By Angela Sun
In fact, they can be really useful too...regardless of whether you're a weathered professional looking for a career change, or a budding leader ready for some comprehensive training.
In this post, I will provide you with an overview of some of the best resources available to learn what an MBA is, which programs to apply to, and where to go for priceless opportunities to network with MBA students/ admissions officers from schools like HBS and Sloan. Some of this information is time-sensitive, so pull out your calendars!
A brief note before you read on: Besides bridge programs (eg. Harvard 2+2, Tuck Bridge Program), MBA programs generally recruit professionals who already have 2-5+ years of experience. The GMAT will be good for 5 years. You should start learning about MBA programs now, but schedule your exams and plan your career accordingly.
Panels
1) Tufts Career Center: MBA Alumni Panel on Monday, November 5 from 6-730 PM @ Dowling 745
(Hint: copy-paste above line for 'quick add' on iCal)
Seven panelists, some of whom are current MBA students, others who have recently completed their MBAs, will speak on their work and education experiences. MBA programs represented will include HBS, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Tuck, Franklin W. Olin, and BU. But even more excitingly, these seven accomplished businessmen and women can also relate their MBAs to their experiences in companies like Fidelity Investments, Proctor and Gamble, Innosight, GE Aviation, Vistaprint, Digitas, Cambridge Associates, Atlantic Trust, and more!
Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers. Not only will you be able to ask about all the things you could never get from a brochure, you will also get the valuable chance to network with people in top MBA programs and businesses who are Tufts alumni! And if anything is true about networking, Tufts alumni are definitely one of the best places to start.
Here is a rundown of the panelists for you to Linkedin/ google search to help you prepare questions. More in-depth biographies will be distributed at the event.
2) The Economist's Which MBA? Online Fair
Not only is this event free, it also features an impressive list of past exhibitors. There are top MBAs from the US, but also those from around the world, like Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, SBS Swiss Business School, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and more.
Interested? Register here. If this your first online fair, take some time to read this guide, which will give you some tips like making sure you have stable internet connection and using social media to maximize your experience.
Now although some schools are featured at both of these panels, there still is nothing like face-to-face interaction with alumni!
Rankings
1) US News 2012 Edition: Best Graduate Schools
Comprehensive listings from Business to Law, Medicine, Education, Engineering, and more. You can view the limited rankings online here. And you can also get access to the full rankings (with details like average GMAT scores, acceptance rates) by stopping by the Career Center. We have multiple copies on hand for you to browse through.
2) Vault Career Library: The Business School Buzz Book
The copy we have is a little older, from 2006. But wow is this book detailed! The business school profiles are packed with lively, honest commentary from students and alumni on the topics of admissions, academics, quality of life, and social life. Some school profiles go on for pages.
I mean, where else would you learn that Georgia State "seemed to have a trend of making it more difficult to get an A" or "Soldiers Field Park is the pick for student housing" at HBS, all in one book?
3) The Aspen Institute Guide to Socially Responsible MBA Programs: 2008-2009
This guide is a great example of how more and more business schools are developing their unique brand. Find schools that have a "concern for social and environmental issues" like EADA in Spain that offer courses like 'Buddha in the Company', or Berkeley Walter A. Haas, that has institutions like the Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership. Feel free to visit our center to browse through a copy of this guide, or search online if you have other niche interests.
Please note that Career Center books are not for take-home use. Your adherence to this rule allows us to provide resources for all students. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Assessments
1) The CareerLeader Self-Assessment
This is an assessment created by two Harvard counselors that will help you decide what your business skills are and in which sector of business would you do best (eg. HR/ accounting, management, finance). You can find a sample assessment report here. However, do note that the assessment is $95, and we unfortunately do not offer a participating school discount. This is just something to consider, through speaking with people and doing your own research, you can also get a good idea for what MBA tracks might be a good fit.
All these resources are here to help you jumpstart your MBA research, there is a plethora of more resources available online and in databases to keep you busy. If you have any questions, please stop by to chat with one of the counselors. You can also connect with us via Facebook or Twitter @Tufts Career.
