Finding the right fit: 1-Year or 2-Year MBA?

IveyMBA

Ivey admissions cycle is just getting started for 2013, while many other business schools are just wrapping up their admissions for 2012. It’s not uncommon this time of year for us to see many candidates questioning whether or not they would prefer to pursue a one-year MBA program (like Ivey’s), or to pursue the two-year format offered by many other programs.

Keep in mind that whether you start this fall in a traditional program, or start at Ivey in the spring – ALL graduates will complete their studies in Spring 2014!

What we communicate to our candidates is that this is an entirely personal decision that really comes down to what it is you’re looking for in an MBA program experience, and what your personal and professional goals are. Typically, we find this answer can be summed up in one question: are you running from something or to something?

Finding Focus

One-year programs are a great choice for those candidates who have a good idea of where they want to be post-MBA. After all, why take two years to achieve what you can do in one? For those who know what they want to do, there’s no need to give up an additional year of salary and pay an additional year of tuition to try different careers on for size or explore your options.

This is especially true when considering the fact that Ivey delivers in one year what it takes most programs to deliver in two. In a one year program, it’s important that we make every hour count. Therefore, students are immersed in an intensive, dynamic and transformational learning environment that most closely mimics the real-world of business. Using real cases and simulating the demanding, pressure-cooker environment experienced by most senior leaders in business, Ivey students spend an entire twelve-months immersed in learning core business knowledge. But additionally, unlike traditional 2-year programs, the one-year, case-based format naturally fosters additional leadership essentials like how to manage complexity, maximize team potential, communicate persuasively, make decisions and manage volume. Simultaneously, students are engaging with our Career Management team and leveraging the support offered to ensure that their focused career-goals are coming to fruition.

Career Switchers

The majority of our Ivey MBA students who want to switch careers manage do so successfully, and without an internship. This stems from several factors including our thorough admissions process where we screen for high-quality candidates with the ambition and drive to succeed, and the experience to challenge, motivate and teach their classmates. Our students have a minimum of 2 years work experience and on average around 5 years of work experience. It also stems from the quality and quantity of support provided by our Career Management team, with personalized career coaching and an integrated Career Management curriculum that helps students most effectively package and present themselves to recruiters. And with a consistent placement rate of 90% plus year over year, the track record of our graduates’ success speaks for itself.

With loyal and long-standing relationships with the top recruiting organizations in the B-school market, Ivey consistently delivers quality candidates year after year, which keeps our firms continually coming back to the school to access top talent. Our recruiting partners recognize the intensity and level of academic rigor of Ivey’s program, and see a level leadership and of professionalism in our students that is typically aligned with the values and key traits sought by these organizations.

Finding Yourself

Many people choose the option of going to graduate school because they are at a crossroads in their careers or their lives, and just aren’t sure what to do next. They may be unhappy in their current job, and are looking to be inspired; to find themselves. School can provide a nice escape that gives candidates a chance to regroup, reset and explore different subjects that may ignite a passion that directs their next career move. At Ivey, we recognize that candidates will be exposed to opportunities that they were not aware of before. That being said, there is strength in focus. This doesn’t mean that you need to know exactly what company and role you want to be in post-MBA, but it does mean that you have a strong sense of your strengths and the weaknesses that you are looking to develop to help you make an industry or functional change – either a career transition or progression. For those that lack this clarity or work experience to support their career transition there are some strong two-year MBA programs, a majority of which provide a 4 month internship option that may be a better a fit.

The Gift of Time

If you do choose to pursue a 1-year MBA option, keep in mind that applying in our early round deadlines gives you additional 8-10 months before April to use however you wish – you have time to fully prepare yourself for immersion in the Ivey environment! Whether it’s gaining additional work experience to strengthen your profile and class contribution, or expanding on your volunteering experiences – maybe it’s sitting on a board to improve your leadership skills or doing some traveling to broaden your international perspective.  This ‘extra’ time gives you some great opportunities to take advantage of. And as mentioned above – still has you graduating in Spring 2014 at the same time as candidates from other 2-year programs.

Ivey Information Session will be hosted in Beijing on May 12, and Shanghai on May 13. The register list is http://www.chasedream.com/show.aspx?id=9874&cid=11