8 Critical Questions To Ask Yourself Before Taking The MBA Plunge

For many candidates, the idea of pursuing an MBA builds gradually, something considered on and off over months, sometimes years. Then the pace changes. Deadlines come into view. Peers start applying. Rankings circulate. And then what was once a “maybe” turns into momentum.

Before you shift into application mode, it’s worth stepping back and stress-testing the decision itself. The candidates who do this early usually make clearer choices about schools, present a more coherent story, and get more out of the experience once they arrive.

So, should you get an MBA? Start with these eight questions. (And to discuss your individual case, reach out to us at Fortuna).

1. What Are Your Goals, Really?

A common starting point is the sense that your current path has limits, even if you can’t yet name what you want instead. That feeling can be real, but it isn’t, by itself at least, a strong enough reason to pursue an MBA. It also rarely produces a convincing application narrative.

Instead, try to get specific:

What kind of work do you want more of?
Which skills or exposures are you missing right now?
In five years, what does progress look like – in how you lead, decide, and influence outcomes?

The more concrete your direction, the easier it is to justify the MBA as a deliberate step. This matters even more if you’re coming from a non-traditional or non-business background, where “why an MBA, why now” needs to be especially clear.

2. Why Now?

Timing matters because the value of an MBA flows in two directions: what you contribute in the classroom, and what you can realistically extract from recruiting, leadership opportunities, and peer learning.

Ask yourself: Do you have enough experience to bring valuable perspectives to classroom discussions? Are you ready to reflect on (not just react to) what you’re taught? Are you at a point in your career where you can really leverage the program’s resources?

There isn’t a universal perfect moment, but for many full-time programs, the strongest outcomes often come when you have a couple years of meaningful responsibility behind you and still enough runway ahead for the degree to reshape your trajectory.

3. Are You Applying For The Right Reasons, Or FOMO?

Peer pressure isn’t always easy to spot. Sometimes it looks like “everyone I know is doing this,” or “I’m falling behind,” or “this is what ambitious people do.”

A useful test: if no one around you were applying and if no one signaled to you their expectation that you should go to business school, would you still feel pulled toward an MBA?

Applicants who act from a place of internal conviction, rather than external comparison, are more likely to craft applications with depth and coherence, and to choose MBA programs in ways that genuinely support their long-term growth.

4. Would You Still Want An MBA If The Outcomes Were Uncertain Or Nonlinear?

Business school outcomes are rarely linear. Even with a degree from top programs, career paths can be a roller-coaster. Industries shift. Layoffs happen. “Plan A” doesn’t always arrive on schedule.

And in fact this is where much of the MBA’s real value lies. Beyond the first post-MBA role, a strong program expands your range of credible options over time. It gives you access to new industries, geographies, and networks, and the flexibility to pivot as circumstances change. That optionality – the ability to adapt, reposition, and pursue different paths as the world or your priorities evolve – is incredibly valuable.

If the MBA only feels worthwhile if one very specific result materializes, it’s worth pausing. The strongest candidates tend to see the degree not as a guaranteed shortcut to a single destination, but as a platform that compounds value across their careers.

5. How Much Financial Risk Are You Comfortable Carrying For A Potential Long-Term Upside?

The MBA is a big financial investment, and people evaluate investment and risk very differently. MBA ROI extends beyond post-MBA salary to also include mobility, flexibility, long-term access to networks, and the ability to pivot industries or geographies later. It helps to think through:

Your comfort level with debt and short-term financial pressure
The true MBA opportunity cost (income you forgo, time out of the market)
How program length, location, and recruiting realities affect your projected payback timeline
Whether you realistically have access to MBA scholarships or financial aid

Candidates who are clear-eyed about these trade-offs early are better positioned to choose programs that align with both their financial reality and their long-term goals. For a deeper dive, see also: The Real ROI Of An MBA: Still Worth The Investment?

6. Do You Thrive In Discussion-Based, Case-Method Environments?

MBA classrooms are very different from most people’s undergrad experience. Most are built around discussion, debate, and group learning environments designed around collaboration, contribution, and sometimes even competition. Be honest about whether you’re comfortable with:

Speaking up regularly (including cold calls) in a room of 70–90 peers
Team-based work with people who approach problems very differently
Being evaluated, at least in part, on contribution and collaboration

Do you enjoy forming views, testing them aloud, and being challenged by peers with opposing views? Are you energized by collaborative problem-solving – or drained by it? If the former, you’ll likely thrive – but if the latter, it’s worth thinking carefully about the program style and environment that works for you.

7. What Does “Fit” Mean To You Beyond Rankings And Employment Reports?

Rankings can be a starting point, but they artificially reduce complex experiences into a single number. They tell you very little about daily life: culture, teaching style, cohort dynamics, leadership development, or the strength of peer learning. Two programs that are closely aligned in the rankings can feel completely different on the ground and suit very different students.

Instead of leaning too heavily on rankings and the prestige factor, ask questions that reveal fit:

Do you want a small, tight cohort or a larger global network?
Do you learn best in competitive intensity or collaborative support?
Do the program’s recruiting pipelines and geography align with what you want next?

For a deeper dive into how to interpret MBA rankings, see MBA Rankings: Take Them With A Grain Of Salt.

8. Are You Prepared To Invest The Time to Apply Well, Not Just Apply Quickly?

Strong MBA applications require reflection, iteration, and enough space to connect the dots across your story. That takes honest, intentional time to craft properly. Rushing tends to produce superficial essays and avoidable mistakes. Starting early gives you room for:

Several months of GMAT/GRE preparation, which most candidates need
Meaningful research before finalizing a school list
A real runway for strategy, essays, and recommendations

And if your profile has a weakness – a low GPA, gaps, limited quantitative exposure – speed is rarely your friend. For a structured roadmap to support your application planning, see The Ultimate MBA Application Timeline: A Step-By-Step Guide.

Let’s Get You In

You don’t need perfect certainty to begin exploring an MBA, but it’s vital to ask the right questions before you invest years of time, money, and opportunity cost. An MBA can be a powerful accelerator when goals, timing, expectations, and risk tolerance align.

If you want a thoughtful sounding board as you evaluate whether an MBA makes sense and what type of program fits your profile and goals, a conversation with an experienced advisor at Fortuna Admissions can help you build clarity. Just reach out to us to schedule a free consultation.

Melissa Jones is a Senior Expert Coach at Fortuna Admissions and a former Assistant Director of MBA Admissions at INSEAD. For more free advice from Fortuna Admissions in partnership with Poets&Quants, check out these videos and articles. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up now for a free consultation.

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