBA: DO Prefer an MBA Whose Faculty Are Not Pure Academics
Look for an MBA program with teachers that aren’t just academics but who deliver executive training courses in organizations or have worked in the field, or still do. This guarantees that you have a thorough awareness of what businesses and the global market are looking for right now. Having teachers as experts is a great opportunity to gain from their experience, network internationally whilst taking advantage of each one of their specializations.
DO Connect with the Careers Service Department
A service that provides specialized career guidance is advantageous, between connecting you with alumni and hosting orientation and career fairs, their support is the extra boost you need.
In addition, as an extension to this important point and because you’ll be in class most days, think about the campus’s quality, both in terms of location, accessibility. and in terms of amenities. Especially if you’re an international student, and you find yourself spending a year or more away from home, the experience must be as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.
DO Search for the Core Curriculum that Meets Your Professional Objectives
If an MBA has received AMBA accreditation, you can rest assured that the curriculum of the business school has been thoroughly audited, as well as the quality of the teachers, to ensure that high criteria are met. MBA programs should all include a mix of business courses such as Strategy, Finance, and Marketing, but keep in mind that soft skills like leadership and managerial competencies are an important element of any MBA curriculum and are addressed in a variety of ways.
DON’T Use Ranking as a Deal Breaker
As much as ranking is a factor to consider, it shouldn’t be the only one. In fact, MBA salaries demonstrate that high-ranking business schools do not always provide the best career opportunities. MBA rankings aren’t always correlated with employment offers. While the reputation of a business school may be a valid indicator of the quality of education an MBA has received, it may no longer be as important to employers.
DON’T Underestimate the Workload
Regardless of the pace and severity of your business school’s program, preparing for an MBA needs significant investment. Consider how you might develop exact rules and an agenda to help you succeed in your study. Set aside time for studying and participating in group projects, as well as rest intervals. You’ll need some rest times to keep up the same pace of work. So remember to maintain a healthy lifestyle and schedule time for activities that make you feel good, such as sports, cultural events, and outdoor outings…
DON’T Underestimate Networking Events
When you choose to enroll in an MBA program with an experienced class profile, you will soon learn from your classmates in group projects, your teachers, and your alumni network, who will all enrich your learning environment but will also improve your networking opportunities and help you build stronger connections. During such events, you’ll get to practice your pitch, highlight your soft and transferrable skills, and explore a pool of opportunities you probably weren’t aware of, to begin with.
EMLV’s network of alumni, career services department, peers, and teachers will accompany you every step of the way to help you successfully navigate your MBA journey. You will exchange with talented academics through core courses, lab immersion and capstone projects. These different ways of learning will allow you to create new visions for change, acquire emotional intelligence to lead high-performance teams, and develop your entrepreneurial spirit to anticipate change and lead digital transformation in any company. Having your MBA classroom in Paris, in Europe’s premier fast-moving business hub, will offer you unparalleled opportunities in an international context.
Got a question? DO let us know! And DO NOT be forced into making a reckless decision!