An MBA:

1. It gives you credibility with your business peers. Having an MBA demonstrates your commitment to the business because you've invested the substantial time and energy required to obtain the degree. It shows that you value the business perspective and recognize that whatever you do is intended to enable business activities and is not an end in itself. An MBA also indicates that you've mastered a certain level of knowledge in business management, which gives you the ability and confidence to speak on equal terms with executives outside of your domain as well. MBA adds credibility to your perspective when you're discussing solutions to business problems with your colleagues. It teaches you to think like a business person. A logical mindset is essential to troubleshooting problems and managing projects. Business people, on the other hand, tend to think in terms of strategies and value, and human (customers and investors) reactions. The business perspective, by its nature, tends to rely more on estimation and trial and error. The ability to think like a business person is critical for managers, especially those of us who wish to position themselves strategically within the company. We need to know how to plan, design and build a competence that is capable of supporting the business as it adapts to a changing marketplace. Without this business mindset you may be at risk of creating a department that is too rigid, too slow or too restrictive to fully support the companys needs. An MBA teaches you to look at problems and opportunities holistically. It also provides analytical frameworks, such as risk assessments, cost-benefit analyses and strategic plans, that you can apply to any problem or opportunity you encounter. The business mindset that an MBA gives you becomes habit because you use those frameworks repeatedly in a rigorous academic environment, and you see how they can be applied in a variety of situations from one course to another. An MBA is your ticket to the inner circle. Indeed, you do have more to offer because you possess that broad business mindset, and your colleagues recognize your value by asking you informally for your perspective on their problems and formally to lead up committees. When you have those conversations with your business counterparts and start offering insight, they will think of you the next time a strategic issue comes up and they'll be far more likely to get you involved in conversations early on. You will be asked to lead it because of the credibility you have as a business person. You will communicate better with your business colleagues. Each of the business functions (such as sales, marketing, accounting, auditing, risk management and human resources) has its own jargon, which represents equally complex ideas or processes. In business school, you learn the distinct languages of those functions. You learn, for example, the difference between cash-based accounting and the accrual method, earned value and net present value, suspect and prospect, guerilla marketing and viral marketing, and situational interviews versus behavioral interviews.

When someone discusses with you the cost of switching from a cash-based accounting method to an accrual method, you know they are referring to the large write-off associated with booking expenses and income when they are incurred as opposed to when money changes hands. You understand that this one-time expense occurs because you would have to book a bunch of expenses in the current year that normally dont get booked until the next year. You know this because you learned in business school what the terms mean as well as the implications of each approach. Your knowledge of different accounting methods allows you to be an active participant in business conversations. The CFO doesn't have to explain things to you. Even better, you don't have to nod your head as if you understand what the CFO is saying, only to Google the terms later. More importantly, you can use the business function's own terminology to explain to your business colleagues the impact of technology. Using a language with which they are comfortable makes it easier for you to explain technical details to them and to get their support. Finally, the MBA experience will change the language you use in conversation with business people. Imagine if you were working in the IT industry before you went through an MBA You might enter a conversation by asking, How can we solve this problem with technology? Now you may start by saying, How does it make sense to solve this problem? because technology isnt the solution to every problem. An MBA better prepares you to solve business problems. You are in the process of implementing credit card processing on campus at Mumbai University. When you are discussing the impact credit card processing will have on the general ledger and the reconciliation process, you are not lost. Because you studied accounting in business school, you can assist with technical and process automation solutions because you know what the university is trying to accomplish, what can be automated, and what needs to be reviewed and audited. Thus, you have made meaningful contributions to this project. You'll learn how to read and interpret business statements. The MBA curriculum teaches you to understand and interpret financial statements, marketing plans, market analyses, audit reports and business development plans. Knowing how to read a financial statement is important when, for example, you are evaluating a vendor's financial health. Knowing how to interpret marketing plans and market analyses will help you identify a vendors strengths and overall strategies to see if the vendor can or will continue to be able to meet your needs. It's also helpful when trying to understand your own organization's operating environment: The better you understand the way your company is moving, the better able you'll be to position your department in front as opposed to being dragged along behind. Being in front, on the leading edge of change, is more fun and will make your department much more valuable to the company. An MBA can give you an opportunity to deepen your technical expertise. While working on my MBA, you have to write numerous papers, so you took each opportunity to explore the application of different alternatives in business. The process of writing each paper will give you greater insight into each topic.

