Ask yourself 4 questions before applying to B-School

As a prospective MBA, you will benefit greatly from taking some time at the beginning of your application process to contemplate the path you are about to take. This is a good time to ask yourself critical questions, as self-assessment and reflection are crucial to any MBA application journey. Setting aside some time to think long and hard before you start writing your essays will set you up for strong, strategic application.

Question 1: What are your professional goals? As you contemplate applying to MBA programs, the first step in your self-assessment process is to consider where you want to be in your career. Ask yourself what you would do if you didn’t need to work for money and what your core values ​​are.

If your career goals don’t reveal themselves right away, ask your friends and family what they see you doing. This process should reveal good ideas and a spark of passion for your career.

If you’re in a field where MBAs aren’t traditionally required, you can still benefit if your career goals include rising to senior management within your company or starting your own company. As a first step, look around you at the people you most admire and want to be like within your target company or industry. Read their bios to see their skill set and educational background.

Talking to people who are pursuing your goal career, at any level, is also a great way to understand what you need to do to achieve your goals.

Question 2: Why do you want an MBA? While an MBA is a great experience, it is ultimately a tool to further your career goals. The title is very focused on practical business applications, not intellectual curiosity.

When you answer the question of your career goals, it will become clear why an MBA is the right degree for you. If your career path doesn’t immediately reveal a need for an MBA, but you know you want one, you may want to dig deeper into your motivations.

Consider your expectations for the degree and critically assess whether your hopes match the reality of an MBA program. If you know of any current MBA students or alumni, canvassing them first is a great way to start your research and make sure you’re committed to the MBA application process.

Question 3: Is an MBA the right degree for you? Evaluating your career goals might reveal that a different type of graduate degree would be helpful.

Those interested in finance may also consider a master’s in finance, which typically prepares students more specifically for a career in corporate finance, financial analysis, or investment management. That title may prepare you to be the CFO of a company, but it may not be the ideal title for a general manager or CEO.

If you’re interested in public policy work or management in the nonprofit sector, you can pursue a law degree, master’s of public policy, or master’s of public administration. In addition to those options, you can get a joint JD/MBA or a joint MPP/MBA or joint MPA/MBA.

While any of these degrees can help you achieve your goals, you may want to consider each school’s environment, academic focus, the time you’ll spend pursuing the degree, and what works best for you personally.

Question 4: Are you competitive in the MBA applicant pool? When thinking about getting into an MBA program, you need to keep in mind the competitive pool of candidates who apply each year. Evaluate yourself against successful candidates for the schools you are considering.

The easiest first step is to see what the average GMAT and GPA is for a successful applicant to your target programs.

If your “numbers” are much lower than average at your dream schools, you may want to consider taking classes to create an alternate transcript or retake the GMAT. While no candidate is perfect, minimizing the red flags on your application will ensure you have a great chance of admission.