The First Question You Need To Ask (And Answer)

This is the first in a series of posts labeled with category “MBA Building Blocks.”  These are what I consider to be the backbone of this site and posts with this label will cover the meatiest topics.

Of all the things you could possibly do to prepare for school, there is one question you must ask yourself (and answer), and it is simply this:

Why am I going to business school?

Simple, right?  You wrote several (if not more) application essays on this exact topic and probably have your “elevator pitch” down pat.  And that helped you get you into school.

So, do me a favor, open up your admission-granting essay and re-read it now.  And think about this question again:

Why am I going to business school?

For some, the essay may have nailed it and if you’re in that group, congrats!  You’re a step ahead of the crowd.  If you’re now re-thinking what was in your essay — or your essay was more fantasy than reality — here’s what I suggest you do now:  take some time and really think about why you’re headed back to school.

What’s important to you?

• Are you looking to make a career change?
• Do you want to fill in some holes specific “holes” in your resume? (lack of quant experience, for example)
• Are you going to build your network and/or to tap into your school’s alumni network?
• Is there something else entirely that’s driving you?

You might have one reason.  You might have five.  You might have more.  Write them all down.  Make a list and keep it accessible.  Make your list as specific as possible.

Don’t worry about “getting it right” – there’s a good chance at least some of the items on this list will change many times as you go through school.

At this point you might be saying, “Wait a minute.   If this list is going to change, what’s the point of writing it down now, before I really even know what I’m getting into?”

And that’s a great question.  Answer: the value of this list isn’t that it’s the “right list,” or that it’s set in stone, but that it exists at all.

Here’s what I mean:  During your first year of school, you’re going to be bombarded with innumerable opportunities – academic, career-related, extracurricular and social.  (Most people I know call it “they busiest they’ve ever been.”)

Sometimes, you’ll be able to do everything that you want to do.  But others, you’ll have to make choices of what to do and what not to do.  And in those situations, it helps to remind yourself of what’s important to you and why you’re there in the first place.

So that’s my advice to you.  Have some idea before you go.  And it’s ok if your list changes 100 times, just keep it handy.

So, pre-MBAs, what’s on your list? Post a comment below.  And current and post-MBAs, how did you handle this?  And how did it work for you? Any additional advice? Sharing is caring.