Can You Get a Double MBA and What Are Your Chances

MBA & Beyond Team

12/07/2023 | 5:10 pm

Are you considering if you can get a double MBA? Despite holding an MBA, working in a reputable firm, and possessing relevant experience, you might still feel a gap. This article aims to help you clarify your thoughts on pursuing a second MBA. We’ll provide insights into the top MBA programs abroad that accept applicants for a second MBA, along with strategies to boost your chances of admission to your dream B-school.

Contemplating if you can get a double MBA opens doors to new opportunities for personal and professional growth. Whether you’re pondering, ‘Can you get a double MBA?’ to delve deeper into a specific industry, pivot your career trajectory, or broaden your global perspective, this endeavor can equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to achieve your aspirations. By carefully evaluating your goals and leveraging your past experiences, you can harness the full potential of a double MBA to propel your career to new heights

Key Considerations Before Enrolling

A double MBA unlocks potential, but requires planning. Ensure the program aligns with your goals, consider the time commitment, and explore financial aid options before enrolling.

Here is the Snapshot of the article:

Why do you need a second MBA? Should you do a double MBA? Which Second MBA should I go for: One Year or Two-Year? Colleges offering Second MBA abroad How should you enhance your applications for a second MBA and convince adcoms? Case study of an MBA aspirant doing second MBA from London business school- with 100% scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

Why do You Need a Second MBA Or Double MBA

No Prior Work Experience Before Your First MBA

Sometimes because of the fear of not having a gap in academics or “uncertainty” about the job market, people rush and go for an MBA program right after their graduation. This rush often results in a lack of work experience, thereby diminishing the overall impact of their MBA journey. This is where the option of pursuing an MBA as a second master’s degree comes into consideration.

The inclination to pursue a second MBA or a double MBA is prevalent in India, where students often transition directly from graduation to post-graduation (MBA). This scenario can serve as a compelling motivation for you to consider pursuing a second MBA and embrace the identity of a double MBA aspirant.

First MBA From a Less Reputed School and You Want to Gain a Sceond MBA Abroad

Competition within business schools is fierce, and securing a seat for your first MBA in your dream business school may be challenging for various reasons.

In this MBA industry, ranking matters a lot. Your future placements hinge on the reputation of the school, the companies that recruit MBA graduates from that institution, and its standing in the market.

If the school where you obtained your first MBA did not offer the necessary experience and opportunities to achieve your short-term goals, pursuing a second MBA becomes crucial. Opting for a second MBA abroad, especially from a reputable international business school, may be essential to address the gaps that were not fulfilled by your first MBA.

Unsatisfied With Your Current Job and Need a Second MBA to Get Your Dream Job

Despite putting in considerable effort, individuals may find it challenging to secure their dream jobs. If you feel dissatisfied in terms of financial, social, personal needs, and development, obtaining a second MBA holds the key to addressing this problem!

Not Satisfied with MBA Subjects or Reached a Stagnant Point in your Career

At times, individuals may not be content with the subjects they selected during their first MBA due to a lack of understanding about which areas would best align with their interests and goals.

Or they may not have explored the opportunities they should have to reach their goals, and now they feel the need for a second MBA.

Alternatively, if the decision to pursue the first MBA was made hastily, and you were uncertain about your objectives, it’s now an opportune moment to consider embarking on an MBA as a second master’s degree and attaining a double MBA.

Adcoms understand that pursuing a double MBA is acceptable as long as you provide valid reasons for seeking a second MBA from their business schools.

Should You Do a Double MBA

Can we do MBA Twice

Well, pursuing a double MBA hinges on your specific goals and aspirations. Considering the reasons outlined above for seeking a second MBA, you should now have a clearer sense of whether a double MBA, offering a more streamlined path with integrated coursework, or a traditional second MBA, allowing for a greater degree of specialization, aligns best with your objectives.

However, other than aspirations related to your second MBA, there are other factors to be counted in while making this decision to pursue a double MBA:

• Second MBA does involve a lot of financial investment in terms of money, effort, time. You should calculate for yourself if you are ready to put in all these resources for getting a second MBA.

• Are you ready to be out of a job for two years while pursuing a double MBA (or one year if you go for one-year MBA programs to pursue your second MBA)? Besides, are you ready to put yourself through the GMAT, an extensive application process, the many drafts, and difficulties of getting the perfect “why second MBA” essay without having any guarantee?

