How to Determine MBA Fit

Fit is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing an MBA program.

“If you seek a business school environment where you’ll truly thrive, focus on fit over ranking and brand,” Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, says. “While the latter two are important, if you don’t feel at home from the moment you set foot on campus, you won’t get the most out of the MBA experience.”

US News recently spoke with experts on how applicants can go about finding the right B-school and what traits matter most when it comes to fit.

CONSIDER THE SCHOOL’S MISSION AND LOCATION

When determining fit, it can be helpful to start by considering whether a business school’s mission is internationally- or regionally-focused. Large prestigious B-schools tend to have an international focus, while smaller B-schools tend to have a more regional focus.

“What they care about is students come to their university and their program, and they get a job and go back to the community where they grew up,” Caryn Beck-Dudley, president and CEO of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the largest accreditor of business schools globally, tells US News. “Some students don’t necessarily want to go to a school that’s international. They want to own their own business or work at their family business.”

EXPLORE CULTURE AND FORMAT

One of the best ways to determine fit is to visit the school in person.

“If you can see yourself there, if you see an administrator, a faculty or staff member that looks like you or you can form a relationship with, that is vital,” Dalvin Dunn, who obtained his MBA in 2020 from Texas Woman’s University, says. “Prepare to step outside your comfort zone because that is what getting an MBA is about.”

Program format can also be helpful in determining fit. When visiting schools, try and see what types of MBA program formats align with your goals and career path.

“Prospective students can ask themselves several questions to hone down on the right path, (such as) ‘Do I want to continue working and apply what I learn in my day-to-day job?’” Frank Rothaermel, a professor at the Scheller College of Business at the Georgia Institute of Technology, says. “Many students in evening and weekend MBA programs appreciate the chance to understand concepts and use them in a continuous learning-knowing-doing-feedback cycle.”

At the end of the day, determining fit is personal. And you’ll need to ask yourself whether or not you can truly see yourself amongst a B-school’s community.

“Many times, academia is much more about the knowledge you gain, but a business degree, particularly an MBA, does teach you skills,” Chad McBride, a marketing lecturer at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, says. “But it is much more, particularly for in-person programs, about the networking and relationships you build.”

Sources: US News, Stacy Blackman Consulting