July | 2012 | The Official GMAT Blog

An MBA Your Way: Part-Time Programs

Posted on July 17, 2012 by GMAC

If you’re looking for a way to earn an MBA without leaving your current job, consider a part-time program. Part-time MBA programs are structured to minimize schedule conflicts for working professionals. In testing year 2011 alone, more than 31,000 GMAT® examinees worldwide indicated they were looking to pursue a part-time MBA program. By all measures—increased earning potential, skill development, preparation for leadership roles, and improved job satisfaction—a part-time MBA can provide an invaluable boost up the career ladder. And even if you plan to transition to a new industry, part-time MBA programs can give you an opportunity to leverage your existing professional networks to change jobs or try a new field.

How Can a Part-Time MBA Advance Your Career?

A vast majority of part-time MBA alumni from the classes of 2000 to 2011 rated their programs highly in terms of the following career outcomes:

Preparation for leadership positions (91%)
Preparation for chosen career (88%)
Opportunities for quicker career advancement (83%)
Increased earning power (84%)
Improved job satisfaction (82%)
Development of a professional network (79%)

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Filed under: Choosing the right School, Infographic, Official GMAT, Part-Time MBA, School Selection, Work-Life Balance | 1 Comment »

How a Graduate Management Degree Can Help Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Posted on July 6, 2012 by GMAC

Can you learn to be an entrepreneur or is it something innate? This is a question that often divides opinion in the management education world. Some believe that entrepreneurs are born risk-takers whose brains are wired differently than the rest of the population. Others believe it’s possible to learn the core skills to set up a business, take risks, and launch a new product or service, even if you’re not born with the ‘go-getter’ genes.

Most MBA programs now incorporate entrepreneurship courses that cover topics such as finding an idea, building a team, writing a business plan, raising funds, and setting up the legal framework for a company.

Dedicated entrepreneurship centers, such as the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago Booth or the Rock Center at Harvard Business School, have become more commonplace in the last decade. These centers support MBA entrepreneurs (current students and alumni), foster innovation across the business school and promote cutting edge research to help bring entrepreneurship into the academic mainstream.

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Filed under: Business School, Career, Entrepreneurs, Official GMAT | Leave a Comment »