| A MBA is a very useful and flexible graduate degree | | | | 6) When accepted into the program, even if you're |
| to those who have a few years worth of experience | | | | basically timid or shy, try to do a lot of networking with |
| in the corporate world, even if the experience is | | | | your classmates, other MBA students, and your |
| considered by those who don't know any better as | | | | teachers. You'll eventually get the hang of it. Have your |
| "doing low-ranking jobs." Non-profit organizations or | | | | business card handy during these networking situations |
| government service also count as valuable to get | | | | - they can be during campus parties, group study |
| accepted to an MBA program offered by many | | | | sessions, or any academic activity happening while at |
| reputable schools. Most leading MBA schools require | | | | school again. It's up to you whether you'd give out your |
| that their students have previous actual work | | | | card without being asked, as it depends on whom are |
| experience. Making an investment in an MBA program | | | | you talking to in each of these occasions. |
| will, in the long run, help you gain perspective in how | | | | 7) Most, if not all, MBA schools follow the extensive |
| your work relates with those of others in the place | | | | use of case studies in conducting the classes to impart |
| where you work. | | | | lessons under the confines of the walls of the |
| Most MBA schools try to mold you to become more | | | | classroom. A lot of active participation in the class is |
| strategic in thinking, and hopefully tactical when taking | | | | called for, so make your share of inputs in each class. |
| actions in most situations in life especially at the work | | | | The case-study method entails a lot of reading and |
| place (or even when you run your own business). The | | | | understanding at least 500 case studies before the |
| whole point of all the academic subjects you have to | | | | whole program is over; they're briefly or extensively |
| digest, read, and even probably write about (alone or | | | | longer written materials from textbooks, and other |
| with your classmates) is to be able to think through all | | | | printed sources, on all areas of the science and art of |
| the information, confusion, anxieties, threats, and still | | | | Management as applied in the business world. They |
| shine out through your strengths you've learned to | | | | can be on Finance, General Management, Logistics, |
| identify, plus the opportunities you may fathom in dark | | | | Marketing, Human Resources, and related fields. Of |
| times (so to say). Worry not, as you can do this, just | | | | course, you'll not be able to read and comprehend all |
| like the others who have finished their MBA degrees. | | | | these case studies, as some of them are really |
| 1) Start by identifying at least 5 schools you've heard | | | | bewildering to read, and given the high chances that |
| and believe are reputable as MBA schools in the place | | | | you'd be employed full time while working on your |
| where you are currently working (or will eventually | | | | MBA degree. The technique is to partner it out with |
| move to get a new job). Or your current employer | | | | other reliable students whom you are friendly with, so |
| may have in-house training program or advanced | | | | that the load is distributed, and everyone will have |
| study-benefits being provided, which you may avail. Or | | | | assignments on small parts to cover for each case |
| you may ask around from some people you know | | | | study. |
| have finished their MBA degrees (don't even bother to | | | | 8) Learn to become confident in your platform skills. |
| ask those who have not finished the degree - they | | | | This takes a lot of practice and the readiness to do |
| have different views which may not be helpful for | | | | trial and error if you will. You'll be asked most often to |
| you). | | | | do presentation of all manner and style imaginable |
| 2) Check the academic schedules of each of these | | | | before your classmates, which would almost always |
| schools so that you can make plans when to apply. | | | | be around issues that can be crafted out from the |
| Write down the schedules, gather and collect all the | | | | case study assigned. As such, you'll dissect, discuss |
| necessary materials for the schools' requirements, and | | | | and cover the relevant subject matter covered by the |
| make sure to submit them on time. | | | | case study on hand. |
| 3) If you can visit each of these schools, or attend | | | | 9) Be adept in using the computer and the Internet so |
| sessions where you can have a better idea of the | | | | that you'll optimize the use of very helpful tools in |
| process of getting into any of these schools, work it | | | | working on your studies, both by yourself and with |
| out on your schedule to gain the benefits of doing so. | | | | your classmates. Make use of what's available and |
| You'll have a better appreciation on what's the MBA | | | | used by most number of students on social |
| program is all about, and then subsequently work on | | | | networking, too, to build a reliable support group who |
| your personal goals along advance studies in business | | | | will be around to help you with your studies. |
| administration. | | | | 10) For the academic paper which most MBA schools |
| 4) Though some don't advise this, do engage in your | | | | require students to independently write, submit and |
| MBA studies while you are working - you'll have better | | | | present as a final requirement before conferred with |
| use of your lessons from the classroom while | | | | the degree, plan to come up with a paper that |
| employed at the same time. The topics at school | | | | integrates all the major subject matters covered in the |
| become meaningful and more lasting to your memory | | | | MBA school. There would be less work to do towards |
| when you encounter similar situations when you are at | | | | the end. Depending on the school, this can be a |
| the workplace. For example, there's not much | | | | "business plan" or a "business proposal" for a particular |
| switching done between vocabularies as most terms | | | | company. Connect the relevant contents of all the |
| you encounter at the MBA school are also used at the | | | | papers you've written for each subject, as an integral |
| workplace, i.e. the jargon is basically the same. | | | | part of your final paper at the end of the MBA |
| 5) Figure out where you're sourcing funds for your | | | | program. For example, under Finance, your paper for |
| MBA studies - you may get funds from your own | | | | the subject should have focused on a topic that will |
| savings, different kinds of medium-term loans (as the | | | | then relate seamlessly with the other academic |
| outcomes of an MBA degree realistically show up | | | | subjects like Human Resources, Marketing, Logistics, |
| usually in the medium term, i.e. 3 to 5 years), relatives' | | | | Operations Management. It's tactical, too, to spend time |
| support, or even from your paycheck now if your | | | | writing reports covering the same company for all |
| budget allows it. These programs are almost always | | | | these academic subjects - towards the end, you'll |
| expensive in well-known schools, as there are many | | | | collate and relate all in one integrated draft that will |
| students who enroll in these programs. The more | | | | serve as your final paper (or some MBA schools call |
| famous the school is, the more expensive the costs of | | | | this "thesis") for defense and submission. |
| the education. Scholarships are also available, but be | | | | Take courage, be disciplined, be internally motivated, |
| ready to compete against other students from all over | | | | find time, give focus, and go for your MBA degree |
| the world, and not only where you are based now. | | | | now! |