MBA

How to Select the Right School

• Speak with Alums, Students & Faculty - The best way to get information about a school is to talk with as many people as possible. Get a sense of personalities, environment and atmosphere. While pretty much everyone will try to sell you on their school, you can still learn a lot from these interactions.
• Speak with Recruiters - Most people go to business school to advance their careers in one way or another. Who better to get opinions about potential schools than from recruiters in the industry you intend to join after you get your degree?
• Centers of Excellence - geographic proximity to your industry of choice is a big deal. If you are interested in becoming a Wall Street Banker, Columbia Business School could put you in the cat bird seat. If you are interested in High-Tech, Stanford, Anderson and Haas are all good choices. Entertainment is your choice? Wouldn't it make sense to go to a school in Southern California?
• School Specialization - some schools are just known for certain areas. For example, if you are planning to become a marketing major, selecting Chicago (which is known as a phenomenal finance school), may raise some eyebrows. Interested in technology management and information systems? MIT is known for churning out superb MBAs with those specialties. Many other schools have similar reputations.
• Financing Your Degree - if you don't know that an MBA is an expensive proposition, you haven't done your homework. Getting the biggest bang for your MBA buck is often highly dependant on your ability to finance that education. The most expensive or prestigious program, may not necessarily be the one that makes the most economic sense for you.
• Alumni Network - The strength of a school's alumni network should be one of your main considerations in selecting a school. Many schools have excellent alumni networks that are concentrated in a specific geographic region. That's a big plus if you intend to stay in that area, and a serious draw-back if you intend to move elsewhere after completing your studies.
• First Hand Knowledge - if at all possible, take the time to visit as many schools as possible before you select one. Nothing can replace the knowledge you gain by going there yourself.