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What are the most important factors in deciding where to earn an MBA or specialized master’s?
Applying to business school is an intensive process—one that includes securing letters of recommendation, drafting and editing essays, prepping for the GMAT or GRE, and more—and that’s just the straightforward part. One of the more challenging aspects is in actually determining where you want to attend business school for your MBA or other specialized business degree. Luckily, this can also be one of the more exciting decisions you make.
Deciding which business degree is right for you
The first thing you’ll want to determine is what kind of business degree you want to pursue. As you may know, business school isn’t just for MBAs. Many students pursue other types of specialized master’s degrees—in finance and accounting, for example—or combine an MBA with another master’s degree.
People who attend business school to switch careers or start their own businesses tend to overwhelmingly favor earning MBAs instead of master’s degrees only, or MBAs with a combined master’s. People who go back to school to enhance their job prospects in careers they’re already in, however, more frequently earn master’s degrees or MBA-master’s combos.
When deciding where to attend business school, think about which degree types are best for your professional goals. Not every school categorizes their degree programs in exactly the same way or uses the same naming convention, so be on the lookout for differences.
Researching business schools by ranking and location
If you want to earn your business degree while you’re in your current career, location is likely a factor—you probably want to study in the same city you work. What about school ranking? Do a little research—a good place to start is with the U.S. News and World Report or Forbes rankings.
Don’t shy away from the top business programs in your field, but also apply to one or two safety schools that you expect you’ll get into even if you don’t hit your target GMAT or GRE scores or meet other top admission requirements.
Find out what’s next for your future with our five-question quiz—and unlock tools like our School Guide, which will help you narrow down where you want to go to business school.
The post Choosing a Business Degree Program: What’s Next for You? appeared first on Business School Insider.
