There is a stereotype of business school as the cutthroat arena of future tycoons. While there are programs that could be caricatured to fit that description, the vast majority have different agendas. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, there are more than 1,500 MBA programs worldwide. Joanne Starr, assistant dean of admissions at UC Irvine's Graduate School of Management, explains that even if you don't see yourself as the typical MBA student, there may be a place for you in an MBA program.
How Wrong Is the MBA Programs' Stereotype?
"There has been and continues to be a lot of innovation in management programs," Starr says. "Schools don't sit still in terms of curriculum." In a BusinessWeek poll of MBA programs, it was found that approximately 30 percent of elective courses are less than three years old. "We all have significant relationships with our business communities. We are constantly [getting] outside information," she says.
Is There a "Right" Person for Management Education?
"I've seen students come from every imaginable background and career," says Starr, who recalls counseling an opera singer who had a good, mid-level European career. "She knew she wasn't going to be another Beverly Sills."
Starr has also seen a former ballerina and other creative people succeed in business school, noting that in business today, "creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation are major themes." After all, a successful businessperson has to have the ability to look at organizations in a different way.
How Do Business Schools Differ in Personality?
A large school will have a very different atmosphere than a smaller one, and a commuter or online-oriented program will be very different from a largely residential one. Academic specialties also have an impact.
For example, UC Irvine is consistently ranked as having one of the top graduate schools of management but is especially recognized for its focus on information technology for management, earning it a number one ranking from the Financial Times. This focus isn't just in elective courses but is woven into the fabric of the entire curriculum. In classrooms, lab settings and corporate partnerships, students learn business fundamentals with a special preparedness for how technology can impact business.
Likewise, geography will have a significant impact on a school's character. Businesses tend to cluster in certain areas and will help define the region's character. Because business schools have a lot of interaction with their surrounding businesses, the schools will reflect these local characteristics.
What Is the Value of a Concentration?
A concentration will give you a classic management education with depth in a particular topic. Concentrations exist in many business arenas, including arts, banking, healthcare, nonprofit and entrepreneurship. A concentration also "demonstrates to potential employers that you have a specific interest and know more about [a certain market,]" says Starr. Typically, concentration requirements are met by taking three or four classes in the subject of interest, which even leaves room for other electives.
Many graduate schools of management offer formal concentrations, but it's common for students to build their own. UC Irvine, which doesn't have concentrations, offers students advice on shaping their education to fit particular interests and career goals.
How Can I Tell If a School Is a Good Fit?
Visit several schools' Web sites. They usually spell out their philosophies online. The next step is to direct your questions to the school itself by contacting the admissions department. Lastly, when you've narrowed your choices and are making the final decisions, contact current or former students. This can be done by visiting the school or arranging phone conversations with "student ambassadors."
If you're interested in pursuing an MBA and don't fit the stereotype of an MBA student, it's up to you to find a graduate school that doesn't offer the stereotypical MBA education. Planning and choosing correctly are the keys. Through elective choice, concentration and the school's focus, you'll be able to tailor your education. By choosing a school whose personality meets your own, you'll be able to thrive in the environment.
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