You can apply business school classwork to your day job. In one class you wrote a paper that investigated the value of training for the Class 4 Employees in a company, and you used the research and arguments exceptionally well. In that assignment you could convince the management to approve a substantial training budget for the staff in that company. On another occasion, you developed a statistical analysis that identified giving patterns across different segments of University of Mumbais alumni. In this analysis, you compared different categories of graduates and the frequency and amount they donated to the University. Your analysis revealed that alumni who received their Graduate degrees in Engineering gave with the greatest frequency and donated nearly twice the average amount of other segments of the giving population. This particular group of alums had been managed by a centralized annual fund group for many years, but after you presented your findings, the Engineering Section lobbied for and received approval to appeal to those generous donors directly. The result was more fund-raising for the Section and for the University overall. You would not have thought to explore this business issue of fundraising had you not gone through the MBA process, and the University might not have brought in more donations had you not uncovered these funding patterns. You'll polish your written communication skills. Because the MBA is a master's-level academic program, you generally have to produce a 10- to 30-page report for each class subject. You may have to demonstrate academic mastery of a given topic with each paper you write. The ability to research business topics and develop written comprehensive analyses quickly will be enormously helpful to you in your role. You'll learn standard tools for organizing business activity and managing business processes. MBA gives you the tools, techniques and resources you need to run your Function like a businessthings like risk management plans, performance plans, project management methodologies, steering committees, process maps and marketing plans. You will learn to manage the function in a far more disciplined and strategic manner. Once you start putting those tools and techniques into practice, the business starts to recognize your function as a strategic asset. Its like a job promotion: You dont get recognized for the work youre going to doyou get recognized for the work youve already done. All of these benefits can be attained through other means, other training or other experiences. While the MBA is expensive, requires a big emotional investment and can distract you from your day-to-day work, only the MBA can provide all of the above benefits in a relatively short time frame, in a comprehensive framework and with a lasting credential.

There are many reasons to consider getting an MBA. Here are some of the most common:

Because You Want to Advance Your Career Although it may be possible to climb the ranks over the years, there are some careers that require an MBA for advancement. Examples include areas of finance and banking and consultancy. Furthermore, there are also some companies who will not promote employees who do not continue or improve education through an MBA program. Earning an MBA does not guarantee career advancement, but it certainly doesn't hurt employment or promotion prospects. Because You Want to Change Careers If you are interested in changing careers, switching industries, or making yourself a marketable employee in a variety of fields, an MBA degree can help you do all three. While enrolled in an MBA program, you will have the opportunity to learn general business and management expertise that can be applied to nearly any industry. You may also get the chance to specialize in a particular area of business, such as accounting, finance, marketing, or human resources. Specializing in one area will prepare you to work in that field after graduation regardless of your undergraduate degree or previous work experience. Because You Want to Assume a Leadership Role Not every business leader or executive has an MBA. However, it may be easier to assume or be considered for leadership roles if you have an MBA education behind you. While enrolled in an MBA program, you will study leadership, business, and management philosophies that can be applied to almost any leadership role. Business school may also give you hands-on experience leading study groups, classroom discussions, and school organizations. Because You Are Truly Interested in Studying Business One of the best reasons to get an MBA is because you are truly interested in studying business administration. If you enjoy the topic and feel like you can increase your knowledge and expertise, pursuing an MBA for the simple sake of getting an education is probably a worthy goal.

