MBA BLOG

However, the business schools particularly in the U.S. beg to differ. There is a growing trend towards admitting younger students in their early twenties. At this stage of their life, the business schools maintain the students are more flexible and can be groomed better. 

Some quarters argue that this change is more to suit the preferences of the corporate that prefer younger management employees for junior titles. 

Experienced Aspirants for MBA - What to Expect

Background: If you aim for the full-time programs at schools, like Harvard Business School (HBS) and Stanford Graduate School of Business, you must understand that the applicants with 7-10 years of experience are not particularly on their radar. Therefore, your candidature should be backed by an above average career graph. If you have been stuck in the same or similar level for long, you may have a tough time cracking the admission process. 

Leadership: Top schools, including Wharton School, HBS, NYU Stern, INSEAD, and so on, have expressly declared that leadership is one of the key qualities they look for in a potential candidate. For a 34-35 year old person with a long employment history this attribute gains even more significance.

Applications: A number of institutes require essays as part of the application process. These write-ups open a definite window for the applicants to express themselves, while explaining their choices, qualities, and circumstances. Make the most of this opportunity to strengthen your case.

Interview: Older candidates may have to prepare harder for the interviews than others. Justify your decision to earn an MBA, display confidence, and show your ability to lead.

European Schools: The average age of students in European business schools is 29-32 years. In addition, European schools are known for stronger relations with the industry compared to the U.S., with a focus on a wider domain of work.

GMAT Score: Higher than average score certainly help towards the final selection, though it is not the only criterion.

Why Executive MBA is a Better Choice

While Executive MBA entails rigorous training, it is the best choice for experienced professionals due to the following reasons:

Orientation: EMBA programs are specifically geared towards more experienced professionals looking for management and leadership skills. Therefore, older aspirants do not face any bias here.

The Term: Executive MBA programs are usually one year program unlike the 2 year full-time MBA. This implies lesser time away from job and family.

Pay: Executive MBA students command higher starting salaries than the full-time students do.

Course-ware: The focus of an EMBA is to provide a macro view of various functional areas instead of drilling deep into each concept. It aims at providing advanced skills to the already experienced professionals.

Skills: EMBA hones skills from the top management point of view, thereby developing the leadership potential, a much-desired attribute in the industry.

Flexibility: A number of EMBA courses allow being in job simultaneously during the course term.

Now, you can get 1-on-1 consulting with our experts who will help you choose Which MBA is right for you by working on: Background Analysis, Career Objectives, how you fit the programs, how the programs fit your objectives, chances of admission, location Selection, Scholarship Opportunities.