Why should I go to business school?

The first step to applying to business school is understanding your objectives and goals for why you want to earn your MBA. As you consider what an MBA will provide you, here are four of the most popular reasons why going to business school makes sense for applicants.

“I want to build my professional network.”Going to business school can expose you not just to classmates, but also past students, future students and a variety of other professional contacts. Building a diverse network is critical to success in business as you will rely on it throughout your career.

“I want to make more money & get a better job.”One goal of many MBA applicants is to improve their career, both in terms of position and salary. The reality is that going to business school and building additional skills – both quantitative and qualitative – should help you achieve both.

“I want to change my career path.”If you are considering changing the direction of your career, business school is a great (and, perhaps, your only) opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge in a new industry or functional role. Support from career services will also be critical.

“I want to develop my skills and knowledge but don’t want go broke doing so.”Going to business school can be an expensive proposition. Make sure there will be a positive ROI on the experience. Also, seek out those programs that are more likely to offer financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants.

There are many reasons to earn an MBA. Make sure you understand why you want to go to business school – and then think about how you can clearly articulate this in your application materials.