MBA opens doors

MBA students gain an education that prepares them for their future. Skills attained from an MBA are priceless to your development and can accelerate your success in a business management atmosphere. Soft skills are transferable to many jobs; an MBA is known to increase some of the following characteristics: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Communication Leadership Analytical Thinking Problem Solving Interpersonal Teamwork Networking

Attaining an MBA allows you to learn how to successfully manage, lead, organize and adapt in a variety of business environments. The skills learned through an MBA program prepare you with practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge that you can further your business aspirations with. When you first graduate from an under-graduate program, it is often hard to get your foot in the door right away. More and more top businesses regard the MBA as a measure of a prospective employee's capabilities on a management level. Are you stuck in a rut? Don't feel like you're really going anywhere with the job you have, or the quality of your career? Getting an MBA is the best way to refresh your mind and to get started on something that you are very passionate about. An MBA is just another addition to the work experience you may already have in your field. An MBA gives you an academic edge that after so many years, your current job might not be able to teach you.

Plus, an MBA opens doors when you try to apply to new jobs. Having this on your resume shows that you are hardworking enough to persevere to go back to school and learn more. This sort of dedication and effort is a characteristic any employer would love to have in their employee or person of higher, executive management.

Benefits of MBA
The advantages of MBA are manifold; racing it onto the top slot of the most opted for degree program in the world. Some of the main benefits of MBA are:

Managerial Skills: Knowledge imparted in MBA program extends out in developing managerial skills for candidates. These skills provide the essentials for dealing with real-time situations pertaining to management and resolution of problems. You are not only equipped in enacting a managerial role but also facilitated in grasping core responsibilities of your organization. Developing business expertise: MBA provides an added advantage for students from non-business backgrounds. By earning an MBA degree, you increase your practical knowledge in the field of business administration. Most of the business schools recognize MBA both as a professional and academic degree. Even after completing your MBA, you can continue your doctorate in any other discipline. Competitive advantage: A competent MBA program prepares candidates as highly qualified leaders. The specialized skills and leadership qualities taught in MBA programs, provides you with a competitive advantage over others. Most of the leading business organizations prefer to hire MBAs for higher management positions. Career Advancement: An MBA degree helps you in quickly climbing up the corporate ladder with a handsome salary package alongside a respectable designation. According to a recent survey, high performing successful MBAs are more likely to reach top management levels of Fortune 500 companies and other corporate areas. MBAs with specialized skills are commonly selected to lead startup companies. Recession Proof Degree / Job Security: An MBA degree provides a combination of elective and specialized courses wherein by training candidates to handle complex business situations. Thus, having an MBA degree assures sustainability of your job in the organization. The demand for MBAs rides high even during global economic recession. Career Change: An MBA in general and a Dual MBA in particular, provide you with the cushion of switching your career. An MBA with particular specialization makes it easier for you to move across industries. Business Connections and Networking: Social networking during the MBA academic term helps in establishing business contacts and referrals. In the long run, you can avail these contacts in improving your business position in the market. Starting your own business: An ideal MBA program helps you in becoming business savvy. The skill-set taught in MBA provides you with the hands-on training for dealing with real work business problems. Eventually, you can branch out as an independent entrepreneur: running your very own successful business.

Why an MBA
Nearly eighty percent of top executives polled in a recent survey said that earning a graduate degree in business is important for those who want to obtain top management

positions in most companies. The truth is that as the world moves toward a more corporate and service-oriented economy, earning an MBA becomes an effective way of not only ensuring your employment, but also ensuring your success and marketability an ever evolving job market. As businesses have continued to be impressed with abilities and accomplishments of MBA graduates, the MBA degree has become much more popular. The return on investment for an MBA certainly appears worthwhile. Most MBA programs regardless of the major focus will provide you with training in basic business principle needed by any business manager including, corporate finance, economics, strategic planning, marketing, basic accounting, etc. However, if you know which career field you are interested in, selecting a specific MBA focus will allow you to specialize and better prepare yourself for your career. This means you won't just learn the basis of corporate finance, but rather advance corporate, investment finance, financial accounting and financial markets which will make you much more marketable as a financial analyst or banker. Whether you decide to pursue a general MBA or a specific specialization earning an MBA in any field is an excellent option.. Research indicates that individuals with an MBA tend to move up the promotion ladder much quicker than those without the degree. Not only that, but most employees possessing an MBA on average earn more than their lessereducated contemporaries. These statistics should come as no surprise given the fact that MBA graduates are in high demand at multi-million dollar companies throughout the world. Finally, earning MBA is an ideal networking opportunity for those interesting in obtaining a career with large corporations in many different industries. Most reputable MBA programs have relationships with local business, business leaders and community leaders who have connections high up. Almost as valuable as the degree itself, are the connections that are made while earning an MBA. We believe earning an MBA is a good idea for anyone interested in a successful business career.

