The MBA is master's degree in business administration. It is a desirable qualification to hold and one that is attractive to individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. It primarily involves acquiring knowledge relating to the latest management practices. The core subjects have been designed to familiarize students with a variety of concepts, ranging from accounting and marketing to human resources and operations management. The MBA admissions procedures and eligibility requirements depend primarily on the institute running the program.
Nearly every establishment offering an MBA program dictates that applicants must have successfully passed the Graduate Management Admission Test, more commonly referred to as GMAT. Certain schools may also accept the Graduate Record Examination, or GME, in lieu of the GMAT. Other qualification prerequisites may be based upon academic transcripts, references, work experience, essays, personal interviews, and letters of recommendation.
Most prestigious schools also place an emphasis on community activities, extracurricular interests, and whether the applicant would be able contribute to quality of the overall student body. There is no prejudice on ethnicity or nationality. Many of the top business schools also analyse a targeted male and female student ratio as well as local and international enrollee diversity.
In the US, MBA programs admission requirements usually dictate students to have at least five years experience in business to be eligible to enroll. As the number of MBA courses has increased over the last decade, there are certain educational establishments that have less strict admission criteria, though these courses may not hold such value in the eyes of employers.
When choosing an MBA program, it is essential to understand how the course content will vary in terms of skills that will be attained. Correct evaluation of the syllabus is essential if the applicant is to ensure the certification is desirable.
MBA programs can expose students to a variety of subjects as well as offering the opportunity to specialize in a preferred area. Typically, the first year would offer an introduction to a wide range of subjects, in the second year the course would become more specialized. There is the option of undertaking either full time or part time programs depending upon whether the study is taken alongside employment or an internship.
As a general rule regarding MBA admissions is that MBA courses (EMBA) for executives have stricter admission criteria than a regular MBA. These are designed to attract individuals with a prolonged amount of related work experience, usually from a more senior level.

Learn about MBA admissions. Find out why you might want to enroll in an MBA a program that is AACSB accredited. Learn what you need to know about getting your MBA from http://www.mbaprogramsadvisor.com

I'm inspired today to address a sticky topic: the moral issues around getting help with your personal statement/essays for college or MBA admissions.

What Should a Professional Writing Consultant Do?

A writing consultant should coach, explore ideas, and help applicants see what is unique about them and their life experiences. They should draw connections and suggest directions to take, layers to add, and ways to best impress an admissions committee. Sure, they might also suggest a few grammatical or organizational corrections. But in the end, the essay is ALWAYS the client's essay, NOT the consultant's.

Still, there are people who are troubled by the concept of what consultants do. Here's a comment I received after posting a request for a college essay coach:

"... I find this topic/"profession" very troublesome. It's a slippery slope from coaching a young person about choosing a topic and format and helping them focus to, in effect, writing it for them or do such extensive edits that it's no longer the student's PERSONAL essay. Yes, I'm sure there are essay consultants that put on the brakes, and this one could be one of them, but a position description that is so blatant about the role ("... take a drab college application essay and turn it into gold!")... gives me pause. I'm not naive - far from it - but of all the pieces in the college application package subject to "help", the essay should be the most sacrosanct."

The concerns expressed here are my concerns as well. We as consultants should do our best to turn the drab into gold, but by asking key questions of the applicant - not by writing the essay.

The NYT and The WSJ Chime In

Not long after receiving the above comment, I also came across an article that related the results of a conference attended by nearly 5,000 admissions officers and counselors. The group, which included professors, admissions officers, and other college administrators, offered nine pieces of practical advice for writing personal statements. I was happy, and frankly relieved, to see "Have an editor. All panelists advised having a close, trusted editor and an objective, outside reader."

The Wall Street Journal reports that 20% of admitted students used an M.B.A. admissions advisor in the application process. The WSJ also stated that "As the consulting industry has grown, some business schools have become more accepting of it." In fact, the managing director of M.B.A. admissions and financial aid at Harvard Business School uses admissions consultants as a resource "to 'get some field intelligence' about how prospective students view the school and its admissions process."

The Difference They Make

It is unquestionable that having a talented editor can give applicants an edge. And not everyone has a family member, guidance counselor or close friend who can serve as an editor or consultant. Indeed, what a true consultant can offer that a friend or relative cannot, is an objective eye and the perspective of someone who has read dozens, if not hundreds, of essays. They'll make sure your essay does not sound like anyone else's.

I believe consultants provide an extremely valuable service and that they should not cross the ethical line that would have students presenting an essay that is not theirs. Their purpose and privilege is to help transform pedantic or blah essays into stories that capture the hearts and minds of the admissions committee.

Brenda Bernstein is a Senior Law School Admissions Consultant at Kaplan, where she has been coaching law school applicants on their essays and resumes since 2000. She loves collaborating with clients to effectively express who they are and what they have accomplished; her clients frequently received notes from admissions officers complimenting them on their essays. Brenda has assisted applicants to gain admission to almost every law school in the United States and Canada, as well as top colleges and MBA programs.