I chose to get my MBA from University of Dallas because of its reputation, ranking and curriculum after extensively researching several schools. I determined how long each program had been established because it was important to me that my business school was time-honored. I also looked at college ranking guides and read online reviews from students to determine what kind of reputation each school had.
Similarly, I investigated the specific curricula of the business programs at each graduate school I was considering. It was important to me to find a program that offered the specialization I wanted without locking me in to a concentration. I am interested in project management, so I searched for schools that offered a lot of courses in that area. At the same time, I wanted some flexibility in the program so that I could add a different concentration if I decided that something else is also of interest and comply with the other concentration.
When I was applying to my graduate program, I had to submit 3 letters of recommendation. I chose to ask my project management teacher for a letter of recommendation because that is the specific area of business I wanted to concentrate on in graduate school. I think that letter added credibility to my application because it showed my dedication to the subject. I also obtained letters of recommendation from 2 of my work supervisors. I believe that having letters from different sources showed that my skills are not just limited to the classroom.
I also wrote a personal statement for my graduate school application. I took the personal statement very seriously. Before I composed mine, I researched personal statements and asked for help from friends who had been admitted to graduate programs. When I drafted my statement, I wrote about why I wanted to earn an MBA, what I could contribute to the school and what I had accomplished. I expressed my excitement to improve as a management analyst and consultant. I described my past work with companies and non-governmental organizations. I also highlighted my accomplishments and awards.
Finally, before applying to the University of Dallas, I had to submit standardized test scores from the GMAT. I studied for the test by using GMAT prep books from the library.
I recommend that other students include more personal information in their graduate school applications than I did. For instance, students should tell schools about their volunteer work and sports that they like to play. Including this type of information will show that they can multitask and are well rounded.
My MBA program at University of Dallas lasts 2 years. I take 2 to 4 classes each semester. Each class relates to and builds upon the previous semester’s work.
Because I am still in the first semester, I am currently enrolled in foundation courses. My classes cover topics including business economics, principles of management and strategy, foundations of marketing and information technology for managers. The material in the first semester does not cover any of the topics in depth, but the courses lay the groundwork for more comprehensive material later.
In the second semester, I will take value-based courses, which will be more detailed and intensive. Value-based courses include marketing, effective leadership, project management and business informatics. Those classes will focus more on practical skills than the topics I am studying in the first semester. I will also work on research projects in the second semester.
During the third semester, I will start to focus on my concentration area. That is when I will take more project management courses as electives. Finally, in the last semester I will take a capstone class. Each student will be assigned to a real company. I will meet with executives at my company to talk about a problem they are facing. Then I will have 3 to 4 months to develop a plan to solve the problem.
I have not yet completed an internship. My MBA program encourage students to intern, but completion of an internship is not a requirement to graduate. Many students choose to intern during their third or fourth semester, so internships usually last about 3 to 4 months. If a student is interesting in interning, the school has a good career center in which students can prepare resumes and apply for internships.
I am funding my education through a Fulbright Fellowship, which completely covers my tuition and living expenses. The Fulbright Fellowship is available for international students who want to study in the United States and for U.S. citizens who go abroad to study.
The biggest difference between my masters program and my undergraduate study is the curriculum. The curriculum of my masters program is much more relevant to my career because the classes are focused on training business professionals. Many of my classes are also taught by working business professionals who offer real-life advice, examples and expertise.
Earning an MBA involves a large time commitment. I am enrolled in 4 courses this semester and I spend about 12 hours per week in class. On top of that, I spend an average of 4 hours reading every day. Some classes focus on projects and additional research, so I also spend several hours each week conducting research. Because my MBA program at University of Dallas is quite demanding, I don’t usually have very much free time during the week. However, I do try to make free time on the weekends.
In order to make time for my personal life, I try to be efficient when I study. Keeping an agenda has helped me manage my time effectively. When I have a big assignment, I first take out a calendar and figure out how much time I will have to spend on the project each day. I try to stay within the time limits that I set so that I have time to finish all of my assignments on time.
In the future, I would like to work at an information technology company as a project management consultant. It is too early to say where I will work afterwards, but I think that I will have good opportunities after I complete my program.
If you are interested in pursuing an MBA, I recommend that you first make sure that business is the right career track for you. Before you begin an MBA you should learn what it is really like to work in business by gaining hands-on experience. I knew what to expect from an MBA program because I studied business as an undergraduate student. I also worked for a couple of companies and organizations. That is also how I decided to concentrate on project management, which has given my education much more direction. I also encourage students who have engineering backgrounds to pursue MBAs. In my experience, this is a great combination of fields.
I suggest you also decide if you want to specialize in a specific area of business early on. You may not want to focus in a narrow area, but if you do find something that interests you, such as project management or marketing, you can find a specialized program that will be more useful in your career.