• Is a second MBA or double MBA the best option to go forward? Introspect and dig deep if your goals are achievable without getting a second MBA and how much time it will take you. Is it possible to do any short-term courses and still achieve your goals without pursuing a second MBA?

These questions would provide you with a lot of clarity about the “why second MBA” essay, reflecting your goals and aspirations. Also, you should be thinking about these questions now to have a clear purpose for doing a second MBA abroad.

Based on personal experiences, we have witnessed MBA students, even in prestigious business schools, feeling uncertain about their paths. This realization led to the establishment of MBA and Beyond, with the aim of assisting individuals in discovering their true purpose and navigating their MBA journey—whether it’s the first or second MBA—with a clear sense of direction. Our profile evaluation and process are designed to provide this clarity for our clients.

WHICH SECOND MBA SHOULD I GO FOR- ONE YEAR OR TWO-YEAR?

After deciding to go for a double MBA, the next step is to shortlist the right MBA programs that suit your second MBA aspirations.

For individuals undertaking a second MBA, a key consideration revolves around the time and opportunity cost associated with the program. The question often arises: should you opt for a one-year MBA program or a two-year MBA program for the double MBA degree you intend to pursue?

With experience from our consultants, we have tried to determine some factors that can help you select the right choice of program for your second MBA. COLLEGES OFFERING THE SECOND MBA IN CANADA, US AND ABROAD:

This is the list of the top-notch MBA universities which accept second MBA in Canada, the US, and Europe, along with their Average GMAT and Work Experience.

Name of School	Average GMAT	Average Work-Experience
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	716	4.9
Wharton School of Business	732	5
Harvard Business School	730	4.7
Yale School of Management	730	5
Kellogg School of Management	732	5.1
Booth School of Business	730	5
McCombs School of Business	702	5.5
Kelley School of Business	666	5.6
Columbia Business School	725	5
INSEAD (France)	670-750	5.6
HKUST (Hong Kong)	660	6
SDA Bocconi (Italy)	665	5.5
IE Business School (Spain)	670	6
IMD (Switzerland)	680	7
Saïd Oxford (UK)	690	5
Judge Cambridge (UK)	691	6
Rotman	670	6
University of Alberta	619	6
Teg Rogers School of Management	628	5
York University	660	5
John Molson	635	6

Double Your Expertise with a Double MBA – Are You Eligible?

Many other (almost all) business schools accept a second MBA abroad in Canada (unless specified otherwise), the US, and Europe. You should keep your options open for your second MBA!

HOW CAN YOU ENHANCE YOUR APPLICATIONS FOR A DOUBLE MBA AND CONVINCE THE ADCOMS?

Double MBA aspirants often grapple with the decision to pursue a second MBA. There is an ongoing concern about persuading admissions committees to consider their application for a second MBA, even if they already hold an MBA.

WHAT ARE YOUR CHANCES TO YOUR DREAM SCHOOLS IF YOU ARE DOING A SECOND MBA?

We hear this question about getting a second MBA a lot- trust us! You are not alone. And it’s a reasonable question if you will put all that investment in getting a second MBA.

However, there is no definitive answer to whether or not you should pursue your dream school with a second MBA abroad. Nevertheless, it is more challenging to persuade adcoms and build a compelling case for your candidacy in your second MBA essays compared to those applying for the first time.

• Having a solid profile for a second MBA on all aspects- as you all second MBA aspirants know!

• Bringing intentionality in your application- Why does it make sense to you to pursue a second MBA?

As long as you make your case reasonably with solid passion, no one can stop you from reaching your dream school and pursue a second MBA. But this is the most challenging part of your double MBA application and you do have a reasonable amount of time in hand to think about your “why the second MBA.”

Now before we explore ways to enhance your second MBA application and strengthen your case for pursuing a second MBA, it’s essential to grasp why the second MBA poses a challenge in the first place.

So, here is the deal- if you already have a degree, why do you need to pursue a second MBA with the same name, specialization, and maybe curriculum?

Anyone who has not attended a top-ranked business school should consider pursuing a double MBA solely for these reasons!

