Before you start writing your MBA application, you want to make sure your goals align with one another. In this blog post, we will delve into the importance of aligning your career aspirations as part of my MBA application tips series.
The Importance of Goals
Without clarity on your “why MBA”, career goals, and life aspirations, you have no reason to show why you want an MBA. In turn, you won’t have a strong application to apply for the MBA program and as a result, you most likely won’t get in. Your goals are the cornerstone for everything surrounding your MBA application. Clear goals help you select the right MBA programs and they help you articulate your vision effectively to the admissions committee.
Short Term Goals
Your MBA application short-term goals are going to be the ones happening in the next 1-3 years. These will lay the foundation for your long-term goals later.
Think about what kind of job position, skillset, and work you want to gain during this time for your MBA application. These goals should feel like you can almost touch them; they are close to fulfillment.
My short-term goal for the MBA application was to work in a data analytics position in the healthcare industry so I could learn more about healthcare, patient care, and sustainability in this area.
{Related Post: 10 Ways to Write a Successful Deferred MBA Application}
Long Term Goals
Long-term goals are your future goals that you can’t quite touch yet. These are 3+ years or even 5+ years away from happening. You know that you want these goals to be fulfilled but there may be resource or knowledge gaps to get there.
These are the goals in your MBA application that you can’t quite touch yet. For me, it was becoming an entrepreneur in women’s healthcare. I know that this is what I want, but how I am going to get there and what it will look like is still out in the open.
Align Your Goals
Sometimes it is easier to work from the long-term goal backwards but make sure that your goals align. Do your short-term goals set you up for success in your long-term goals? They should feed into one another. The knowledge and resource gaps should be filled through an MBA. That’s how you create a winning MBA application.
For example, I am working in healthcare now, and I want to be an entrepreneur in healthcare later. The MBA program will help me take the classes I need and find the network I need to make this happen.
Consider the impact you intend to make in your industry, the problems you aim to solve, and how your professional history aligns with your long-term vision. When your goals align, your “why MBA” should be really clear.
{Related Post: 17 Habits I Followed to Reach My Target GMAT Score for M7 Programs While in College}
Remember Your Values and Passions
The last step in really aligning your goals for the MBA application is making sure your goals reflect your core values and passions. Without these being the foundation of your goals, you won’t have the motivation to see your goals through. If you don’t articulate these together, the admissions committee will also see how this is not feasible.
Take the time to reflect and think about the stories and life events that helped you come to this realization that these are your true short-term goals and long-term goals.
For example, growing up in a family of doctors, I knew I wanted to help people. I love sharing advice and being a mentor. But, I am a business major. Once I learned about the gaps in women’s healthcare through my internship, I knew that entrepreneurship in women’s health was my calling. Do you see how everything ties together and my passion in this industry shines? That’s what you want the admissions committee to feel too.
Feasibility
Before ending your MBA application goal setting, you want to make sure that your goals are feasible and that the MBA program will be the stepping stone you need. If you are pivoting industries or going on to do something drastically different, make sure you have a cohesive story about why all of this makes sense.
Determine if obtaining an MBA can serve as a strategic bridge between your short-term and long-term goals, addressing any gaps in your skill set or industry knowledge.
Deep Self Reflection
Take the time to do a self-assessment and refine your career and personal goals. If you are like me, you probably want to do a lot, but there will be a few goals that encompass everything together. Find those.
Once that’s clear, know the impact you want to make and how the MBA will help you achieve those goals and ideas. The goals don’t have to be big or unique, they just need to be well-thought-out and solid.
Final Thoughts
Goals are the bed that your MBA application is going to sit on. Make sure you take ample time to understand who you are as a person and what impact you want to make on the world. Whether that be a corporate consulting job or building a new company, your goals will define who you are in your MBA application. I hope you found these MBA application tips to be helpful!
With love,
Aditi <3
Aditi Rani – Figuring Out Life in Your Twenties
*Disclaimer: This is not professional advice. Some links are affiliate. By clicking and/or purchasing, I may receive a commission. It does not alter the price or change your buyer experience.
