MBA Abroad: Why Business Schools Want Work Experience?
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MBA Abroad: Why Business Schools want Work Experience?

Pursuing MBA
Research has proved that one learns more when he/she interacts with people from varied backgrounds.

A diverse MBA class is a perfect learning environment and for this reason, Business Schools prefer students with different cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds. In addition, team work is critical for success in any MBA program. Most MBA programs consist of case discussions and group assignments, which call for working in teams. Hence, B-Schools want candidates who have demonstrated an ability to work well in group setting. More often than not, work experience provides individuals an opportunity to work in teams, and demonstrate team work and people skills.

If you are an Asian student, you provide the necessary cultural diversity. Add to this, your work experience brings the necessary diversity in the collective work experience of the class. This makes you an attractive applicant to Business Schools. But the problem is that there are others like you who are applying - applicants from your own country, many with similar backgrounds and achievements, and they all compete with you.

Having good work experience gives you an edge over the competition. If you have good work experience, flaunt it. And if your work experience is about average, don’t lose heart, you can make an average work experience sound better if projected the right way.

However, if you happen to be one of those who are in a hurry to get an MBA and have just completed your bachelors degree, we recommend that you reconsider your decision. Try thinking on your own, why should you be chosen over others who have work experience to show? If you have reasons and are sure they are good enough (such as outstanding achievements in the field of sports, military, or community service; or exceptional leadership experience), you could give it a try. Otherwise, get yourself a job, and wait for a few years before applying.

Work experience is mandatory in most Business Schools across the world. Most business schools in UK are very strict, they do not provide admission to any candidate with less than three years of full time work experience. 
The schools in US do not have a strict policy. But the competition rules out a chance of getting admission without work experience, unless of course you have some exceptional personal achievements to show.

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