It has always been my dream to pursue a Master’s in Business. Successfully completing a Master’s programme in Business would be the biggest move of my career. Hence, I did not want to take any chances while selecting the right college.

Choosing the right direction

I was confused by the various disciplines that a Master’s course in Business offered, such as marketing, finance, international business, IT and HR. I researched the career prospects of each discipline. I discussed them with my family members, professors and some of my seniors currently pursuing a Master’s in Business, and I searched the Internet. I had to decide on the best course at this stage as the options were very broad and shifting later to another course would be costly as well as difficult. Finally, after a lot of research I decided to complete a Master’s in International Business as this would open up a plethora of career options for me in this age of globalisation.

An appropriate fit

It was very clear from the beginning that the place to obtain my Master’s degree should fit my individual concerns and aspirations. I was guided by Bernadett Csusz: “When choosing a Master’s programme, it is essential to consider several factors in order to make the best decision possible, for the sake of securing an education that will allow the student to reach his or her potential. University life is not only an educational experience any more but a means of preparing for the future and the challenges of the job market.” I listed out certain criteria to decide where I should pursue a Master’s programme.

Carrying out a quality evaluation of the Master’s programme

I carried out a thorough quality evaluation of the various universities offering Master’s in International Business. Not all programmes proved to be as outstanding as they were projected. I referred to some credible review sites and even contacted the alumni of the universities and talked to experts to get a first-hand review of the courses.

Understanding the enrolment criteria for Master’s

I went through the enrolment and eligibility criteria required for applying for Master's at various universities. Understanding the enrolment criteria was a guarantee that I could meet all the requirements within the deadline.

Checking out the fees and scholarship criteria

I checked out the fees, scholarships, grants and loans available for international students. This thorough research gave me insight into the various scholarships offered by different universities. This also helped me to select the places offering the Master's degree within my budget.

Testing the Admissions Office

I asked the admissions office about the particulars of the previous year's placement, which was not available on their website or prospectus. I looked for their cooperation, the timing of giving answers and the manner in which they presented it. Their attitude and behaviour towards me, a prospective student, helped in determining their level of professionalism and interest in solving queries of students once enrolled.

Comparing and contrasting

Having evaluated the various places offering a Master’s in International Business, I made a simple 'compare and contrast' spreadsheet. I listed all the important factors such as location, cost and scholarship assistance. This gave a realistic picture to decide which universities met most of my personal criteria. I was surprised to find that some well-rated schools and universities ranked lower on my list.

Visiting the Campus

I thought it would be a good idea to visit the campus in person before finally going through with the application. This helped me to get a taste of the physical and cultural atmosphere as well as the various facilities available.

Thus, a lot of research and analysis went into the final selection of college for doing my Master’s in International Business. Having carried out so much research for a successful future reminded me of what Steve Jobs once said: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.”

Blog post originally published on www.prepadviser.com