Knowledge is Power

Brad is a laid back guy, he likes to watch football and relax at home with a beer, a salami pizza and a smoke. He’s got his eyes set on this 6 foot tall fashion model (let’s call her Angelina) who is a vegan, active in politics, hates TV and male sports, and socializes at fashionable events every week. What do you think the chances are that he’s going to catch her eye? And if he does, how happy do you think the two of them will be in the long run, especially when she’s never home because she’s out running around all the time and he prefers to stay home?

Silly analogy, but you get the point. No matter how badly we might want something, sometimes what we want is just the wrong fit for us. That can be just as true about the MBA program we’re thinking of getting into.

Not all schools are the same. Each one has a different atmosphere. Sometimes they have dramatically different atmospheres. The curriculums might be similar, but the professors teaching those curriculums are going to make a huge difference in how well you do and how much you enjoy your classes. If you don’t fit into the culture of that business school, you are going to have a very tough go at it. And, you’ll probably be miserable.

I know one guy who always wanted to work a certain large law firm. He finally got an interview and landed the job. After 6 months, he quit. Why? He hated it there. In spite of the reputation of the firm, he found that the the atmosphere just didn’t sit well with him. He ended up taking a job with a smaller firm, and stayed there happily for years. He made slightly less money, but he would have certainly burned out at the other firm and either quit or gotten fired. Then, where would he have been?

When you meet with an admissions officer, they’re looking for somebody who is going to compliment the school. And believe me, they can usually tell when somebody isn’t going to be the right fit based on the questions they ask and the answers you give. This, in fact, is one of the key things they look for in an interview. If you know what the school values are, you might be able to fake it. But you would be doing yourself a big disservice. You just might end up getting your wish, being admitted…. and regretting it.

If you go to a school that really isn’t a fit for you, you’re not going to connect with the classes, professors or students, which is ultimately going to lead to an unhappy time, poor grades and possibly even to dropping out.

So, make sure the school you want to attend is the right fit for you. The best way to do this is to visit, and talk to students and professors. This will give you something you could never get by reading about the school. You’ll get a feeling for it, and instinctively know if it’s the right fit for you. If you decide you like it, you will be able to talk comfortably about why during your interview. In fact, that will be the easiest part of the interview, and your enthusiasm will naturally shine through.

Lastly, don’t worry about what anyone else says about which school is best. Only you can decide that. If you let others influence your decision, it may turn out to be a huge mistake.

Be rock solid when you go to your MBA admission interview. Learn what hidden mistakes will kill your chances, and what you absolutely must say to win over the interviewer. Learn this and more from your free report at: MBA Interview Questions