Getting Into Graduate School
Step1
Decide whether to pursue an MBA with a concentration in management or another graduate degree in management such as an MS or PhD. The MBA is a professional terminal degree designed for professionals in the workplace rather than academics pursuing a research career.
Step2
Compare several graduate schools that have academic quality, likelihood of acceptance and meet the applicant's personal criteria. Check school rankings in US News and World Report or Business Week. Also, consider how well respected and published the school and faculty are. Review admissions and GMAT test score requirements and application deadlines and fees.
Step3
Schedule a campus tour and meet with the admissions advisors and management professors in the college of business. In order to earn a doctorate in management, a professor must sponsor the student as an educational mentor in the coursework especially for the dissertation. In most cases, the professors in the college "vote" to accept a doctoral student based on what the student plans to research for the dissertation.
Step4
Study for the GMAT. Kaplan has study guides and courses available to prepare for the GMAT. Schedule and take the GMAT on one of the set test days. Fee payment is part of scheduling for this standardized test. Take the GMAT at least 4 months prior to the anticipated enrollment date. Request that the testing facility send test results to the graduate programs in consideration.
Step5
Select and apply to graduate schools by the school's deadline. Wait for a reply.
Step6
Apply for financial aid including loans, grants, fellowships and scholarships. Apply early because most scholarship sponsors and the government award money on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Earning the Degree
Step1
Meet with an academic advisor to review and select courses for the degree plan. The college of business typically preselects most of the master's graduate students first year's courses. Talk to other grad students to get feedback on courses and professors' teaching styles when selecting courses and electives. Other students are a great resource for course selection and used textbooks.
Step2
Register for classes and purchase books. Whenever possible purchase used books or order books online from sites such as Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble to save money.
Step3
Attend classes; sit towards the front of the class. Ask questions in class or during the professor's office hours. Review the syllabus for all classes and mark assignment due dates and test dates on a calendar.
Step4
Maintain the college's minimum grade point average in all courses in order to remain in school. Not maintaining the minimum GPA for more than 2 semesters typically results in failing out of the program. Develop relationships with the professors so they recognize the student. In some cases, professors reward GPA borderline students who have shown a commitment and hard work.
Step5
Complete coursework earning the necessary credit hours and at the conclusion of coursework prepare a thesis or dissertation. Students must present and defend their thesis/dissertations before a panel and pass this hurdle to illustrate being an expert in management to receive the master's or doctorate degree. Some colleges do not require the completion of a thesis or dissertation at the Master's Level, especially for an MBA; instead some require a comprehensive exam.