MBA Degree
What is an MBA Degree? The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree that is awarded to

students who have mastered the study of business. The MBA degree is thought to be one of the most prestigious and sought after degrees in the world. Students of MBA programs study the theory and application of business and management principles. This type of study equips students with knowledge that can be applied to a variety of real world business situations. Why Get an MBA Degree? The main reason to attend school is to increase your salary potential and advance your career. Because graduates who hold an MBA degree are eligible for jobs that would not be offered to those who hold only a high school diploma, an MBA degree is almost a necessity in todays business world. In most cases, an MBA degree is required for executive and senior management positions. There are some companies who will not even consider applicants unless they have an MBA degree. People who hold an MBA degree will find that there are many different types of employment opportunities that are available to them. What Can You Do With an MBA Degree? Many MBA programs offer an education in general management along with a more specialized curriculum. Because this type of education is relevant to all industries and sectors, it will be valuable regardless of the career that is chosen after graduation. Types of MBA Degrees When it comes to the MBA degree, there are many different disciplines that can be pursued and combined. The options shown below are some of the most common MBA concentrations/degrees:

Accounting Business Management E-Business/E-Commerce Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Global Management Human Resources Management Information Systems Marketing Operations Management Strategic/Risk Management Technology Management

Where Can You Get an MBA Degree? Much like a law school or medical school education, the academic content of a business school education does not vary much between programs.

Choosing an MBA Program Nowadays, there are many different types of MBA programs. Before making a decision, you should evaluate each and every one. An MBA is one of the most coveted postgraduate degrees today not just for business professionals, but for college graduates in general. Having a master's degree in business administration is necessary for those who want to gain an advantage in this ultra-tough industry. It is one of several business degrees that provide a huge impact on a professional's salary and career advancement options. Being an official Master of Business Administration is also an attractive endeavor for professionals outside the industry because the program touches different fields and sectors. Overall, MBA training is a valuable asset regardless of the career path chosen by college graduates. An MBA is incredibly helpful and often required, of executive officers of large and even some small companies. The higher the degree the more marketable you will become. Whether it's worth it depends on your career goals and objectives. If you wish to pursue areas of management (especially in the corporate sector) then yes, it would be worth it. Still, the Masters degree will also open new areas of opportunity for you. If you plan on being in the work force for some time, its worth pursuing higher levels of education.

MBA

Why an MBA

The MBA is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. It is a degree designed to give you the ability to develop your career to its fullest potential, at an accelerated pace. What will you get out of an MBA? Aside from a powerful life experience, the MBA degree should supply three main value propositions: Skills, Networks, and Brand.

Skills

These include the "hard skills" of economics, finance, marketing, operations, management, and accounting, as well as the "soft skills of leadership, teamwork, ethics, and communication that are so critical for effective management. MBA students acquire these skills inside and outside the classroom. Since MBA programs attract people from very diverse industries and cultures, a program should be able to leverage these differences and translate them into learning opportunities.

Networks

An MBA degree program offers access to a network of MBA students, alumni, faculty, and business and community leaders. This network can be very useful when beginning a job search, developing a career path, building business relationships in your current career, or pursuing expertise outside your current field. For example, entrepreneurs need access to capital, business partners, vendors, and clients. Arts-related businesses need access to funding and strategic management in order to position themselves to be relevant in the marketplace. Global businesses need access to local business cultures as they expand their enterprises to new territories.

Brand

The MBA degree is a recognized brand that signifies management and leadership training. The particular school and type of MBA program you attend also have brand associations that can help open doors based on the school's reputation. The strength of a school's brand is based on the program's history, its ability to provide students with technical skills and opportunities for personal growth, and the reach of its alumni and industry network. A powerful brand can give you the flexibility to make changes throughout your career. Also

An MBA program strives to equip its students

For many purposes, an M.B.A. is the fastest road between where we are now and where we want to go in this competitive environment.

