Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Planning admission to USA

Before considering to opt for MS in US, prepare yourself whether you are fit enough to study in US. US education system is known for its quality of research output and hence think twice before you wish to study there.

Schooling:

First of all, US universities require about sixteen years of schooling for all the international applicants. If you fall in short of this criteria never attempt to forward your application. Have a good schooling record in both the academics and in the extra curricular activities. US universities do recognize the skill and the talent of the applicants during their school life. Sometimes the application may ask for your skills that you acquired during your school education.

GRE Score:

US universities require more than 1000 in the gre score. Top universities often demand higher GRE scores, for instance MIT requires above 1450 or so. GRE score is like your pass to higher education in the US. GRE score is just one among the several things that the US universities consider. Higher GRE score will also help the international students to get scholarships from the universities.

TOEFL Score:

Some of the universities demand TOEFL score in addition to the GRE score. Getting above 100 in TOEFL will definitely be an added advantage to the students. TOEFL score is a parameter with which the university can understand the level of English education that the applicant has acquired.

Better Recommendation Letter:

Recommendation letter from the professors who taught you is a very significant factor that can either admit you or reject you. Better your professors write about you more the impact will be on the minds of the university officials. Recommendation letter from variety of professors who taught different subjects is ideal.

Higher Academic Score in Under Graduation:

The more you score in your under graduation the better the impression on you by the university. A score of about 3.2/4 or equivalent percentage or CGPA is considered the best score in US universities. Higher under graduation score will also help in getting aids from the university.

Statement of Purpose:

The purpose for which you opted to study the selected field in the US university. The better scripted and described statement of purpose would definitely keep you on top of other applicants. Be brief on what you want to tell to them. The statement of purpose should reflect your ambition, your current ideas and your past achievements.

Financial statement:

Financial statement from the bank that you have enough funds to pursue your education in the US. Make sure that you have sufficient funds in your bank to pay your graduate education. Let it be about a minimum 25000$ in your bank account. The higher you have the better chances of getting a student visa.

Application:

The application that is duly filled and with all required documents that are to be sent along with the application. Application should also contain the necessary fees for the application ( may vary depending on the university ).

Curriculum vitae or the Resume:

The date of birth, address, contact info and other required details must be written on a neat sheet and should include your education details too. You can also include your significant achievements and appreciation that you have got.

Understanding TOEFL

Many pre-university and pre-graduate school people find themselves asking for TOEFL Review Tips for students. But what exactly is TOEFL anyway? What do those five letters stand for? For one thing, and perhaps before we begin, it is important to define the test right away. TOEFL stands for the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is a standard exam normally taken by students who come from countries where English is not the primary language, as a measure of English proficiency and the student's capacity to grasp, understand, and comprehend the English language as used in the collegiate and post-graduate levels (in America, Europe, and he like). This is very important because if one lacks the ability to at least converse or grasp the language, it will indeed be very, very difficult to adjust to the demands of university life. Although admittedly it isn't exactly that hard to pass, some degree of preparation is necessary if you want to be able to ace the TOEFL. In line with this, there are A LOT of resources and review tips/materials which you could peruse in your pursuit of a high TOEFL score.

One such resource are the different TOEFL review books out in the market. I'm sure you can find them in your neighborhood bookstore (usually among the SAT, GMAT, LSAT, and other like reviewer booklets). If not, you can also find ebooks online which deal with the topic rather extensively. If however, you do not feel the particular urge or are impatient to wait for the download, you can always check out the other resources available online. I'm sure there are hundreds of them just waiting to be read. Another way you by which you could prepare for the TOEFL, is to enroll in concentrated review classes, as these are usually tailor fit for the class's levels and needs (since usually the number of students in a class is minimal, i.e. 3 to 5 at the very least, and 10 at most). At a very agree-able price, you get quality preparation from trained instructors and teachers. However, if you don't have the money, or you aren't willing to invest time and cash for it, you can always take the aforementioned suggestion of reading up on these online. As I had said, there are millions of TOEFL review tips online for students like you. Good luck!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

USA credit hour and GPA

Each subject is called a course. Each course is worth certain points called credit hours or semester hours. You will observe that most of the courses are worth 3 credits. As a student of MS, you will have to complete 30 credits. If you are doing MS with thesis, you need to do 24 credit hours from course work, 3 credits for research and 3 credits for thesis. Research and Thesis are commonly counted together as 6.

