Choosing the Right B-School.

There reaches a point in the lives of students and professionals when a post graduate degree in management becomes not an add on but a necessity to move further up the ladder. In this age where packaging a product is as important as the quality, if you have decided to do an MBA then the next step is to decide which business schools to apply.

This aspect of an MBA is the most daunting task as the number of colleges offering MBA’s is measured in the thousands. They vary widely in cost, in reputation and in entry requirements. Your choice of business school is such a key decision regarding your future that it is important that you be very thorough in your approach while making the selection.

What one must be ideally looking at is the finer aspects of any college MBA. Facilities provided by the college like faculty, libraries, alumni, assistance if any with placements etc.

• Faculty

Even amongst equally reputable schools, teaching quality can differ drastically. Some business schools have strict expectations for faculty members, facilitating continued training and monitoring performance, but other programs are more concerned with an instructor's research and writing credentials.

• Classroom setting

It is important for each student to determine their learning needs early on. While you might more easily grasp information in a traditional collegiate-style setting, others need real-world simulation in a competitive setting. Choosing the wrong kind of classroom setting can have a hugely negative impact on your MBA success. You should also check their emphasis on research and practical hands on experience that it can offer.

• Location

The location of a school can affect not only your overall enjoyment of the program--with social life outside the classroom playing a big role for some students--but also your access to networks and career opportunities. It is not uncommon for business school graduates to remain within the area where they earned their degree, so choose a location that will bring you long-term satisfaction. Business schools in cities with large business will be able to provide better opportunities than a place that is just a university town.

• Reputation

In general, it is understood that the better the program you attend, the more options that will be open to you after graduation. For some this means a more satisfying career and for others it means a bigger paycheck. Whatever your expectations, the reputation of a program can aid the decision-making process tremendously, especially when the choice comes down to two very similar programs. Don’t follow rankings of institutions that magazines or news portals provide explicitly. Other markers such as scope for achieving what you have set out to do and satisfaction of former students must be taken into account.

• Areas of specialization

In this age of super specializations you should choose you school based on your area of specialization. Some schools are best for certain fields and some are not. You must select the right specialization in your MBA program in order for your MBA degree to carry the most value that can help in your career move. By knowing the options of MBA program's specialization, you will have better chances to select the best MBA program that best fit into your career goal.


Other important factors like your budget must be factored in. Some MBA schools charge more than the others based on their programmes. But financial aid opportunities exist that can make the most expensive programmes affordable. You should also interact with the university and ask questions like the business experience of the faculty, the average experience of the students, companies that recruit from the school, what have been the most recent changes in the programme etc. You should also talk to alumni and students to get a real feel of the college and the programme. You also need to choose between regular or part time program. Several full time MBA programs are also available as part time programs. One has to be very sure of the time you can comfortably spend for your MBA program.

Shortlisting a school is a very important task. Go over your choices and shortlist any three good schools. . Entry to the best schools is highly competitive and so you need an alternative if you should be turned down by your first choice school. It helps to start the admission process early. Do not apply to too many schools. Completing the application form and preparing for the interview can be very time consuming. It is better to prepare thoroughly for a few schools than to prepare less thoroughly for a large number of schools.

Finally what an MBA is going to give you at the end of the day is that it will help you combine the skills from your graduate degree and your management education. It will also cross train you so that you have a well rounded understanding of many facets of business. It provides you expertise to survive today’s business environment and prepares a person for the transient nature of today’s business world.