According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the health care industry is the largest employer in the United States. As the industry continues to grow, it presents exciting opportunities for individuals who are eager to have a meaningful impact. Health care encompasses a wide array of sectors, including biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, big pharma, health technology, insurance, and government services. Given the industry’s broad scope, pursuing an MBA with a health care focus offers a pathway to leadership in these dynamic areas. In this post, we touch on a few of the key benefits of pursuing such an MBA and highlight some of the top programs you might consider for earning one.
Congratulations! All your hard work seems to have paid off, and you have cleared that first hurdle in your race to get into business school—securing an MBA interview! Good for you!
Now what? You need to prepare. A business school admissions interview can take many forms. In years past, it was often just a casual conversion in a coffee shop with a graduate of the program who would assess whether you would be a good teammate. These days, your interview could take the form of a Zoom call with a second-year student looking to learn how much you know about the school. For some programs, it could be a thorough grilling by an admissions committee member who has read every part of your application and wants to dig down and understand what you are really all about.
Because you spend so many of your waking hours working, and the MBA is the vehicle you are choosing to use to drive your career forward, you may naturally believe that your professional experiences are all that matter to the admissions committees. Do not get us wrong: you need to have strong professional stories to share, but top-tier business schools are looking for much more than just examples of professional excellence. If you discuss only your work experiences in your application, you will present yourself as a one-dimensional character, and today’s managers need to demonstrate that they can handle a multitude of tasks, situations, and personalities—both inside and outside the workplace.
The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) requires two 400-word essays of its applicants. The first essay’s topic—“tell us your story”—is so open-ended that it will likely be challenging for some candidates, especially considering the limited word count. IMD’s second essay is more traditional, asking applicants what they hope to gain from the program. Candidates can also submit a short optional statement if they have additional information to disclose. For a full analysis of IMD’s essay questions for this application season, please read on.
MBA admissions committees try to identify applicants who are constantly active, challenging themselves in all spheres of their lives. As a result, extracurricular and community activities are not only powerful in showing an MBA candidate’s benevolence, but they also help create the impression that the applicant is steadily pursuing goals and is therefore predisposed to success.
A first-of-its-kind, on-demand MBA application experience that delivers a personalized curriculum for you and leverages interactive tools to guide you through the entire MBA application process.
