{"id":2635,"date":"2010-03-17T11:29:53","date_gmt":"2010-03-17T19:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=2635"},"modified":"2010-03-17T11:29:53","modified_gmt":"2010-03-17T19:29:53","slug":"mba-program-selection-researching-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/mba-program-selection-researching-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"MBA Program Selection: Researching Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"

NOTE<\/em><\/strong>: This is #6 in a series of blog posts on the topic, \u201cHow to Select the Right MBA Programs.\u201d To see previous segments, link to the following: <\/em><\/p>\n

Post #1, Introducing the Series<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Post #5, Reaches, On-Pars, and Safeties<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

You may be researching schools already.\u00a0 Going through the steps previously outlined in this series will help you do so efficiently.\u00a0 It will also help you remain objective.<\/p>\n

To\u00a0focus your options, eliminate from consideration programs that lack elements you consider essential. Some applicants will immediately run into a dilemma here: What if you need a globally recognized brand, considering your goals, yet you don\u2019t qualify for schools that carry the desired panache?\u00a0 You might apply to such schools\u2019 part-time or EMBA<\/a> programs. You may consider programs recognized globally in your niche, but not for overall brand. \u00a0Or you may decide it\u2019s not worth it to pursue an MBA.\u00a0 Luckily, most people can find programs that offer their must-haves.<\/p>\n

When you find feasible schools that meet your needs and important wants, determine whether they are a reasonable reach, on par, or safety.\u00a0 First examine the GMAT and GPA ranges, and analyze student profiles.\u00a0 How do you compare within these contexts?\u00a0 The numbers are easier to compare; it might take some digging and some serious and thoughtful self-critique to determine how you stack up in terms of quality of<\/em> work experience and leadership.<\/p>\n

Then look at other qualitative factors that would make you a great fit or a challenging fit for the school.\u00a0 One main point is status in an under- or over-represented group.\u00a0 Then there are the individual qualitative factors. For example, you\u2019re a finance professional<\/a>; one program you\u2019re considering has a great finance curriculum but is not reputed for it.\u00a0 Your finance status would be a plus for such school, whereas you might not stand out from the army of finance applicants at a known finance school.<\/p>\n

Finally, combine all these factors \u2013 your comparative scores, your comparative work experience, and any qualitative issues pro or con \u00a0\u2013 to refine your determination of reach, on-par, or safety for each school of interest.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true, that you should be objective.\u00a0 Still, don\u2019t ignore the subjective factor in your research.\u00a0 If you find yourself falling for a school that doesn\u2019t seem like a great fit \u2013 you wanted intimate campus and yet when you visited NYU<\/a> while on a business trip to the Big Apple, you found its downtown vibe utterly scintillating \u2013 well, great!\u00a0 It\u2019s possible you\u2019re momentarily infatuated, and it\u2019s also possible that there\u2019s a side of you that this environment has opened up and brought to light.\u00a0 Give it further thought and consider it for your list.<\/p>\n

By Cindy Tokumitsu<\/a>, co-author of<\/span><\/em> The Finance Professional\u2019s Guide to MBA Success<\/a>, The Consultants\u2019 Guide to MBA Admission<\/a><\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/em>T<\/span><\/em>he EMBA Edge<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0and author of several articles and the free, email mini-course,<\/em><\/span><\/em> \"Ace the EMBA.\"<\/em><\/a>
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NOTE: This is #6 in a series of blog posts on the topic, \u201cHow to Select the Right MBA Programs.\u201d To see previous segments, link to the following: Post #1,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2635"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2637,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635\/revisions\/2637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}