How do you find the right MBA Program?

F1GMAT: How do you go about finding the right MBA Program?  

Lee Milligan: The answer can be found in one word “research”.  You will be investing a huge amount in an MBA program; financially, time-wise and career-wise.  It is therefore vital for you to do as much personal research as possible to make the right choice for you.  In the MBA industry this is often know as the correct “fit”. 

1. Read all you can.  This includes brochures, websites, blogs, twitter, business school profiles like CBS Full-time MBA Profile in F1GMAT etc.  The more you read, the more you can gain an overview of the program, the students, the city and the country.

2. Contact the Admissions team at the school(s) you are considering and ask them as many relevant questions as you feel you need to.  This is however linked to the first point.  Do not ask basic questions which can be easily read in the materials already available.  This simply shows that you have already at an early stage not put in the right amount of effort to be considered for the program.  Do not be afraid to ask questions though.  At the end of the day answering those questions is what admissions teams are paid to do!  It is also a good way of getting yourself noticed before you even apply.

3. MBA Fair: If you get the opportunity go to an MBA fair or MBA program presentation in your own country and talk to members of the admissions team.  Wherever CBS travel in the world we always offer personal meetings

4. Contact alumni and present students.  At the end of the day, the admissions team can only do so much.  To get in touch with someone with a similar background to you who has completed or is currently going through the program is vital for you to get a “real” understanding of what being on the program is like.  At Copenhagen Business School we see this as a vital part of giving a genuine and honest perspective on the program.  There should be nothing to hide and of course no program in the world is perfect for every student!  They can also help you regarding the applications process, finding housing, study tips and lifestyle tips in the city you are considering moving to.

5. Visit the School: If you can, you should visit the school and the city you are considering living in.  At CBS we offer all visitors the opportunity to participate in a normal class, take lunch with the current students, a tour of the facilities and a personal meeting.  Again, use this opportunity to ask all of the questions you can to both the students, the teaching staff and the admissions team. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable in that classroom environment and with the students who are already on the program.

Ultimately the more you have done your research the more comfortable you will feel with your decision of which school(s) you wish to study at.  This will also come across in your application and in the interview process.  Taking an MBA is a huge investment, so using the time to research the right program(s) for you will ensure it is a worthwhile investment. 

About Lee Milligan

Lee Milligan has been the Admissions manager for the Full-time MBA program at Copenhagen Business School for the last 4 years.  Originally from Liverpool in the UK, he has worked and studied in Japan, Holland, Sweden, the UK and for the last 8 years in Denmark.  A passion for all things international and for Copenhagen itself means that he really is working in his ideal role.

Lee Milligan
Admissions Manager for the Full-time MBA
Tel +45 3815 6022
Email: lm.mba@cbs.dk
www.cbs.dk/ftmba