You would be wondering what is 500 level, 600 level courses people are talking about. Well, different Universities have different conventions. In ASU, 100 to 400 level courses are Undergraduate courses. 500 and upwards are considered graduate level courses. However, there are certain 400 level courses (max of 12 credits) that can be taken by a graduate student and will be coded as 591. For example, undergrad maths courses can read as MAT 101, MAT 201 and so on whereas if you have graduate maths courses, they will read as MAT 501, MAT 601 and so on. Along with the courses related to your specialization you need to have 6 credits from out of specialization courses. For instance, if your specialization is DSP and Communication, courses from Control Engg or VLSI can serve as out of specialization. These are referred to breath requirements.

There are different schemes of examination that we might not be aware of before. We have open book exams, open notes exam, take home exams and our formal way of examination as well.

GPA is your score. There are different scales on which GPA can be calculated. ASU and SDSU for example, does on a scale of 4. GPA 3.5 on a scale of 4 means you have got 3.4 out of 4. At the end of the semester, you will be given Grades 'A', 'B', 'C' ... Some professors also give +/- like 'A-' and so on. each grade corresponds to certain points, for example, A = 4 on a scale of 4. The following example shows how GPA is computed:-

Suppose you have scored 'A' in 3 credit subject and 'B' in a 2 credit subject. then you cumulative point is 4x3+3x 2 = 18 (assuming A=4 and B=3). So, your GPA will be 18/(3+2) = 3.6. The total points come in the numerator and the total credits go at the denominator.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Education in USA

I have seen many students applying to Graduate schools for MS or MBA in USA posting questions about their profiles about 10th and inter or 11th &12th Class or Standards percentages and asking questions like :


I have 95% in inter or 11th and 12th grades, will I get admission

I have 90% in 10th grade, will I get scholarship ? Admission ?

I have only 65% in 10th and Intermediate, will I get admission ?

High School or Secondary Education in USA

Just some background of secondary education system in United States : “In the United States a high school is an upper secondary school which educates children from grade nine or ten through grade twelve”. ( Grade is nothing but a class ) Anyways, the point is 10th, 11th and 12th classes are considered high school or secondary education.

Graduate School Transcript Requirements for MS/MBA Admission :

If you look at any University admissions requirements for MS or MBA i.e., graduate school , the transcript requirements will say one very common thing “Official transcripts are required from each post-secondary university or college attended. An official statement of the award of the degree or diploma is required for each degree completed. ” What they mean is, they want transcripts for only B.Tech or B.Com or anything that you have done AFTER 12th class or intermediate. They need transcripts only for the classes after High School or Secondary education. The Graduate Schools do NOT NEED 10th, 11th and 12th class mark sheets, because most of the schools do NOT Give any weightage or importance to that percentages for admission decision of MS or MBA . There is one catch, if you have got any University credit in your bachelors for the classes that you have taken in high school, then they need the high school transcripts.

Think logically, if they do NOT want your official mark sheets or transcripts or they are not even asking you to send any copies of the high school or secondary education mark sheets, they probably do not use them for anything. If they make any admission or scholarship decision based on your high school marks then they will ask. Some may argue, I will send them anyways just in case they may look at them. Sending them will not hurt, but the key thing is, your admission or scholarship decision may not be based on them.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

DIFFERENCE AMONG C.V., BIODATA AND RESUME

People use the words RESUME, C.V., and BIO-DATA interchangeably for the document highlighting skills, education, and experience that a candidate submits when applying for a job. On the surface level, all the three mean the same. However, there are intricate differences.

RESUME

Resume Is a French word meaning "summary", and true to the word meaning, signifies a summary of one's employment, education, and other skills, used in applying for a new position. A resume seldom exceeds one side of an A4 sheet, and at the most two sides. They do not list out all the education and qualifications, but only highlight specific skills customized to target the job profile in question.

