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Considering Earning an MBA? 5 Tips to Help You Prepare

HBS Student in MBA Classroom
  • 24 Sep 2019
Michele Reynolds Author Staff
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  • CORe
  • Earning Your MBA

If you’re considering earning your MBA, you may be furiously researching and visiting schools, studying for the GMAT, or starting your applications. What you might not have considered is how to get ready once you’ve made up your mind.

Whether you plan to attend an immersive, two-year residential program or go part-time to a school nearby, there are things to consider and five practical steps you can take to get ready for day one.

How to Prepare for an MBA

1. Talk to Students and Alumni

Learn from those who’ve gone before you. Current and former MBA students can provide perspective on what they wish they knew before embarking on their MBA. Talk to friends who’ve gone to business school, but also reach out to those who are currently enrolled or recent graduates of your program of choice.

While the school’s admissions team can arrange for campus visits and provide introductions, it may be even easier to find current students on LinkedIn or Instagram. Students and recent grads are proud of their achievement and likely have spread their good news online.

Related: Students Share Their Experience Transitioning from CORe to the MBA

2. Read Books

Much of what you gain from an MBA program is problem-solving and leadership skills, so you may want to build your expertise in those areas by reading up. HBS Online Management Essentials Professor Joe Fuller shared a couple books he suggests to students with Business Insider.

Fuller recommends Loonshots by Safi Bahcall and the George Marshall biography by David Roll.

“Loonshots brilliantly conveys multiple lessons about problem-solving, group dynamics, and the value of thought and reflection in an immensely entertaining way," Fuller told Business Insider. "A work of genius.”

Regarding the George Marshall biography, Fuller said, “I believe he was a brilliant manager and judge of talent. I find our students often learn more from reading books about historical figures and reflecting on their attributes as managers and decision-makers.”

Other books frequently recommended by top executives and business school faculty include The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Moneyball by Michael Lewis, Good to Great by Jim Collins, Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, and The Innovator’s Dilemma by HBS Online Disruptive Strategy Professor Clayton Christensen.

Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

3. Warm Up

If you’ve taken a break post-undergrad, or studied liberal arts and feel at a disadvantage, you might want to consider taking an online business school primer.

There are thousands of courses to choose from, but HBS Online offers a three-course preparation program called the Credential of Readiness, or CORe, that was specifically designed to help individuals get ready for an MBA. Led by HBS faculty, CORe is made up of Financial Accounting, Economics for Managers, and Business Analytics. Depending on how much time you have to dedicate to coursework each week, you can choose a 10-week offering or the same program spread out over 17 weeks.

By taking CORe, or another business school prep program, you’ll learn vital concepts to help you through your MBA curriculum.

One former CORe participant, Malachi Koop, originally took the program as an MBA alternative. The experience instead inspired him to pursue his graduate degree.

“HBS Online is what confirmed for me that I wanted to pursue an MBA," Koop says. "I was worried about being able to prove to an admissions committee that I had what it took from a quantitative perspective, but HBS Online gave me another data point on my resume to prove it wasn’t going to be an obstacle for me.”

Koop is now enrolled in Georgetown University’s Flex MBA program.

Related: Why You Should Study Business

4. Pick a Concentration

Many business schools are known for specific strengths, like entrepreneurship, marketing, or international business, which might guide you in your school choice. Most also offer areas of concentrations or specialization.

It’s important to figure out what specialty you want to pursue based on your career aspirations. The decision will inform your elective choices and prepare you to take advantage of on-campus recruiter visits. Recruiting starts in the fall on many campuses, so choosing your concentration early will help you get a jump on finding the right internships.

5. Mentally Prepare

Most business school candidates expect a rigorous academic program that will be intellectually challenging, but may not expect the social demands of business school. Many former MBA students believe that the social aspects are nearly as beneficial as what you learn in the classroom.

Working hard and playing hard could offer advantages post-school, but it can pose particular challenges to students with families. Knowing what to expect in advance will help you mentally prepare. To make sure you’re up for the academic and social demands of business school, be sure to get plenty of rest.

Taking the Next Step

An MBA program can help you develop the leadership and management skills needed to advance your career. But to achieve that goal and succeed in your program of choice, you first need to prepare.

Do you want to take your career to the next level? Download our free Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essential Business Skills to learn how enhancing your business knowledge can help you make an impact on your organization and be competitive in the job market.

About the Author

Michele Reynolds handles brand marketing and PR for Harvard Business School Online. Prior to HBS Online, she led communications for TripAdvisor and Gazelle and has been widely quoted in national media outlets, including CBS News, Reuters, and The New York Times. Michele earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. Outside work, she spends time with her teenage daughter, plays tennis, and visits her enormous extended family.
 
All FAQs

Top FAQs

How are HBS Online courses delivered?

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We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

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We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Written English proficiency should suffice.

Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

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No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

How do I enroll in a course?

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All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

What are my payment options?

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We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

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After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

 

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