Many of the students in the College of Asia Pacific Studies will soon be making plans as to what they will do upon graduation. In some instances the students will be asking themselves “what kind of job can I expect to get when I graduate?” After some thought, these students may arrive at the conclusion they need to acquire some business knowledge. One way of acquiring that business knowledge is by enrolling in the Graduate School of Management to study for an MBA degree.
An MBA degree provides business knowledge, but that knowledge, by itself, is not sufficient for a successful career in business. Experience in business is needed also and that is acquired by working for a company. The question facing many undergraduates is should I get the work experience first or should I get the MBA degree first? As is true in so much of life, the answer depends on many things.
If the student has no business experience and has not had substantial participation in non-profit organizations, volunteer activities, and items of similar nature, and does not have a superior academic record, the answer is probably that the student should get work experience first. On the other hand, if the student has had substantial participation in these types of social activities, and has a superior academic record, the student should consider studying for an MBA degree.
Many students, especially those in the College of Asia Pacific Studies, will say, but I did not study business or management as an undergraduate, can I apply for the MBA? The answer is yes, in fact many students world-wide did not study business or management as undergraduates. The basic requirements for admission to the MBA program are: 1) Superior academic record as an undergraduate, 2) Good score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and 3) Three years of relevant work experience. There is no way to substitute for the first two requirements, but substantial participation with non-profit organizations and volunteer activities will be considered in lieu of requirement 3.
Deciding what to do after graduation from an undergraduate program is a major decision. If you are qualified why not consider the APU-MBA Program as a possibility. |
|
Dean, Graduate School of Management |
Students from a variety of educational backgrounds
have gathered from all around the world to
take advantage of the stimulating MBA program offered at APU.
Three such students talked to us about their experiences.
 |
 |
|
Internal Admission
PHUNG Trang Thi Thuy
(GSM-MBA 1, Vietnam)
Universities that offer MBA programs around the world are interested in candidates GPA and academic results, GMAT score, and quality of work experience. So, how is it feasible that I entered the MBA course straight from undergraduate college without any work experience? Internship experiences, high GPA and GMAT scores combined with entrepreneurial zeal and a can-do attitude can make up for a lack of professional work experience. Consider participation in internships, and writing about these experiences in your admissions essay, especially if they are relevant to the area of business you want to pursue for your MBA.
I found that studying in the APU-MBA Program, not only do you have to master the “hard skills” such as accounting, marketing theory, and financial analysis, but also develop the “softer” skills that characterize great management talent such as leadership, team-work and critical negotiation ability. I hope to apply the hard and soft skills I have acquired from the APU-MBA Program to future working situations. |
|
 |
|
Professional
Development Program,
KUMON INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION CO., LTD.
YAMAUCHI Takatoshi
（GSM-MBA 1,Japan)
I am currently studying with 18 fellow students from Asia and Central and South America. My classmates come from diverse backgrounds, with experience in government agencies and famous international accounting offices.
At first I found the course quite difficult, as I had not previously studied management. However, I am now enjoying being in such a thrilling environment. I can now look back at the job that I was previously doing and analyze it using marketing theories. By working out how to offer practical feedback on the new concepts that I have learnt, and through putting forward these ideas to the class, I am able to receive valuable input and exchange ideas with classmates that come from such diverse backgrounds.
I appreciate the objectives and significance of the MBA program, which is designed to nurture us to become managers who can come up with new concepts and approaches that are not limited by our previous successes.
I am trying to learn as much as possible, not only in the classroom but also from fellow students, and I'm doing my best to take advantage of the wonderful environment so that when I return to my job in 2 years, I'll be able to better implement our corporate motto: “By discovering the potential of each individual and developing his or her ability to the maximum, we aim to foster sound, capable people and thus contribute to the global community.” |
|
 |
|
Strong Work Experience
SAPOJNIC, Victoria Victor
(GSM-MBA 1, Moldova)
After graduating from the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, I started my career in the Audit and Financial Advisory Services Department of KPMG, one of the world’s largest professional advisory firms. A career in KPMG promised me an unrivalled opportunity to develop my business experience and expertise. However, I found that I wanted to move into financial consultancy on an international basis. Therefore, I enrolled in an MBA program to develop an in-depth understanding of business practices, improve my skills in the core areas of management and enhance the scope and potential of my career and earnings ability.
I believed I could acquire these skills within the APU-MBA Program - Finance Specialization. The professors are professionals with rich business experience, and, as one of the most developed countries in the world, Japan is an ideal setting for an MBA program. Also, with its multinational environment, APU provides the opportunity to make friends and share knowledge, culture values and life experiences with students from all over the world. That's why I'm sure I made the right choice. |
|
 |
