The Ultimate Guide to MBA

Given the cost of MBAs today, many wonder if it’s still worth getting an MBA. And although my own MBA experience may lead me to say “yes”, it’s up to you to determine for yourself based on your circumstances, needs, and goals. So let’s break down the factors when considering an MBA. Benefits of an MBA: Industry switch - One of the most common reasons for an MBA! Attending an MBA allows one to pivot whether it’s across industries, roles, or locations Career acceleration - For those who like what they’re doing but need to break into leadership roles faster, an MBA certainly can help with building the confidence and business breadth needed for leadership Expanded network - Build not only a network for your career, but lifelong connections with classmates, faculty, and alumni that you can learn from Skill development - Get formal training in leadership, strategy, analytics, and innovation, from some of the best academics, for all business matters including trendy upcoming ones like AI and Sustainability Credibility & brand - Top programs in the USA and Europe have name and brand recognition worldwide. Leverage the reputation of a top program to open doors globally. Access to recruiters - Many programs offer on-campus recruiting pipelines for elite companies and career support a dedicated career office Personal growth - Clarify your career vision, develop perspective learning from others and gain confidence while broadening your worldview. For me, this is what made it all worth it! When an MBA Doesn’t Make Sense “Business” and Extra “Schooling” is overkill - You already have access to the roles you want without further credentials or you’re in a specialized, technical field (e.g., medicine, deep tech R&D) where another degree is more relevant (although joint programs do exist for those who want to add a business perspective to their role) Your goals require a faster or more flexible timeline than an MBA allows - The MBA process—from preparation through graduation—typically spans 1–2 years and requires upfront commitment. If you need immediate career change, advancement, or can’t pause your current path for that long, waiting or exploring alternatives might be better. You’re in a particularly tough financial spot - An MBA is a major investment — tuition, living expenses, and lost salary can add up fast. If paying for the degree would leave you in long-term financial strain (especially if your post-MBA salary won’t quickly offset the cost), it may be worth waiting until you’ve built more savings, secured sponsorship, or explored lower-cost You dislike formal academic environments - Although much of an MBA is interactive, class still matters and two years in structured classes will feel draining. You don’t need to be the best student but you still need to be a student. You expect the degree alone to “fix” your career without building the skills, network, or narrative to support it - MBAs are not used to help you discover your next step unless you have an idea of what that next step looks like and how the MBA is a key stepping stone. To get that type of clarity, you need to have built up your business skills to a certain degree. Otherwise a Specialized Masters might make more sense (more on that later) You’re primarily chasing prestige with no clear ROI or goals - MBAs are not for those who just want a name brand, it takes effort and it’s about transformation. If you don’t even know “Why MBA” and how it fits in your professional or personal goals, reconsider applying for an MBA The Time isn’t Right - An MBA is a big investment in time, money, and energy — and its benefits often hinge on timing. If you’re in the early stages of building foundational skills, still exploring career paths, or navigating major life transitions, you may not be in the best position to make the most of the experience. Waiting until you can fully commit and leverage the program’s opportunities can lead to stronger outcomes. Other Factors to Consider: Economy - As ROI and thus, finding a job, are one of the most important factors when thinking of MBA, one inevitably thinks about the economy and the job market. And while this is understandable it’s also important to know that one can never truly predict the economy. An MBA will be at least a year where a lot of things can change in the job market so basing it on the time you apply could be faulty. And contrary to what one may think, MBA applications actually skyrocket during financial downturns, as those unemployed look to MBA to fill that time meaningfully to grow and reset their career Lifestyle - Attending an MBA is a huge responsibility and a journey that affects all parts of life. For those with a lot of responsibility already such as supporting a family, medical issues, etc., it’s not impossible to balance it all but it is helpful to have support beyond fellow classmates Visa (for International Student) - For those applying as international students, the difficulty of obtaining a visa is definitely a factor and in today’s world, there is an increasing uncertainty especially for the US. Even AdComm can’t predict the administration’s actions. However, MBA support for international students and their perspective is still strong and at this time, Round 1 and Round 2 are still considered a safe period for obtaining the necessary Visa. To play it safe, it’s advised to not post anything political on social media.  With these factors in mind, ideally you should have more direction and clarity on whether or not an MBA is right for you. Furthermore, something to consider is that the MBA education does go beyond just the traditional 2-year program, including Part-Time/Hybrid programs, Executive MBA (EMBA), 1-Year Programs, Global programs, and Specialized Masters. Each program has its differences and benefits, depending on your goals and lifestyle.