A resume is usually broken into bullets and written in the third person to appear objective and formal. A good resume starts with a brief Summary of Qualifications, followed by Areas of Strength or Industry Expertise in keywords, followed by Professional Experience in reverse chronological order. Focus is on the most recent experiences, and prior experiences summarized. The content aims at providing the reader a balance of responsibilities and accomplishments for each position. After Work experience come Professional Affiliations, Computer Skills, and Education

C.V. - CURRICULUM VITAE

C.V Is a Latin word meaning "course of life". Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) is therefore a regular or particular course of study pertaining to education and life. C.V. is more detailed than a resume, usually 2 to 3 pages, but can run even longer as per the requirement. C.V. generally lists out every skills, jobs, degrees, and professional affiliations the applicant has acquired, usually in chronological order. C.V. displays general talent rather than specific skills for any specific positions.

BIO-DATA

Bio Data the short form for Biographical Data, is the old-fashioned terminology for Resume or C.V. The emphasis in a bio data is on personal particulars like date of birth, religion, sex, race, nationality, residence, martial status, and the like. Next comes a chronological listing of education and experience. The things normally found in a resume, that is specific skills for the job in question comes last, and are seldom included. Bio-data also includes applications made in specified formats as required by the company.



A resume is ideally suited when applying for middle and senior level positions, where experience and specific skills rather than education is important. C.V., on the other hand is the preferred option for fresh graduates, people looking for a career change, and those applying for academic positions. The term bio-data is mostly used in India while applying to government jobs, or when applying for research grants and other situations where one has to submit descriptive essays.

Resumes present a summary of highlights and allow the prospective employer to scan through the document visually or electronically, to see if your skills match their available positions. A good resume can do that very effectively, while a C.V. cannot. A bio-data could still perform this role, especially if the format happens to be the on recommended by the employer.

Personal information such as age, sex, religion and others, and hobbies are never mentioned in a resume. Many people include such particulars in the C.V. However, this is neither required nor considered in the US market.. A Bio-data, on the other hand always include such personal details.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Interview Questions-5

41. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.

42. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.

43. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?
First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up: Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.

44. What qualities do you look for in a boss?
Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.

45. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute ?
Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.

46. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?
Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.

47. Describe your work ethic ?
Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.

48. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings.

49. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.
Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.

50. Do you have any questions for me?
Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? are examples.

Interview Questions-4

31. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.

32. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?
Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.

33. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are: Challenge, Achievement, Recognition

34. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?
This is up to you. Be totally honest.

35. How would you know you were successful on this job?
Several ways are good measures: You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success. Your boss tell you that you are successful

36. Would you be willing to relocate if required?
You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

37. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.

38. Describe your management style ?
Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.

39. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.

40. Do you have any blind spots?
Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.

Interview Questions-3

21. What irritates you about co-workers?
This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.

22. What is your greatest strength?
Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude

23. Tell me about your dream job ?
Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute andcan\'t wait to get to work.

24. Why do you think you would do well at this job?
Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.

25. What are you looking for in a job?
See answer # 23

26. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

27. What is more important to you: the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.

28. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
There are numerous good possibilities: Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise,Initiativ e, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver

29. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor?
Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.

30. What has disappointed you about a job?
Don\'t get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include: Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

Interview Questions-2

11. What is your Expected Salary?
A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That\'s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.

12. Are you a team player?
You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point..

13. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I\'d like it to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I\'m doing a good job.

14. Have you ever had to fire anyone?
How did you feel about that? This is serious. Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. At the same time, you will do it when it is the right thing to do. When it comes to the organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force.

15. What is your philosophy towards work?
The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That\'s the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

16. If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

17. Have you ever been asked to leave a position?
If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organization involved.

18. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization ?
You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship. .

19. Why should we hire you?
Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison..

20. Tell me about a suggestion you have made ?
Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

Interview Questions-1

1. Tell me about yourself?
Ans : The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

2. Why did you leave your last job?
Ans: Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a majorproblem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

3. What experience do you have in this field?
Ans: Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.

4. Do you consider yourself successful?
Ans:You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.

5. What do co-workers say about you?
Ans: Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest workers she had ever known. It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself.

