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| Work Experience Needed for MBA Program | In the United States most MBA programs require at least two to three years of full-time work experience. According to survey, almost 80% of business students have three or more years of work experience.
Though some top-flights schools do consider students with limited work experience, the vast majority of business school candidates have served tours of duty in the workforce. Student at most schools have an average of 4 or 5 years of work experience, and many schools strictly adhere to a two-year minimum. An atypical exception is granted to older undergraduate students who gained work experience before going to college and then applied directly to a graduate program; schools generally only count full-time, post-undergraduate work in their calculated "average work experience for the entering class.
Think about why business schools require work experience. Most learning in business school is from sharing work experiences. Business courses depend heavily on case studies, and students need to have experience to apply to the cases.
The type of experience is even more important than how much experience you have. Part-time employment and internships are not perceived as valuable as full-time employment because they don't provide the same level of responsibility, experience, or accountability. Employers are in search of candidates who have the essential experience to be senior managers upon graduation.
Characteristically work experience is based on the reputation of your employer; your advancement or progression; your professional and interpersonal skills; your leadership potential; and the diversity of your work experience relative to that of other class members.
The main thing: admissions committees look at several factors, including academic record, work experience, and GMAT scores. The best candidate is strong in all three areas; however, it is possible to make up for weaknesses in one area with strong showings in the other areas. Applicants with limited work experience should consider that academic record and GMAT scores play a more prominent role.
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