MBA Prerequisites: What You Really Need to Get In
When people talk about getting into an MBA, a graduate business degree designed to prepare professionals for leadership roles in management and strategy. Also known as a Master of Business Administration, it’s one of the most popular postgraduate paths for career switchers and ambitious professionals alike. But here’s the truth: no one gets in just because they have a good GPA. Schools care about what you’ve done, not just what grades you got.
Most top MBA programs want three things: solid work experience, typically 2 to 5 years in a professional role, showing responsibility, impact, and growth, a competitive GMAT or GRE score, standardized tests that measure analytical, verbal, and quantitative skills critical for business school, and clear, honest essays that answer why you need an MBA right now. It’s not about having the perfect resume—it’s about showing you’ve learned from real challenges and know how to lead.
Let’s be clear: you don’t need to be a CEO to apply. Many successful applicants come from engineering, teaching, healthcare, or even the arts. What matters is how you frame your story. Did you lead a project? Solve a problem that saved money? Train new hires? Those are the details that stick. Schools also look at your recommendations—not just who wrote them, but what they say about your character and potential.
And yes, language matters. If English isn’t your first language, you’ll likely need to prove proficiency with TOEFL or IELTS. But don’t panic—many students from non-English backgrounds ace this with focused practice. The real test isn’t grammar—it’s clarity. Can you communicate your goals simply and confidently?
There’s no magic checklist. Some schools care more about experience. Others weigh test scores heavier. But across the board, the best applicants don’t just meet requirements—they show they’ve thought deeply about what comes next. That’s why you’ll find posts here about how to prepare for the GMAT, how to turn your job into a leadership story, and even how to improve your English for business school interviews. These aren’t theoretical tips. They’re from people who got in, and they’re the kind of real talk you won’t get from brochures.
What you’ll find below are practical guides written by people who’ve walked this path—whether it’s breaking down the GMAT, figuring out how much experience you really need, or learning how to write an essay that doesn’t sound like every other applicant. No fluff. No hype. Just what works.
- By Nolan Blackburn
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- 30 May 2025
Is an MBA Math Heavy? The Real Story
Worried that an MBA will drown you in complicated math? This article unpacks just how much math you'll actually face in an MBA program and what type it is. It also shares what’s expected before you start, how to prepare even if you haven’t touched math since high school, and where the most math shows up in the curriculum. Plus, practical tips and surprising facts for anyone worried about their number skills. Get a clear sense of what math in an MBA really looks like, and how you can handle it, even if spreadsheets make your head spin.