6. What do you know about this organization?
This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?

7. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.

8. Are you applying for other jobs?
Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focuson this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.

9. Why do you want to work for this organization?
This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed... Relate it to your long-term career goals.

10. Do you know anyone who works for us?
Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.

7 common mistakes while sending CV - Resume

1. We don't mention Post - Job Position applied for in subject of our Email ( It's as necessary as writing it on Envelope when we are sending a hard copy).

2. We don't use cover-letter as message.
At least a paragraph should be there in message.
Example : (You can copy the message. Please change details in red colour)

Dear Sir / Madam,

I, Ms. Puja Rasiklal Shah, MBA ( 67% at first attempt, from VNSGU) having work experience of 2 years as Assistant Manager, would like to apply for the suitable position at your firm/company.

My detailed resume/ Curriculum Vitae is attached herewith for your kind consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Shah Puja R.

3. We use wrong Email address.
While submitting the application make sure, you give the right email address. Try to use professional looking email address.

Examples:

sweetpuja@yahoo.com (No, its doesn’t look good for applying to a job )

puja1234@yahoo.com (It’s ok, but try to avoid using such id’s too)

shahpuja.mba@yahoo.com (It looks perfect )

4. We don't mention Date of birth and Sex.

5. We forget to attach CV - Resume. (human error)

6. We give wrong names to our CV - Resume.
Examples : cv.doc, cv12.doc, resume.doc

pujashah_2009.doc (It's OK)

cv_pujashah_mba2009.doc (It looks perfect)

7. We send email to many employers together.
If you want to save time, send them as BCC recipient. Though, I'd suggest you to send only one at a time.

Monday, February 22, 2010

what is IELTS?

What is IELTS?

IELTS stand for International English Language Testing System.The IELTS is conducted to help the universities and colleges to assess the English skills of a student. Since many students go to other countries to study, its crucial for the universities to check their English skills as it is the medium of communication in other countries.There are two modules namely Academic and General training. The Academic module is for the students who wish to study in other countries, whereas the General training module is for people who wish to work,immigrate in other countries.

TEST FORMAT:

The IELTS test is divided into four sections namely Listening,Reading,Writing and Speaking. All candidates sit the same Listening and Speaking test. The Reading and Writting test are different for Academic and General modules.

Listening:

The listening test takes around 30 minutes. There are 40 questions in 4 sections. The candidates are each provided with separate headsets to listen to the listening test which is recorded on a CD and played only once.During the test, the candidates are to read the questions provided in the question sheet and check the correct answers in the answer sheet.An extra 10 minutes will be given to transfer the answers to the answer sheet. A range of native-speaker English accents are used in the listening test.

Reading:

The reading test takes 60 minutes. There are 40 questions based on three reading passages. The candidates have to answer the questions during the 60 minutes, as there won't be any extra time to transfer the answers to the answer sheet.

Writing:

The writing test takes 60 minutes. There are two sections in this test. The candidates should write a minimum of 150 words for section 1 and minimum of 250 words for section 2. The questions will be different for the Academic and General modules.

Speaking:

The Speaking test takes almost 15 minutes and consists os an oral interview between the candidate and the examiner.All speaking tests are conducted in a private room and recorded.this part consists of three sections. In section 1, the candidate answers general questions about themselves. In section 2, the candidate is given a topic on which he should speak for a minimum of 2 minutes. the candidate is allowed to prepare for a minute before he speaks. In section 3, the examiner and the candidate engage in a discussion about abstract issues based on the topic given in section 2.this lasts for 4-5 minutes.

How to Prepare?

Preparing for IELTS depends on each candidates English skills. Some may require to undergo a special coaching class for a month whereas few may prepare on thier own with the help of study materials. So the first step would be ranking your English skills by your own (you will obviously know how good you are in English). If you still can't rank yourself, then you may take the free mock tests available in internet,they may be helpful in ranking your english skills.

Now that you have ranked yourself, you may have an idea about wether you need a coaching or not. People who think they have a bad grammer should consider goin to a coaching.people who are generally good in English may consider self preparation.

