Is an MBA right for me?

"According to a Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) study, enhanced skills is a top reason applicants pursue the business degree"

Chioma Isiadinso(EXPARTUS):Last year Jennifer, a public servant, applied to business school with a desire to change careers into sustainability consulting and advocacy. Philip, a successful consultant, wanted a general management foundation before going into industry to lead a division, so he applied to business school. Carlos, an entrepreneur, applied for an MBA due to his interest in broadening his network and a desire to test out new business ideas in a "safe context". Kathy, a doctor with big dreams to transform health care services in her home country, decided to pursue an MBA to deepen her leadership training and expand her skill set.

The reason to pursue the MBA varies for each applicant. For some of you it will be to change your career. For others, it is a result of your desire to scale your entrepreneurial vision. According to a Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) study, enhanced skills is a top reason applicants pursue the business degree. Regardless of your motivation for the MBA, what matters to the admission board is that you have clarity about what's drawing you to their program.


Career changers: if you are a career changer, the key thing to keep in mind when applying to business school is to demonstrate that you fully understand "what you are getting into". Show that you have a good understanding of the new industry or function and connect the dots to show that you know what it will take to succeed in that role. The last thing the admissions board wants is to admit people who do not have a realistic picture of their career change and ultimately end up without a job after they graduate.



Entrepreneur: a popular perception surrounding entrepreneurs is that they do not need an MBA, especially if they are already running the business. If you are an entrepreneur, it is vital that you address why you need the degree; focus on the skills you have that have helped you succeed to date and then highlight the skills you currently lack which are important for you to grow your business to the next level. Additionally, show that you will be able to sit through the one or two years of business school and not drop out at the slightest opportunity.



Enhanced Skills & Personal Investment: you may plan to save the world through a social enterprise or you may want to manage a multi-national business. Regardless of what your goals are, to succeed with the MBA application, make sure to make a case for your career aspiration and how a MBA fits into it. What skills do you plan to expand? Do you lack finance and accounting foundation, for instance? How would the program's robust quantitative curriculum prepare you to address those gaps? Are you looking to develop your softer leadership skills? Make sure to drill down into the specifics of the programs you are targeting to show how you plan to do so. Is gaining experience managing cross-culturally important and will taking advantage of a term abroad or working in a different country during your internship going to help you achieve your objectives? Be very specific when building your case. Schools are primarily interested in applicants who are a good fit for them and the more information you have to make a specific case for why you would fit into a program the more credible your application will be. It is also important to show your passion and how the MBA will be personally rewarding.

Jennifer, Philip, Carlos, and Kathy all have one thing in common—they were admitted to top business schools despite the different motives drawing them to pursue their MBA. What each of them did successfully is that they were able to effectively articulate their career vision and how it fits with the schools they were interested in.

With round one deadlines only a few months away, you may find yourself grappling with whether to take the plunge and engage in the rigorous application process. Clearly, the MBA is a significant investment financially, and otherwise, so it isn't a decision to be entered lightly. Invest in thorough soul-searching to identify and clarify why you want the degree. Doing so will significantly increase your odds of admission.

About Chioma

Chioma Isiadinso is a former Harvard Business School admissions board member and a former director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon University. She is the CEO of EXPARTUS®, LLC, a global admission consulting company, and the author of The Best Business Schools’ Admissions Secrets. Chioma has been featured in news media including the Financial Times, New York Times, and Businessweek.com. She regularly fields questions on Poets and Quants’ Ask Our Expert.

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