Business School:  Is It Really Necessary?

Business schools may be the best way to jumpstart a career, but do you really need an education for it? While there are many business managers who don't have formal educations, some people believe that a formal education is the key to success. They justify this claim by pointing to how their degree and background helped them grow their careers. However, there are a host of people who were able to achieve success without going through college and getting that piece of paper.

The truth is, we just don't know if getting your degree will help you get ahead in life. It all comes down to the individual. Understanding that college isn't necessary to be successful can shed some light on which major may have the most value in your field of study.

What started as a way for business schools to justify a diploma is now an assumed part of the process. The moment you get into your first office job, it's suggested that you start thinking about what degree would put you ahead of the competition. All this adds up to wasting money and time just for something that might not impress your boss or open more doors for you down the road.

So, if you are considering going to a business school, here are some things you should ask yourself:

Do you have a specific career in mind? Are you interested in management or entrepreneurship? Or do you want to be a financial advisor or stock broker? The major that's going to help you out the most is the one that ties directly into your career. For example, if management is your goal, then it's not worth investing money and time into marketing. If entrepreneurship is where your head's at, then it doesn't make sense to take accounting classes because the degree won't help you land an investment deal. Figure out what career path will be the most beneficial for your future first.

Is your goal to create a brand? If you don't have your own business in mind, but instead want to work for a corporation, then maybe going for a business degree is important. People who work for large companies often get promotions by the number of projects they've worked on and the amount of experience they have under their belts. However, if you want to start your own company and brand, then it may not be necessary. The truth is that while getting a piece of paper will help you advance in certain fields, if you are just starting out and need to build up experience or track record first, then it might not be as necessary.

Are you going to be on the management side or the business owner side? Don't get me wrong; a business degree is extremely valuable when starting out. But things change once you have a successful brand and want to start motivating others. Business school will give you a host of great ways to make money, but they won't necessarily teach you how to be an effective leader. If your dream is to become the boss some day, then getting your hands dirty is something that's not going to impress your board members. A formal education may make you more confident in leading others, but it will also create a more hostile work environment for those who aren't as educated. Look at the bigger picture of your career and look at what percentage is school-related and what percentage is self-motivated.

And finally, is going to school for you? A degree may help you in the long run, but it's not something that you must have to be successful. Even if your career requires a business education, don't let that be the only reason you're going. Go to college because it's required by your field, but don't go because you think it'll make you happy. You should always aim to be the best person you can be through the college experience.

The truth is that there is no way to tell what degree will help you out in life. It's like riding a bike or walking; it's one skill that everyone learns. The only thing that says whether you will be successful at something comes from actual experience and not a piece of paper. And even if your degree does help create more opportunities for you, it's not necessarily worth it if you aren't happy with the choice you make because of money or pressure from your peers.

I hope this article inspires readers to look inside themselves and decide if a degree in business makes sense for them based on their career goals. Focusing too much on the degree can turn into an expensive waste of time and money. So, take a step back before investing your time and money into something that won't help you in the long run.

About the author: Christina Cheung is a graduate student who is currently working on her Master's in Public Policy at UC Berkeley. She always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but after seeing how hard school was for her sister, she decided to take a hiatus from college to pursue entrepreneurship instead. Now, instead of going to school, she has built up experience through internships and independent projects as well as getting her hands dirty by starting two companies (one of which has received awards from the government). Christina is on the cover of two magazines and has a successful blog focused on social entrepreneurship. She's currently working on her book which she wants to turn into a New York Times Best-Seller. You can reach Christina at christinamcheung@gmail.com or visit her website at christinamcheung.com.

This was originally published on Christina Cheung's blog, ChristinaCheung.com, on July 3rd, 2012 and it was reposted with permission from the author.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Sebastian Duda

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Conclusion: Students not graduating in debt is great news for students. This will encourage more students to go to school and graduate on time, and make sure they do not incur any kind of debt in their future. However, there are other aspects that need to be considered while looking at the data of those who graduated with a degree. The noteworthy factors would include the field that the degree is earned in, and whether or not it has any relevance to his current occupation. For example, someone who completes her industrial engineering degree could easily end up with a job that requires her to use this knowledge gained while studying engineering.