The quest for a successful career does not end with an MBA admission, it starts from there. MBA Admission requires rigorous planning and hard work. But the mere admission to this esteemed degree doesn’t guarantee the promised life. The promised life can be obtained depending on how well the student has utilized this degree course and what opportunities they have taken during this time.
Students always have “a plan” before taking admission to an MBA but in most cases, these plans go for a toss as months roll on. They find themselves doing too many things or prioritizing subjects in the first year that they will lose interest in the second. This leads to missed opportunities or a waste of time and energy.
According to GMAC, 4 out of 5 MBA students pursue MBA for improvement in professional life, not because of genuine understanding and interest in the subject. Students need to know a bit about the MBA course as a whole and then make plans. Having a plan is fine, but plans must be flexible enough to incorporate activities that were not in the original plan. Such flexibility should come with a better understanding of what the student wants and needs.
We have discussed certain perspectives and problems that most students face during their course. This will help students make the best of MBA and take the full benefit of the course.
Self Assessment for Finding the Right Way
Self Assessment is the single most important step before taking admission to MBA. Self Assessment will help you decide the expectations and boundaries that must be set in place before embarking on this journey. This will help students to push their boundaries without falling off the cliff. Adam Cochran who completed his MBA from Indiana University says “ I realized that sometimes saying no to something enables you to say a bigger yes to something else.” Instead of learning too many things, it is better to learn a few things properly.
Finding limitations in one’s capabilities should be used as an opportunity for learning new things. Shying away from complex tasks is not beneficial at all. Luke Elder, who completed his MBA from Northwestern University, says taking “ownership of assignments in subject matters that felt challenging or scary” will help to “grow in my assurance of my abilities”—making students all the more aware of their newfound capabilities.
How to Make Proper Connections during MBA
Making connections and knowing more like minded people is a unique feature of an MBA. The curriculum tries to forge relationships between students through extracurricular activities, group projects and class discussions. Students must take the initiative to meet new people and make bondings. Andrew Hazel who completed his MBA from Dartmouth College and is now in BCG, “ I would set up lunches and dinners with classmates I didn’t know or classmates that I wanted to get to know better.” Making intentional connections with interesting people will make the MBA experience way more rewarding.
How to Make the Most of Doing MBA Abroad
According to Economic Times, 2,50,000 to 3,00,000 students go abroad to study MBA. The greatest impediment for students going abroad for MBA is the cultural shock. Most of the time students find themselves in an alienating environment with little knowledge about the local culture, traditions and language. Students must be prepared and should take slow steps while making new friends. Making new friends or connecting with other students will help in understanding the subjects and gaining new skills.
Students must enjoy the journey and live in the moment. Students need to be patient and create a circle of friends who are more like minded to you than others. Rather than doing too much, it is advisable to enjoy the ride.
How to Choose Proper Internships
In most cases, students already decide the industry they would want to work in even before joining an MBA program. They choose their internships after the first year based on their pre-decided plan. It is advisable to have a look at all the subjects that the students will go through in an MBA program before committing to an industry. In various cases, students get hooked to an industry in the second year which is way different from the internship. Making conscious and informed decisions will help students get the best out of their MBA experience.
Participate in Case Competitions
Case competitions are held in various business schools around the world where the students are provided with real life business problems that the students need to solve keeping a few rules in mind. Case competitions help in critical thinking to solve a real-world business problem while working with a team of individuals on a tight deadline. Students also get the opportunity to make professional presentations in highly competitive environments. Case studies help to make more attractive CVs and there are various certifications given to the participants.
Students will find that the 2 years of the MBA course will pass in the blink of an eye. There is no end to the number of things or opportunities that will come to the student. But doing too many things will lead to further problems. MBA applicants should take the first month and get their priorities clear. Take part in activities that will help in their success directly. MBA is as good as the student makes it.
Posted in Careers
