Over the past few weeks, I’ve met a number of prospective students who have expressed a common concern: I don’t have a formal business background, how is the transition to the MBA program going to be for me? As someone who majored in Foreign Affairs and worked in the nonprofit sector for 5 years in fundraising and event management, the nervousness around the application and then ultimately the transition to the MBA program is a feeling that I am very familiar with and am happy to share that the transition is in fact nothing to worry about! Whether you majored in art history or politics or French or have spent the last 5 years skiing the Alps, here are a few reasons to not stress about the application or the transition from life pre-MBA to your first year in the program:
- It’s all about how you tell your story. Often referred to as your elevator pitch, or “what you wrote in your essay,” it’s critical to know where you are in your career and professional life and how an MBA will help take you to the next level. When you prepare for your interview, Admissions teams are really looking for you to make the connection between your current career and how you think an MBA can further leverage that experience to take you to the next level in your career.
- Everyone has dealt with a management issue. I've talked to applicants who have stressed about their lack of "management experience." Admissions staff isn't looking for you to have directly managed a team or other employees (obviously if you have, make sure to share that!), but even if you have worked in a "softer skill" role, you've probably had to make strategic decisions that have impacted your organization. Or maybe you've been a part of a team where you've really struggled and had to overcome obstacles? Admissions staff are really looking for you to explain how you've used critical thinking to make decisions that ultimately show them that you have the potential to be a business leader and manager.
- People are looking at your GMAT quant score. Yes, the GMAT. We all hate it. That's a fact. However, if you have a non-business or quantitative background, you already know that you can't retake your college courses all over again. Maybe you even took an Econ class and didn't do well (or 2 like someone I know...yes, that's me)? Point is, the quant section of the GMAT is your time to show Admissions that you can in fact hang with your peers with quantitative backgrounds. Obviously, the verbal section shouldn't be ignored - but if you are worried about how to show your quantitative strenghs, the quant section of the GMAT provides the opportunity.
At this point, many of you might be thinking "Ok Siobhan, so I've already done all of this and have gotten accepted to BC and am still a little nervous about what to expect." That's fine! I felt the same way. If you have already mastered the GMAT and rocked your interview and have bought your BC sweatshirt in preparation for the fall - here are a few things that will hopefully calm your nerves about the fall:
- You will never be in a class where you are the only person who hasn't taken Statistics, Accounting, Finance or any quant class before. At BC, if you majored in a specific subject, you can waive out of that course, so often the "experts" are out of the course keeping the class more at the same level. Every course - from Marketing to Finance - is designed to be an intro level for MBAs. Even at other MBA programs, if you are not a "quant person" there are often seminars before the program starts to get you up to speed. At BC, there are sometimes people in your class who have experience with the subject, but luckily, given our culture of a strong community, these are the people you find to help you when you feel lost!
- Group projects are basically the workplace in the classroom - minus the boss. Group projects are collaborative and at BC, teams are formed of individuals with various backgrounds. You will never find yourself on a team with 4 other people who have been trading derivatives or working at a private equity firm. Plus, your teammmates who really are more comfortable with numbers are typically looking for you (yes, you - the English major) to help them with writing up reports and other less numbers oriented activities.
- Your professors want you to excel. At least at BC, your professors are smiling when you did well on that exam - and are upset when they see that you did not do well, especially when you tried your hardest. I have never seen faculty with such dedication to their students' achievement and they will make time to help you better understand how to create that statement of cash flows or identify the NPV on a potential investment. If you are worried about some of your quant classes, go and talk to your professors early on and stay in touch with them during the semester if you see yourself slipping behind or not understanding content. They really do want to make sure that you walk away from their class understanding how to leverage the skills they are teaching you in the classroom in your future career.
