How Much Work Experience Do I Need To Get Into a Good MBA Program?
Applying for a Master of Business degree can be an intimidating process. There is so much paperwork involved, between the transcripts and transfer credits and the applications, that you might not even think about work experience. So how much work experience do you need to get into a good MBA program? It depends largely on the school, the program, and to some extent, how generous the admissions officer is feeling that day.
The Economic Downturn and The Influence on Required Work Experience
Many students used to apply with only two or three years of full time work experience, but that number is on the rise, averaging as high as five years experience. Due to the economic downturn, more people are taking the opportunity to go back to school and further their education, which results in much higher competition with far more work experience. This means that schools are able to be much pickier about who they accept, and that even students with high test scores are being turned down for those with average scores and more real-world experience.
Very few students make it into MBA programs with less than two years work experience. Even more are applying with three years experience, and this is what I would recommend. With three years experience, you stand a much better chance of acceptance into the school of your choice without resorting to a backup school or none at all.
This doesn’t mean you have to wait to apply, however. Your work experience should reach the three year mark by the time you start school, not at the time of application. Since applications often take weeks or even months of processing and approval time, you can note on your application that you will have X amount of experience by the time you begin classes.
The Importance of Sticking With It
Your experience should be in a single industry; bouncing from fast food cook to factory worker doesn’t give you the experience needed to add to a conversation. Professors and lecturers want students who can put their voice in the mix and give thoughtful commentary on a specific field, which is hard to do when you’ve bounced between jobs. Try to focus on one for at least a year, preferably two, and then go ahead.
You can be accepted into schools with little work experience, but they might not be the schools of your choice. If you have a dream school, check out their MBA program requirements and see what you might be missing, then work towards that goal. If you require more work experience, be patient; stick with the job you have and keep plugging away until you’ve bee there enough that you feel confident about being accepted.
Conclusion
For more information, check out this site. The website includes a lot of helpful information about how to apply for an MBA program and the different requirements programs have. If you’re totally clueless, the seven step process put forth on the website will help you to determine a school and how to proceed from there. Don’t give up on applying to your dream school; just do what it takes, be patient, and you’ll make it where you want to go.
