The pursuit of a second Master of Business Administration degree.
Although getting a second MBA is very unusual, it can help you move to a different city, change industries, or build the brand recognition and alumni network you missed out on in your first MBA school. Our founder and admissions expert at Amerasia, Paul Lanzillotti, had an interview with Fortune Education, and he poses this question to those thinking about a second MBA: “What are you really going to get out of this?”
Why a second MBA?
Lanzillotti explains that it would be quite difficult to find a program that will admit you if you have previously obtained an MBA from a recognized institution in the United States. Additionally, in the United States, getting a second MBA is normally very uncommon.
However, it’s more frequent in India, where going straight from undergrad to an MBA degree might seem like the only choice. Therefore, if you have attended an overseas institution or a second-or third-tier business school, those schools won't have much significance and you will find it challenging getting accepted in the new geographical areas you're seeking to fit into.
The first MBA may not have the postgraduate advantages of a strong alumni network or brand recognition when it comes time to hunt for that promotion, industry jump, or new professional adventure. If you meet these requirements and want to work for Google in Europe, you’ll probably find it more challenging than someone who graduated from an internationally renowned institution. For these reasons, you may decide to pursue a second MBA degree.
What are your chances?
Some programs accept second MBA applicants, while others do not. According to Lanzillotti, don't be scared to pick up the phone and call; you'll save yourself a lot of time and heartache later on when you find your application was pretty much dead on arrival.
University of California-Berkeley (Haas), University of Virginia (Darden), and Dartmouth College (Tuck) are among the top institutions that will not admit second MBA applications. Other institutions that do consider second MBA applications include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan), the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ross), and the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton).
However, most programs make these judgments on an individual basis. Lanzillotti also recommends looking at part-time programs, which are more flexible when it comes to enrolling second MBA students.
What to know when you apply?
According to Lanzillotti, you may contemplate a second MBA degree from a top institution for the sake of name recognition, but this will not be sufficient for the admissions committee. You need to delve further and explain why your first MBA didn't provide you with the credentials, abilities, or exposure you required for your professional ambition.
It's crucial to specify why you require a second degree. The focus of your essay answers should be on your short- and long-term goals, as well as what you want to gain from the program. The influence you will have on your career in the long term is ultimately what matters, and an MBA is merely the instrument you need to get there and have the most impact.
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