To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ’tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles…

These lines from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet make up perhaps the most famous of all literary quotations. Now, if you’ll allow me indulge in an analogy. These are difficult and uncertain times in the corporate world. Do you sit back and suffer the slings and arrow of fortune? Or do you take remedial action, perhaps by undertaking an MBA?

There are many reasons to go to business school. In a tough job market, many entry-level jobs require specific skills that only a good master’s degree can provide. While for experienced professionals from any discipline looking to fulfil ambitious career plans and maximise potential in the workplace, a business masters has the potential to speed up career progress and update the managerial toolkit.

Subjects such as management and accounting have seen a steady growth in student numbers in recent years, and as interest from students and employers increases, university business schools have been gradually developing specialist master’s degrees.

The question of whether or not to pursue an MBA is not a new one. Although an MBA may be a prize that many who reach the top levels of business seem to have, by itself it is by no means a guarantee of success. So is it worth foregoing a year of potential earnings and investing a significant sum in fees just to have the qualification on your CV?

The answer is yes, it’s worth it. Although the job market is tougher under current conditions, getting an MBA from the right school is for many professionals a way of landing a better job and of accelerating a career. Moreover, business school is not just about finding a job; it’s also about undertaking a process of self-discovery and character building.

For experienced professionals from any discipline looking to fulfil ambitious career plans and maximise potential in the workplace, an MBA will satisfy intellectual curiosity, speed up current progress and update the managerial skill-set. It also presents the ideal opportunity to learn from others while working as a team.

An MBA gives a valuable competitive advantage in the job market by developing new management skills that allow a person to contribute at a higher level in his or her organisation. It can also fast-track career progress and improve promotion prospects. It can also significantly enhance salary prospects in both the short and long term.

Aston is one of only an elite 1% of worldwide business schools worldwide to hold accreditation from the three major management international accrediting bodies (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB)

MBA participants often find that studying an MBA gives them the independence required to switch functions or sectors, or even to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions using the support and guidance offered on the programme.

An MBA helps to develop soft skills in communication, interpersonal skills and leadership ability, while increasing confidence in professional capabilities. There is also a strong focus on absorbing new ideas and experiences while studying with a diverse and motivated group of students. Essentially, studying for an MBA is a positive transformation.

UK business schools have an enviable reputation internationally and attract more than 100,000 students annually from other EU countries and further afield. However, which is the right MBA for you? Many experts believe that it is essential to pursue an MBA from the right institute instead of trusting in just any other institute.

Those who have a reasonably good idea of what they want to do after business school should think about which school will help them achieve that. While programmes vary, most business school curricula blend core courses on marketing, finance, accounting and organisational behaviour with options on more specialised topics. Many schools offer programmes focused around a theme.

Most institutions believe that faculty members are of prime relevance to the success or otherwise of its various courses. Faculty members are the catalyst that defines the success of the students and the institute. It makes sense to look for a business school with faculty members who offer a blend of knowledge. Not only is it necessary to have young staff members who train students to be practical, it is also desirable to have some seasoned veterans who can be always looked to for experience and wisdom.

An MBA is expensive. However, for those willing to look beyond of the obvious big names and consider one of the up-and-coming players, there are some attractive deals available. A number of schools have kept fees relatively low. One of these is Aston Business School in Birmingham. The Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2012 ranked Aston 16th in the world for value for money.

Aston is one of only an elite 1% of worldwide business schools worldwide to hold accreditation from the three major management international accrediting bodies (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB), and the Aston MBA is consistently recognised as one of the world’s leading MBA programmes.

Aston says that the quality its MBA rests on is the excellence of its teaching and research. Most of the school’s academic staff have many years of experience in industry and are at the cutting edge of research in their particular fields. Aston’s commitment to enhancing the career progression of its students is delivered through strong employer links. These result in an average salary increase of 70% for its graduates.

The Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2012 ranked Aston Business School 12th in the UK, 22nd in Europe and 91st in the world. The Economist’s Which MBA? 2011 ranking placed Aston’s full-time MBA at 1st in the UK for Student Assessment of Career Service, 2nd in the UK for Open New Career Opportunities, 13th in the UK, 28th in Europe and 77th in the world.
So, go and do something about those slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Research the characteristics of business schools, and find out more about the student experience and how students are achieving their personal and professional goals. Ultimately, it is in both schools’ and candidates’ best interests to find the perfect fit.