Career Advancement or Career Change

You may want to gain a position of greater responsibility in your current field. Or you may want to switch from one area of business to another-from marketing or sales to strategic planning or finance, for example.

You could be looking to change your career path altogether. Using an M.B.A. to switch career focus is a typical strategy. Many people seek a management position after acquiring expertise in a different field altogether-such as nursing, teaching, performing arts, or engineering-because they want to shift to a management position in their area. An M.B.A. can help you make a major break or leap in your career path-with a concomitant leap in income. You may aspire to an area that "requires" an M.B.A. as an entry. An M.B.A. signals a prospective employer that you've got the knowledge and skills a demanding job requires, as well as persistence, energy, and even time-management skills to handle it.

Specific Management Training

Obtaining specific management training and expertise is another common reason for pursuing an M.B.A. Although the M.B.A. is a general management degree, most programs provide opportunities to study one or more areas in greater depth. Investment bankers typically concentrate on finance in their M.B.A.s, for instance.

EMPLOYABLE SKILLS GAINED BY MBAs

The transferable skills derived from study for an MBA include the following:

Academic achievement: demonstrates application and high standards of performance; Communication skills: listening, speaking carefully and clearly, the ability to put across your arguments fluently in writing; Analysis: distinguishing relevant from irrelevant information, identifying issues and problems; Commitment: seriousness of purpose, demonstrated both by taking time out from your career on a reduced salary (or no salary) in order to improve your qualifications and by combining work and part-time study; Practicality: realism, ability to set attainable goals; Maturity: tenacity, independence, organization; Decisiveness: fact-finding skills, clarity, judgment, courage; Intellectual creativity: the ability to develop new concepts and ideas; Capacity for hard work: embodying self-motivation, self-discipline and time management; Group skills: teamwork, leadership, ability to motivate others; The mastery of IT skills: knowledge of statistical packages, spreadsheets, databases and programming languages; Cross-cultural awareness: working with fellow-students from many different nationalities and backgrounds.

In addition to the skills outlined above you are likely to have developed the following skills to a high level through an MBA and through previous employment:

The ability to overcome difficulties and to solve problems; To be independent and to have developed the skill of managing your own time and work; To be capable of original and creative thought; To argue your case with logic and not to be easily dissuaded by the views of others.

Having an MBA not only gives you more leverage in dictating new job titles and salary, but also gives you leverage in achieving a better balance between work (read: fewer hours working) and life outside work.

Put in a different way:

To become a manager or a better existing manager. Earn a better salary. To develop better critical thinking skills. To sharpen strategy and tactical skills.

To develop appropriate leadership skills. To broaden ones scope. To learn and develop strategic thinking. To analyze organizational methods and procedures. To enrich ones life. To take on more responsibilities To expand ones network To step to a higher level within a career To learn approaches to solve real life problems. To increase motivation. To increase performance. To learn to use power appropriately To learn the art of influencing people To become more marketable To learn negotiation dynamics To learn the methods for building energized teams. Develop managerial competence. To develop a global mindset. For personal development. To enhance interpersonal skills. To learn the importance of cultural sensitivity. To learn the risk management skills. To lead change. To learn the importance of social responsibility. To develop strategic planning skills.

The list can go on, however you can understand from the above the importance of higher education i.e. MBA and its impact on you and society in general.

