Reasons for Pursuing an MBA

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 25 views

Introduction

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is a prestigious graduate degree that attracts top talent from around the world. As the business landscape continues to evolve, it's essential to understand the demographics and preferences of MBA students. In this article, we'll delve into the results of an MBA new-matriculants survey conducted in 2018, providing valuable insights into the characteristics of the student cohort.

Demographics of MBA New-Matriculants

The survey collected data on the demographics of MBA new-matriculants, including their age, gender, and employment status. The results are presented in the following table:

Age Group	Applied to More Than One School	Total
23 and under	207	408
Age 24-26	101	203
Age 27-29	53	107
Age 30-32	23	47
Age 33 and above	25	51
Total	409	816

Age Distribution of MBA New-Matriculants

The age distribution of MBA new-matriculants is a critical factor in understanding their career aspirations and goals. The data suggests that the majority of students (23 and under) are in their early twenties, with 207 students applying to more than one school. This age group is likely to be in the early stages of their careers, seeking to gain valuable experience and skills to enhance their employability.

Employment Status of MBA New-Matriculants

The employment status of MBA new-matriculants is another crucial aspect of their demographics. The survey found that:

51% of students were employed full-time
21% were employed part-time
15% were self-employed
13% were unemployed

Career Goals of MBA New-Matriculants

The career goals of MBA new-matriculants are a key factor in understanding their motivations for pursuing an MBA. The survey found that:

62% of students aimed to transition to a new industry
21% sought to advance in their current industry
10% aimed to start their own business
7% had other career goals

Industry Preferences of MBA New-Matriculants

The industry preferences of MBA new-matriculants are a critical factor in understanding their career aspirations. The survey found that:

31% of students preferred the finance industry
23% preferred the consulting industry
17% preferred the technology industry
15% preferred the healthcare industry
14% preferred other industries

Reasons for Pursuing an MBA

The reasons for pursuing an MBA are a critical factor in understanding the motivations of MBA new-matriculants. The survey found that:

71% of students sought to enhance their career prospects
21% aimed to increase their earning potential
15% sought to gain new skills and knowledge
13% had other reasons for pursuing an MBA

Conclusion

The MBA new-matriculants survey provides valuable insights into the demographics and preferences of the 2018 student cohort. The data suggests that the majority of students are in their early twenties, seeking to gain valuable experience and skills to enhance their employability. The survey also found that the majority of students aim to transition to a new industry, with a preference for the finance industry. The reasons for pursuing an MBA are primarily driven by a desire to enhance career prospects and increase earning potential.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of the survey, the following recommendations can be made:

Business schools should consider offering more flexible and online programs to cater to the needs of working professionals.
Business schools should provide more career support and resources to help students achieve their career goals.
Business schools should consider offering more industry-specific programs to cater to the needs of students with specific career aspirations.

Limitations of the Study

The study has several limitations, including:

The survey was conducted in 2018, and the results may not be generalizable to future cohorts.
The survey only collected data from MBA new-matriculants, and the results may not be representative of the broader MBA population.
The survey did not collect data on the academic backgrounds of students, which may be an important factor in understanding their career aspirations.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to build on the findings of this study by:

Conducting a longitudinal study to track the career outcomes of MBA new-matriculants over time.
Collecting data on the academic backgrounds of students to understand their career aspirations.
Conducting a survey of business schools to understand their career support and resources for students.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the MBA new-matriculants survey provides valuable insights into the demographics and preferences of the 2018 student cohort. The data suggests that the majority of students are in their early twenties, seeking to gain valuable experience and skills to enhance their employability. The survey also found that the majority of students aim to transition to a new industry, with a preference for the finance industry. The reasons for pursuing an MBA are primarily driven by a desire to enhance career prospects and increase earning potential.

Introduction

The MBA new-matriculants survey provides valuable insights into the demographics and preferences of the 2018 student cohort. In this article, we'll address some of the most frequently asked questions about the survey and its findings.

Q: What was the purpose of the MBA new-matriculants survey?

A: The purpose of the survey was to gather data on the demographics and preferences of MBA new-matriculants, with the goal of understanding their career aspirations and goals.

Q: Who participated in the survey?

A: The survey was conducted among MBA new-matriculants who were enrolled in business schools around the world.

Q: What were the key findings of the survey?

A: The survey found that the majority of students were in their early twenties, seeking to gain valuable experience and skills to enhance their employability. The survey also found that the majority of students aimed to transition to a new industry, with a preference for the finance industry.

Q: What were the reasons for pursuing an MBA among the survey participants?

A: The survey found that the primary reasons for pursuing an MBA among the participants were to enhance career prospects and increase earning potential.

Q: What were the industry preferences of the survey participants?

A: The survey found that the finance industry was the most preferred industry among the participants, followed by the consulting industry and the technology industry.

Q: What were the age distribution of the survey participants?

A: The survey found that the majority of participants were in their early twenties, with 207 students applying to more than one school.

Q: What were the employment status of the survey participants?

A: The survey found that 51% of participants were employed full-time, 21% were employed part-time, 15% were self-employed, and 13% were unemployed.

Q: What were the career goals of the survey participants?

A: The survey found that the majority of participants aimed to transition to a new industry, with 62% of students seeking to advance in their current industry.

Q: What were the limitations of the survey?

A: The survey had several limitations, including the fact that it was conducted in 2018 and the results may not be generalizable to future cohorts. Additionally, the survey only collected data from MBA new-matriculants and may not be representative of the broader MBA population.

Q: What are the implications of the survey findings?

A: The survey findings have several implications for business schools and employers. Business schools should consider offering more flexible and online programs to cater to the needs of working professionals. Employers should also consider providing more career support and resources to help employees achieve their career goals.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should aim to build on the findings of this study by conducting a longitudinal study to track the career outcomes of MBA new-matriculants over time. Additionally, future research should collect data on the academic backgrounds of students to understand their career aspirations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the MBA new-matriculants survey provides valuable insights into the demographics and preferences of the 2018 student cohort. The survey findings have several implications for business schools and employers, and future research should aim to build on the findings of this study.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of the survey, the following recommendations can be made:

Business schools should consider offering more flexible and online programs to cater to the needs of working professionals.
Business schools should provide more career support and resources to help students achieve their career goals.
Business schools should consider offering more industry-specific programs to cater to the needs of students with specific career aspirations.

Limitations of the Study

The study has several limitations, including:

The survey was conducted in 2018, and the results may not be generalizable to future cohorts.
The survey only collected data from MBA new-matriculants, and the results may not be representative of the broader MBA population.
The survey did not collect data on the academic backgrounds of students, which may be an important factor in understanding their career aspirations.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to build on the findings of this study by:

Conducting a longitudinal study to track the career outcomes of MBA new-matriculants over time.
Collecting data on the academic backgrounds of students to understand their career aspirations.
Conducting a survey of business schools to understand their career support and resources for students.