mbaMission Admissions Consultant
Joined: 10 Jun 2011
Posts: 306
Re: Proper reason for MBA
[#permalink]
19 Jan 2012, 16:08
Hello Laker7, thanks for your question.
I certainly understand that few of us have a specific picture in our head of our post-MBA careers. Most of us have conceived a broad vision without details. I, too, was like this when applying!
I think programs know that students will evolve their career plans in school, but the bar for any applicant is to still paint a picture that cohesively ties together your past, present, and future. Demonstrate to the admissions committees that your desired career path necessitates an MBA. Identify the specific gaps that stand between you and your short- and long-term goals (knowledge, skills, experiences, network, etc.) and show how business school would directly address those gaps.
In the end, a business school won’t hold you to the plan you put forth in your essay, but the plan should make logical sense! And, from my work as an admissions consultant, going through the process of answering the personal statement question actually helps clients clarify in their own minds what they’re really looking to get out of business school and how that fits into their future career plans. So, the exercise can be useful in general, not just for the admissions process.
Best of luck,
Brian