Time managment:

Time managment is another crucial factor when it comes to IELTS. However good you have prepared,if you are not aware of time managment its hard to get a decent score in IELTS. Trying to finish within the time limit during your practice tests will help you a lot. Target Band 7 is a good book that speaks about time managment and teaches you valuable tips to write IELTS exam.If you are preparing on your own, i highly recommend that you make use of this book.

Now that i have said everything i know of, i wish to remind a few important tips.

• Take rest the previous day of Exam. Don't wake up for a long time on the previous night to exam as it will only make you tired and sleepy during the exam,and you won't be able to concentrate properly in the exam.

• Remind yourself that IELTS is also an easy exam like others and avoid getting nervous during exam.

• Start preparing for the exams earlier to avoid confusion at the last minute.

• Take lots of practice tests as it will help you in time management and help you get familiar with exam and thus reduce nervousness during exam.

• All said,GOOD LUCK!

IELTS Band Score

MS or MBA

What is MS ? What do you study in MS ?
MS as it says, it is “Master of Science”, your focus is primarily on the advanced topics on a particular subject. MS emphasis is more technical in nature. You will study more advanced topics in the area of focus. Just to compare, it is like doing M.Sc or M.A back in home country . The emphasis is more on advanced topics in that particular area. Lets say you pick MS in Computer Sciences, you study classic courses like Advanced Database Management Systems, Advanced Operation systems, Research Methods, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Advanced programming languages…sorry if you are not a computer science major and you did not get it. Overall, what I was saying is, you study the technical aspects of a subject to another level and more deep. To get into MS program, it is ideal to have same background in Bachelors. For instance, lets say you have B.Tech in Computer Sciences, then it is ideal to take MS in Computer Sciences or if you have BA or B.Com with focus on Economics or Finance, then you can do MS in Accounting or Finance. If you are from different background, then you would have to do lot of foundation classes to change the major.

What is MS good For ? What can I do with MS ?
As MS is more technical in nature, it is good for doing further research by PhD or to work in technical positions in your job. It can be like Database Architect, Marketing Research Director, Advance Tax & valuation expert, etc. It will give you edge in the technical area you are working or research. Many people who wish to become professors one day, choose this path so that they can go to PhD and then become a professor some day. Some just take because they love the subject and want to know the details to an advanced level.

What is MBA ? What do you study in MBA ?
MBA as it says, it is “Master of Business Administration”, clearly we can see it is an Administration or Management degree by name. It is no way technical in nature. You are not trying to explore the depth of a particular subject; you are trying to learn various aspects of a business and learn management skills to administer company’s or organization’s resources and people effectively. Typically, 2/3rd of the classes will be fundamental courses of Business and administration like Accounting, Corporate Finance , Organization behavior, IT for Managers, Marketing Strategy, Economics, Operations strategy, Leadership and Negotiation, etc. Rest of the 1/3rd of the classes with be electives and you have the choice. You can pick Marketing, Finance, HR, etc based on your choice or your current industry. When someone says, I got MBA in Marketing, it means that they only did this 1/3rd of the classes related to Marketing. But, when someone says, I have MS in Marketing, it means they had around 80 – 100% of their classes in Marketing ONLY. You see the difference ? Based on university it changes, but generally you can do your own set of classes that you like for the 1/3rd of classes in MBA with variety of mix, then you will not have a degree in specialization. It will be called General Degree in MBA.

What is MBA good for ? Where can you work with MBA ? What is career path ?
MBA is for those of you who want to work in a management position. The degree teaches you all about Business and how to effectively administer people, resources to make logical and smart decisions. It is ideal for anyone with few years of experience and willing to grow up the ladder in their company. It is for aspiring managers…If you want to grow to higher level in a company and one day dream of becoming a CEO or opening your own business, then MBA is for you ! You can do specific courses of Entrepreneurship to become an entrepreneur of a Business. There are people who do PhD too, but most of the people with MBA become managers and based on their emphasis and experience, they can be end up in titles like Director of Marketing, Global Sales Manager, Project Manager, etc. There are some people who do PhD too, it is because during their MBA some specific course got their attention and they got plugged in…