MBA Rankings: Do They Really Matter?

Question

MBA if I understand correctly, is about training people for business roles, where they can connect the dots of finance, marketing and different aspects of business along with networking offcourse. It has sort of become a trend for people to run after rankings, but I think a good school is a good school, doesn't matter if its ranked 9, 29 or 99. I've met some really great managers who didn't even have an MBA, forget the GMAT, and also folks from Ivey league schools who lets just say wouldn't live up to that reputation.

I am not generalizing here but I don't think ranking of school, or even GMAT score really have a say in how good as manager you will be or your leadership skills or your success post MBA. I understand a good school gives a good launchpad. So why so much hype about rankings and all. I am wondering if others think that way too?

Narenn · Answer

Rankings are often a subject of debate. It's true that some folks tend to give more emphasis on rankings when shortlisting bschools to apply and tend to neglect other crucial factors such as fit or post MBA goals. Having said that, rankings indeed hold special importance in the application process and their usefulness really depends on how one effectively utilizes them. For some folks, rankings can be a good starting point when starting the bschool search. An MBA degree from a top ranked business school strengthens your resume and also signals your potential value to prospective employers, although it won't necessarily make you a good manager. Here is a really nice blog post of PersonalMBACoach on how to best use MBA rankings... https://gmatclub.com/blog/2017/09/how-t ... -rankings/

ankitnoida2018 · Answer

I think we have to take these rankings with a pinch of salt. Whether the strengths of the program are matching with your goals is most important. Location also plays a very important role.

siddharth111nov · Answer

Thanks  ankitnoida2018  &  Narenn  I think getting that initial push or foot in the door from a good institution is definitely helpful but I think in the long run, your competency and leadership ability will serve you better. Moreover, from an Indian perspective, I have decent experience and international exposure and I get surprised when a lot of students without any work experience or lack of clarity per say just blindly jump into the fray. Its a big investment that may very well cost you a house or even more. Taking that leap just going by ranking and not knowing in's & out's can sometime not a wise decision. That's just my 2 cents to it.

MBA Rankings: Do They Really Matter?

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