Digital art of people on stack of books, near letters MBA, with calculator

5 Quick Tips to Help You Find Great MBA Programs

An MBA is a huge investment of money and time, so you want to find a program that best supports your career goals. Here are quick tips to help you choose.

Going to business school for your MBA will help you develop a strong foundation of business knowledge so you can understand how organizations work while forging a path of career advancement for yourself. Of course, it's a huge investment of both money and time, so you want to be sure that you choose a college that best supports your career goals. When searching for the right Business school for your degree goals, start with some research about yourself. Think about your expectations, current lifestyle, and responsibilities: How will school fit into that picture? Can you attend full-time, or will you need a more flexible solution such as part-time, weekend, or online classes? Are you willing to travel or relocate for a specific school? How much loan debt can you realistically take on?  Once you have a general idea of the size and scope of your ideal MBA program, you can begin narrowing down your list of potential schools. Here are some tips on doing just that.

1. Make a list and check it twice

Go online and start your search simply by looking for lists of reputable business schools and/or MBA programs. National publications can be a good place to start, but you should also see if schools nearby you might have the kind of program you’re seeking, and you can look for more local information. If you had a good experience at your undergraduate institution, you should see if the school offers graduate programs as well because applying to a school you're familiar with may make it a lot easier to get in. 

2. Explore program specializations

Not every MBA is created equal, and many programs offer different tracks of specialization. Consider whether or not you want to specialize in international business, eCommerce, marketing, finance, accounting, management, or something completely different. When you've decided which path might be right for you, see which schools on your list have those course offerings. These are likely to become your top contenders when narrowing down your list to the programs you'll apply to. 

Related: A Handy Guide to the Different Types of MBA Programs

3. Ask businesspeople what they think

If you already work for a company, look into or ask around about where the executive team studied for their MBAs—a personal recommendation is usually a trustworthy source for a high-quality program; this includes if you know anyone in your personal life who has gone for an MBA, ask about their alma mater to get a sense of what the program is like. If there are a few companies that you aspire to work for, look through the LinkedIn profiles of their execs to see which business schools they attended, working toward a program that might get their attention.

4. Consider your qualifications

There are some very selective MBA programs out there, so make sure you have the qualifications to gain acceptance to whichever ones you apply to. If you're still in your undergrad program, you need to keep your grades up, as most programs require you to have a certain GPA as an undergraduate. You’ll likely have to take the GMAT or GRE in addition to many business schools requiring additional materials such as essays, work samples, and/or letters of reference too.

5. Go straight to the source

If you have a handful of business schools you’re interested in, reach out directly to program departments for each school with questions and concerns. Nearly every college or university is on social media, and most would be happy to put you in touch with a current student to get the scoop on what the program is like. You can also email specific questions to the admission or financial aid office, and request a campus visit to see what the vibe is in person (college tours aren't only for undergrads!).

Related: Return on Investment: How to Pick the Best MBA for Your Career

The right business college can open a lot of doors and take your career to new heights, so it's pertinent to choose wisely. Take your time making this big decision and do your research. There are a lot of business specializations you can pursue and they won't all lead to the same place. Take a look at your career goals and lead with your gut to find the right program for you. 

Many students dream of doing business in a major metropolis after grad school—consider some Great Colleges and Universities for Business in the Northeast to find places where big deals are being made right off campus! 

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

About Dawn Papandrea

Dawn Papandrea

Dawn Papandrea is a Staten Island, New York–based writer specializing in education, careers, parenting, and personal finance. Her work has appeared in publications including Family Circle, Parents, WomansDay.com, CreditCards.com, and more. She has a master's degree in journalism and mass communications from New York University. Connect with her on Twitter and Google+.

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

University of Mississippi

University, MS


Abhishek Kumar

Abhishek Kumar

High School Class of 2022

As a high schooler, I know how hard it is to plan for college. You have to consider a lot of factors: SAT/ACT scores, college searches, scholarships, and more. CollegeXpress has been a helpful resource that solves all these problems. One can easily create a free account and search away. They help you search for scholarships and colleges, they have graduate program search, they have lists and rankings, and so much more. CX also has a lot of articles and advice to read—whether it’s financial aid, test prep, campus visits, internships/careers, or anything. Not only that, CX gives out free scholarship money to students who sign up and create a free CX account. I love CX and will continue to use it! Thank you CollegeXpress for making my college journey easier!

Victoria Fuss

Victoria Fuss

March Madness Scholarship Winner, Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has helped me dramatically. Moving on to the next level has been a dream of my mine since I was just a young kid, and the support and help CollegeXpress has given me will help me further my education. I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone at CollegeXpress!

Priscilla Yeboah

Priscilla Yeboah

High School Student

I was afraid and timid throughout my search for colleges, but I finally found the college that was fit for me and luckily I got accepted. One of the most influential things that helped me was the articles and advice on CollegeXpress. They've helped me a lot and benefited me as a senior to make the right choices in life. Thank you!

Emilie Delgado

Emilie Delgado

$2,000 Community Service Scholarship Winner, 2013

CollegeXpress has tremendously helped me in my search for financial aid opportunities as I enter my college career. It is easy to navigate and quickly narrowed down scholarships that I could apply for. Being awarded the scholarship will greatly help me in my finances regarding books and tuition. Thank you for this opportunity. Without CollegeXpress, it would have been more difficult to apply. I would recommend this site to everyone!

Maurice Whan

Maurice Whan

$2,000 Spring Scholarship Contest Winner, 2021

This year has been tough for my family and myself, so receiving this scholarship has been a blessing in disguise! CollegeXpress has been an excellent resource in helping me prepare financially for college. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity!