Which stream is best for MBA | All you need to know

The MBA is the most popular graduate management degree in the world. Employers adore it, and students are enamored with it. Every year, thousands of ambitious professionals apply to various MBA programs while applying for MBA many of them are confused Which stream is best for MBA?

An MBA program, as a generalist degree, provides essential management knowledge, giving you a holistic picture of the company across fields such as marketing, finance, and accounting, all while building those crucial soft skills and leadership skills. 

MBA alumni include multinational CEOs, successful entrepreneurs, and previous Presidents. They all have MBAs: George W. Bush, Michael Bloomberg, Tim Cook, Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, and Sheryl Sandberg. 

So, what exactly can you accomplish with an MBA? What kinds of MBA programs are there? Is an MBA worthwhile?

What exactly is an MBA? 

The MBA, first offered by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Administration (now Harvard Management School) in 1908, is the first graduate degree offered by business schools worldwide. 

Having the letters “MBA” on your CV will help you stand out to employers, but the actual value of the MBA expands beyond three letters on a sheet of paper. An MBA will help you increase your business expertise, expand your professional network, and advance your career and compensation possibilities.

What is the purpose of an MBA? 

There is no such thing as a standard MBA student. Historically, MBA students pursued professions in finance or consulting, but today’s MBA class includes students from a wide range of professional backgrounds. 

The Harvard MBA class of 2022 consists of 69 different nationalities. Women account for 44% of students, while minorities account for 45%. Students come from various industries, including technology, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profits, the media, and the military, as well as finance and consulting. 

The MBA class at INSEAD has 88 nationalities represented, and students come from academic fields ranging from business and engineering to the arts and political sciences.

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the top professional incentives for prospective MBA students include: pay increase, advancement to senior positions, people management, and international employment – and these are only a few of the good deal of reasons to get an MBA. 

Whatever your experience is, an MBA is for you if you want to develop management skills and enhance your career or if you wish to establish your own business. 

MBA Program Types 

Students may have difficulty deciding which stream to focus on because they do not know how different the course structure will be at a foreign university. Before selecting an MBA specialization, you must evaluate your career ambitions and professional development. If you know what you want from your work, it will be much easier to discover a suitable specialization. Here are the most popular and in-demand fields worldwide. 

1. Finance

An MBA in finance prepares you for various courses such as budgeting, costing, international finance, and capital management. After studying these disciplines, the student becomes skilled in financial management, allowing them to work in corporations’ finance departments.

2. Marketing

MBA in marketing is a fast-paced, competitive course that teaches students about consumer behavior, markets, advertising, and other essential topics. The prospective student must have outstanding communication skills, a strong desire to succeed in marketing, and resource mobilization abilities. 

3. Human Resources

Diversity, labor markets and emerging economies, mergers and acquisitions, and international leadership are all part of this specialization. If you have strong communication skills, are social, have a cheerful disposition, and are trustworthy and self-assured, an MBA in Human Resources is for you.

4. Operations 

This stream teaches you about production management and shop floor management. You will learn to maintain process flows and create vendor and inter-departmental partnerships. Most engineering graduates pursue an MBA in Operations because it gives them a competitive advantage in product creation, design, and process optimization. 

5. International Trade 

An MBA in Worldwide Business gives students a comprehensive understanding of the organizational competencies required for international operations, including specific activities such as global marketing, import-export legislation, and finance. This degree differs from other MBA programs because you study general subjects and then choose a specialty. All topics begin with an emphasis on international business. 

6. Information Technology 

The MBA in IT aims to educate and develop aspiring managers in planning, designing, implementing, selecting, utilizing, and administering information and communication technology. Prior understanding of the IT industry is essential for this specialization. IT graduates are critical in designing and implementing hardware and software solutions for business problems.

7. Supply Chain Management

Inventory management, warehousing, and transportation of diverse materials as required by a client or organization are all part of this specialty. Graduates from any discipline can specialize in supply chain management. 

8. Health Care Management

An MBA in healthcare covers essential business skills and practices in the healthcare industry. However, it concentrates on the challenges managers may face in their administrative jobs, such as hospital administrators, insurance company executives, and medical practice managers.

Key takeaways

• Earning an MBA brings you in direct touch with students from all over the world, each with their own professional experience and perspective on the global economy. 
•  The MBA, first offered by Harvard University’s Graduate School of Administration in 1908
• An MBA connects you to a global network of almost 100,000 alums, giving you access to respected and clever individuals you might not have met otherwise.
• Liked this blog? Read next: Best German public universities for MBA

FAQs

Q1. What is the distinction between an MBA and an EMBA program? 

Ans- The Executive Master of Business Administration degree program is intended for senior managers who have worked in management for several years. The distinction is evident in the entrance standards: the minimum management experience required for candidates to enroll in MBA programs usually is ten years, whereas MBA applicants can meet the entry requirements with as little as three years of experience. 

Q2. Who are the usual business administration program applicants? 

Ans-The applicants are business enthusiasts with recognized entrepreneurial drive whose management success has been demonstrated in practice during a lengthy career as leaders. Many MBA and EMBA applicants are senior executives or have experience in top-level positions.

Q3. Is MBA study difficult? 

Ans-. In summary, an MBA is just as difficult as you make it and is only as rewarding as you put into it. There is rarely any hand-holding in business. Either you become a skilled business specialist, or competitors surpass you.