Career and Personal Benefits: Enduring and Ephemeral

"How the MBA Helps Your Career - Three tangible outcomes that all students should expect to achieve from their MBA programs:

1) Development and honing of analytical skills with which to identify, analyze and address business problems. 2) Development and mastery of people-leading and people-management skills. 3) Development and deepening of life-long personal and professional relationships with other students in the program. Analytical Skills: Teaching analytical skills, arguably a great help in analyzing and addressing business problems, is the forte of virtually every MBA program. In fact, in every "consumer" survey asking employers of MBA's what attributes among graduates they routinely find most developed, analytical skills are always at the top of the "most satisfied with" list. So based on a program's effectiveness in teaching analytical skills, it's apparently hard to go wrong. Big schools, small schools, well-known schools, and little-known schools - they all produce MBAs who get high marks for analysis and technical competency. People Skills: A majority of MBA candidates have technical backgrounds in fields like engineering, finance, accounting, and the sciences. The reality is that as business managers rise in their organizations and take on ever-greater responsibilities, the percentage of their time devoted to "people problems" increases exponentially. The CFO of one of the world's largest softdrink giants (one of only two), whose training had been in accounting, once told that 95 percent of his time was spent dealing with people problems; the financial issues had to be compacted into the remaining 5 percent. Connections: The Ultimate Enduring Value Finally, we come to probably the most important and most enduring benefit for those MBAs lucky enough to have acquired it: deep, personal relationships with other members of their MBA cohorts. Furthermore, based on feedback from alumni who are five, ten and more years removed from their MBA studies, the quality and quantity of lasting personal relationships are the ultimate enduring values of their MBA experience. Prospective MBA students should expect that - should demand that - from their MBA programs.

Why an MBA?
The MBA qualification broadens and enhances knowledge and should be viewed in a sense of building up skills. Although the most popular reasons for undertaking the MBA is to increase salary, other

reasons include widening career opportunities, furthering ones career and/or to extend personal networks. There are other equally important reasons that any prospective MBA student will state, but by far the most compelling is to create career opportunities for oneself. The challenges imposed by the 21st century have made it an essential component that we upgrade skills and qualifications in order to meet the demands set by companies, customers and the environment we operate within. This is where the MBA becomes a tool to be utilized in building up existing competencies the theory learned can be utilized to find plausible solutions to concurrent business issues. At the end of an MBA programme, one emerges with an upper level of functional managerial and business issues as well as new conceptual skills ready to meet the demands that are set by the competitiveness around us. With an MBA, you can: Advance your career Whether you're a doctor, an engineer, or an editor for your local newspaper, a graduate business degree can prepare you to move into a managerial position within your field. Change your career If your current career path is a less than perfect fit for your aptitudes and interests, business school can give you the opportunity to explore your options, and then provide you with the training you need to change careers entirely. Set up your own business Interested in starting your own business, but not sure that you have the necessary expertise to launch a start-up in a high-growth industry? An MBA can prepare you to do everything from writing a business plan to acquiring venture capital to launching an IPO. Research has shown that the failure rate for small businesses started by an MBA is about 50 percent less than the standard failure rate. Develop technical skill and business knowledge Can you advance to a managerial position or launch your own business without the benefit of a graduate degree in business? Yes. There is much to be learned from on-the-job training and employers certainly value work experience. However, an MBA programme will put you on the fast-track to career advancement by offering you the chance to develop a wide range of general business knowledge and a broad base of technical skill in a relatively short period of time. Become a leader in an emerging field Innovative education can lead to an exciting career in a newly emerging field, such as brand management, information technology, e-commerce, or mobile telecommunications. Network Networking is another key benefit. Business school teaching styles encourage teamwork and, over the course of an MBA programme, you'll develop important relationships that

can serve you well throughout your business career. And no matter the school, you can often get plugged into a network of alumni working at a wide range of companies. This is useful for professional contacts. Although the degree is considered the pathway to a successful career, it still does not guarantee a flood of job offers, but when one considers the positive options, it far outweighs the negative issues. It is a costly course and the time constraints that are associated with the study load are legendary. Thats why, in some circles, it has been termed Married, but away. Approach the studies with an open mindset and let your intentions be to develop yourself to your full capacity. Accept the programme as a challenge, set your personal as well as career objectives and, most importantly, utilize the Masters of Business Administration degree to close gaps that may exist within your skills and qualifications, so that you can facilitate and expedite your management career.

