In the summer of 2018, I decided to stop daydreaming and apply to an MBA program. It was a goal of mine for a long time and I’m glad that I took the leap and just went for it. I already feel like it’s been a worthwhile journey for me personally and professionally. Professionally, I felt like my career has been on an uphill rollercoaster.
Since digital marketing is really a new landscape that’s wide open, I have been able to advance professionally and I genuinely like what I do. Yes, some days are tough but overall, I can’t see myself working in another space. If you’re working on going to graduate school, I’d recommend doing the following things:
Decide what program works best for you: I know there are so many online programs but I really wanted to go to classes in person. I feel like that’s just something that I needed for me. Showing up is something that I do well. I like attending class and can stay focused for lectures. I just knew that a 100% online program wouldn’t suit me.
Make a timeline: This is one area where I should have done better. Instead of making a plan for my application timeline, I wasn’t as strategic as I should have been. Then my career kept having these steep ebbs and flows.
Evaluate your life: Take a serious look at your schedule. I found areas of margin, but being in school is still an adjustment. There’s in class learning, distance learning, studying and organizing. Yes, organizing notes, printing stuff off, sorting, labelling all of that I didn’t really factor in but have recognized now are part of the process.
Be a little selfish: One of the biggest adjustments that I had to make was to start being selfish with my time. I stopped doing “work” after work, I had to start saying no more and make sure to schedule in time to have a life outside of the program. For a time I got a bit too consumed by schoolwork. Create a new meaning balance for yourself.
