Settle for the right B-school

KJS Anand

Business degrees are amongst the most soughtafter degrees. With the growing demands in the job market of many business sectors; many would disagree that studying business would be an investment in your future.

When you are prepared to pursue an undergraduate degree, selecting the right business school will play a significant role in building the most out of your business education. There are various points to take into consideration while choosing a B-school. Here are some suggestions that candidates should keep in mind, prior to applying in the said schools:

Inspiring faculty

A credible business school will make sure to recruit the most competent and brilliant teachers and researchers from across the globe. Most of the top business schools have a high percentage of global teaching staff, wherein their vast experience will have the understanding and familiarity to successfully build aspiring business leaders.

The method of teaching will not only be theory-based. Enthusiastic faculty will lay emphasis on practical viewpoint by creating exercises for the application of theory to the real issues in the business world today. The knowledge and connections in the industry by faculty members will assist them in advising students and even linking them to internships and other career opportunities, because what better way to learn than through experience!  If you are interested in working in a particular field or industry, relations of the faculty and the school to that specific industry should be an important factor to be taken into consideration, as this could give you a headstart, for the day after your graduation day.

Know yourself personally, professionally and academically

Your Bachelor's of Business Administration (BBA) application is crucial as that gives you an opportunity to make your case with the admission committees of various schools to show that you are a perfect fit for their school. To do this, you are required to replicate on paper - who you are individually, resourcefully and academically. There are many questions that should be dealt with effectively. These include - What makes that one quality unique to you that make you stand out from other applicants? How have you impacted the world, and how will you keep on doing so? What makes you an efficient leader? Since top business schools are swamped with applications each year, an important deciding factor for admissions committees are as follows: 

n Why prospective students want a BBA (and why they require it to be done that very year). 

n Do you want a BBA to break into a new career (that forms on your preceding experience)? 

n Do you want to be an entrepreneur? 

The more tangible detail you can present, the more convincing you get to the superior admissions officers to recognize your base for pursuing an BBA, and the more liable it is for you to get selected. 

Bright, dedicated classmates 

Most business degree programmes have a load of group assignments, hence you will be using a substantial amount of time working with and even learning from your fellow students. This will help to learn to work as a part of a team and to develop leadership skills. A lot can be learnt from your fellow students, as there is a great possibility that they will be your colleagues, partners or constant contender in the future. Business graduates frequently look for employment or mentorship with former students of their discipline. An excellent question to pose is - What type of scholar does this school attract? That can help you know the kind of alumnae you will be interacting with and whether or not you desire to be a part of it. 

Choice of subjects 

and majors

Businesses have a number of areas to concentrate on. It is imperative for you to select a school that has the subjects and majors that will help you in delivering not only through the business degree programme but for the future also. For instance, if you are looking to initiate a business of your own, you can look for a school that present a concrete base of business courses and at the same time allows you to concentrate in entrepreneurship.

Flexibility

A course in a B-school will take up most of your day. Flexibility is significant for students who have other commitments and responsibilities at home or maybe a part-time job. If you are one of those candidates, then you should consider business schools that present programmes with these flexibilities, say for example distance learning programmes, weekend classes etc. Working students should also look into things that whether the company you are working for will be willing to subsidise your studies. There are many companies who support their employees distance learning, since a flexible course will allow them to stay with the company and apply what they learn. 

— The writer  is Executive Director IMS NOIDA, He can be reached at [email protected]