The $64,000 Question, Part 1: Do you need to prepare for the quant classes?

This is the third in a series of “MBA Building Blocks,” posts that focus on the key things pre-MBAs should be thinking about and doing before they start school.

When I talk to pre-MBAs, one question that invariably comes up is this:

How should I prepare for all of those MBA quant classes?

And even though there is no one single answer to that question, it’s one of my favorites to respond to.

Even so, it’s often difficult to get a straight answer out of your school’s administration – the people who you would really like to give you a simple answer.

But that’s because there isn’t a simple answer:  Everyone is coming in with such different backgrounds and experiences, so there’s a different answer for each of you.

With that in mind, let’s see if B-School Preschool can step in and help.  If you’re unsure of how should be preparing – or if you need to prepare at all – keep reading.

Before we get into the classes themselves, let’s start with a little introspection.  Think about yourself and your relationship with numbers (seriously):

• How much experience do you have with numbers?  Either at work or in other parts of your life.
• How number-phobic are you?  In other words, when you encounter numbers in your life, what’s your gut reaction? Stay and play, or run and hide?
• Is Microsoft Excel just some program that came with your laptop that has a little green icon or something you’ve actually played around with?
• How interested are you in learning this stuff? Remember: your level of motivation will play a big role in your success!

Based on your honest answers to those questions, you can probably put yourself into one of these three general groups:

Quant Experts: Highly experienced, and number-loving.  You probably work in a quant-related job already and are ready to learn more of what they are going to teach you in school.  You are the people that your classmates will seek out for help.

Motivated Novices: Not a ton of experience working with numbers, but interested in learning more.  You don’t work in a quant job now, and might never do so, but you know this is a big part of your MBA and something you want to conquer.  Some people in this group might even decide that they like finance and accounting and take a few quant classes beyond what’s required.

Fearful Uninteresteds: Numbers are not your thing.  You haven’t figured out how to split a bill among friends or calculated a tip at a restaurant in 10 years.  Your quant score on the GMAT (which helped get you into school, by the way) was, in your mind, either a) an act of god, b) total luck, or c) a computer malfunction.

So, what now?

Well, this doesn’t give you any absolute answers, but right off the bat, if you’re in one of the first two groups you’re probably in pretty good shape.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least think about some prep, but you’re definitely in the right mindset to succeed in the quant classes.

And if you’re a “Fearful Uninterested,” it’s not the end of the world.  You can still succeed – and in fact many schools have specific tutoring and programs for you and your fellow group members – but your biggest hurdle is likely going to be convincing yourself that you can succeed.  And if you got into school, you’re probably the only one who still needs convincing!

Ok, that’s enough to chew on for now.  Click here for part 2 with more on the classes themselves, specific things you can do to prepare, and some of the other academic realities of b-school.

Pre-MBAs, are you freaking out about quant?  MBAs and post-MBAs, what did you do to prepare? Did it work?