There’s no doubt that earning a post grad business degree opens a world of opportunities for anyone seriously pursuing it, but to succeed in the global job market you’ll need to learn how to stand out, starting with today’s business school of your choice.
Once you’ve determined that an MBA or business master’s degree is a viable option, you will certainly be curious about exactly which of today’s business schools best fits you. Here are the signs to look for beyond the syllabus to help you find “the one.”
First Things First: Ask Yourself the Right Questions
Before looking into the factors that make or break your decision, better start asking yourself some questions that will help you narrow down your preferences:
Academic Questions
- Do the school’s strongest areas of study align with your values and goals?
- What learning environment do you usually excel in?
- What kind of academic support, access to professors, career services, internships, etc, do you need to succeed?
Cultural Questions
- Are you most comfortable attending a business school nearby or are you ready to consider studying abroad?
- Are you looking for a similar or different peer experience?
- Do you thrive in competitive environments or collaborative work?
Career Questions
- Are you looking to specialize in a niche area, switch direction, or boost your current skills?
- Are you already in the professional world or are you just kick-starting it?
- Where do you want to work after business school?
Location
The first thing to look for is location. The opportunity to build a strong network is a top aspect to consider when choosing a business school, and a huge factor that impacts your circle of connections is the location. For instance, EMLV in Paris offers a rich and diverse student life in the heart of Paris-La Defense where also big-name companies and recruiters are surrounding the campus and a majority can come to visit campus and discuss career development opportunities such as internships and full-time graduate positions. Which leads us to the second factor.
Student Success After Graduating from Business School
Looking into student success stories will provide you with good insight into how school’s and their programs prepare students for a promising future. Testimonials, job placement statistics, and who are some of the top hiring companies are a few examples of the indicators to look out for. You should also be interested to see what resources are made available to alumni. Whether it be initiatives to maintain the network you’ve built at university or alumni-exclusive classes to develop your learning–these are factors to consider as they increase the value of a degree.
Each year, the business relations department carries out a survey in conjunction with the alumni network to monitor and record the EMLV graduate’s progression into the business world within a few months of completing their degree. In 2019 the results were:
- 84% employment rate
- 80% gained permanent employment (i.e. non-contract)
- 11% obtained a job abroad
- 93% found employment in less than four months
A key element that made it all possible was an up-today syllabus with a hands-on approach.
A Curriculum with a Practical Approach
An issue that a lot of business schools faced over the years was the lack of soft and practical skills students develop while studying. This is why, to be competitive and career-ready, you need to select a business school that will give you more than a traditional or theoretical based curriculum and that focuses on real-world experience by incorporating practical elements, such as live business case studies, internships, and projects.
Diversity of Students in Today’s Business School
The study abroad experience isn’t complete without sharing it with students from around the world that come from rich and diverse cultural, academic, and professional backgrounds. If the business school is all about diversity, then you’ll get to share ideas and most importantly share strong bonds and friendships and graduate with special people from all over the globe.
When looking at business schools, be sure to look into the diversity of nationalities present among a school’s student body
Accreditation
Yes, it’s not always about ranking, nonetheless you can’t miss out on a programme that is recognized locally and worldwide. Ranging from NEASC, BAC, AMBA, AACSB, and much more, it’s about ensuring quality education. Additionally, looking into the right type of accreditation will ensure that your degree is properly recognized in your home country.
For example, the MBA programme at EMLV is AMBA & RNCP accredited, and the Masters in Management degree is EFMD master and RNCP accredited.
Now that you’ve received the tools to make a wise choice, we wish you the best!