The days have long gone when an honors degree from a good university could guarantee you the job you want now if you want to stand out from the crowd you need to have something extra, and an MBA can be one of the most important ways of achieving this.
The world's leading, and most popular, business qualification, is the Master of Business Administration, or MBA as we know it. A generalist qualification designed to equip students with an understanding of all the major functions of a business, in some industries the MBA is now not so much a desirable attribute, but an essential qualification whose importance cannot be under-estimated. Most notably this is the case in consultancy and finance where not having an MBA can be a barrier to career progression. Learning to adapt to the social and business cultures of another country is a key skill for those likely to work with overseas partners. Business schools increasingly recognize that today's global company requires managers with a broader outlook.

Reasons Why an MBA is Valuable beyond the Classroom

Going for an MBA involves a lot more than simply attending classes. As an MBA student, you have opportunities all around you that can add to the overall value of your experience if you are smart enough to take full advantage of them. It makes many Management Professionals cringe when they hear people say things like, you dont need an MBA. Of course, you dont need a lot of things. Thats not the point. Just because an MBA might not be for everyone doesnt mean its not valuable. Before we get into the value of an MBA outside the classroom, lets talk about what is happening inside the classroom. There are some people who say that all an MBA means is that you are good at taking tests and operating in a classroom. Weve got news for those people: What goes on in an MBA classroom is a lot different than what went on in your 8th-grade classroom. In business school, you learn by doing. Here are just a few things you will learn in your classes, aside from the actual subject matter taught in the courses:

How to communicate effectively. How to make a presentation in front of a group of people. How to work on a team of people with diverse opinions. How to negotiate, persuade, and gain buy-in for your ideas. How to systematically approach and solve problems.

An MBA program is a perfect training facility to develop these important real world skills. A popular quote, It doesnt matter how much you knowwhat matters is how well you communicate what you know. Learning how to formulate opinions and then articulate your ideas to others is a central focus of an MBA program. Beyond the in-class coursework, there are many factors that make an MBA valuable, and We have listed the most important ones below. While this list is about b-school, we think most (if not all) of these reasons could apply to any kind of degree, whether it is an undergraduate degree or any type of advanced degree. Here are top five reasons why an MBA is valuable beyond the classroom, in no particular order: 1. Your professors are valuable industry contacts. In business school, many of the professors have been around the block a few times. Some of my professors have held prominent positions in the Industry. Others have launched startups in various industries. And almost all of them have done consulting for large companies. This means your professors are a wealth of industry experience and great contacts to have both during and after your time in school.

2. Your fellow classmates are great additions to your network. Your classes are filled with people who want to better themselves, advance their careers, and achieve great things. Talk to them. Make friends. Since you are all in it together, there is a sense of camaraderie that you dont get in most other situations. So take advantage of the opportunityclassmates can help each other in a number of ways, and you never know who you will run into down the road. 3. There is an alumni network waiting to help you. Every school has an alumni network that is designed to help current students get advice, help, contacts, etc. These alumni volunteer their time to help out students like you. Even alumni who dont officially volunteer with the school will likely be receptive to you if you reach out to them via LinkedIn or other means. And when you graduate, you will be one of thousands of alumni who all went through the same MBA program. Dont underestimate the bond that fellow alumni share. 4. Its easy to get recognition. There are so many opportunities to get recognized in business school, including business plan competitions, case competitions, academic awards, and volunteer opportunities. Sometimes you will even have opportunities to get your work published in trade journals. And schools are always eager to publish the accomplishments of students through their newsletters or website. 5.Being an MBA student or graduate increases your credibility. Now, I know some people are going to say that what youve done in the real world is more important than what youve done in the classroom, and that is true. But, whether you are a current MBA student or an MBA graduate, you will benefit from some degree of increased credibility. Earning the degree is an achievement in itself, but it also implies that you are an expert in your field, and that you have a certain level of dedication and work ethic. Its up to you to make the credibility stick, by substantiating it with your actions, knowledge, and achievements. Of course, being a student does not guarantee you will gain value from all of these factors. But being a student makes it easy to take advantage of these opportunities because they are right there in front of you. The value you derive from an MBA outside of the classroom will largely depend on your reason for pursuing the MBA in the first place. That is one of the great things about ityou can customize it to your needs and your situation. As with anything else, your experience in business school is

what you make of it.