The rationale for pursuing a second MBA abroad should not be confined solely to job and career opportunities or specific companies. Emphasize the exposure you aim to gain and the person you aspire to become through a second MBA.

There is no key to making super-strong applications and confirming your spot for a double MBA!

You will need to delve deep, and you will need to keep questioning yourself about “Why second MBA,” and you will need to answer the uncomfortable questions. Only then can you know who you are, what you want to pursue and what you want to become, and if a second MBA comes into the big picture? And there, you will get the answer to the most asked question: How to address your “Why second MBA” essay?

This article will help you better understand how you can address Why second MBA essay and a story of an Indian engineer making it to the Rotman second MBA program with 30k worth scholarships despite a low score! Case study of an aspirant doing second MBA from London Business School- with 100% scholarship

We are proud to lead many second MBA aspirants to their dream business schools. They were pretty conservative regarding their dreams and the business schools they should apply to for their second MBA. We are talking about one such candidate who went for a second MBA and won a 100% scholarship at LBS. Many others with the power of their story went to schools to pursue a second MBA from INSEAD, LBS, Rotman, and many other top-notch schools.

Here is a snapshot of the aspirant doing a second MBA from LBS

“I was pretty sure of doing a second MBA, but beyond that, I did not know the best way to go ahead. After putting in good money and effort, I took my GMAT, and then, I knew I needed someone to guide me to pursue a second MBA so that all my previous actions make sense. Doing a second MBA was a one-time investment, and I could not take any risk with my apps. And with so much information over the web about doing a second MBA, you need someone trustworthy to handle your applications.

I did not have a “720+ GMAT,” so I did not have anything particular in my profile to pursue a second MBA as told by many experts. And I think not being “special” was the biggest concern for me, and I needed someone who could trust in me with this profile and this score and lead me to have a double MBA with my target schools. And that is where Shantanu came to my rescue. He was the only person to say that adcoms are not checking any boxes for the second MBA. They do not look for your international trips or score or any fixed parameter, for that matter. They look for diversity in every student. They need someone who can bring a different perspective to the class. So I posted my profile on the GMAT club, and among others, his clear, on-point response persuaded me to book a session with him. He had a good understanding of what schools want and evaluated my chances accordingly for second MBA programs. This caught my attention, and after having a consulting session with him, I started my journey of pursuing the second MBA with him.”

If you are still in the conundrum of applying to your dream business schools for a second MBA or double MBA, do not sell your dream short!

Whether you are pursuing a second MBA or not, if you have vibrant and achievable goals reflected in your applications, you too can be among those who secure coveted seats!

We are here with you and for you!

Book a free profile evaluation to ace your chances of pursuing a second MBA program now.

BOOK A FREE PROFILE EVALUATION SESSION

Frequently Asked Questions

CAN YOU GET 2 MBA DEGREES?

Almost all business schools accept a second MBA abroad in Canada, the US, and Europe. Look at this list of top business schools that accept students with a second MBA (but it’s not limited to only these schools). You should keep your options open for your double MBA!

IS IT WORTH DOING A SECOND MBA?

Second MBA does involve a lot of financial investment in terms of money, effort, time. You should calculate for yourself if you are ready to put in all these resources for pursuing a double MBA. To do this, determine what you want out of your second MBA and if these aspirations are worth getting a second MBA.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF DOING A SECOND MBA? DOESN’T ONE MBA SUFFICE?

Pursuing a double MBA depends on your goals and aspirations. Generally, one MBA is the norm, but most often, in countries like India, students do their first MBA without work experience and later realize the need to do a second MBA. As we have listed down some reasons above as to what can be plausible reasons for someone to seek a second MBA, you should have by now know if you should be doing a second MBA or a double MBA.

CAN AN MBA BE DONE TWICE IN TWO DIFFERENT SPECIALIZATIONS?

Yes, it can be. But you can select specific electives in your first MBA and choose one major subject as specialization (in the field you want to pursue post-MBA). Pursuing a second MBA for a career change is a great strategy and highly advantageous for career switchers.

HOW DO I JUSTIFY A SECOND MBA?

You will need to delve deep, and you will need to keep questioning yourself about “Why the second MBA,” and you will need to answer the uncomfortable questions. Only then can you know who you are, what you want to pursue and what you want to become, and if a second MBA comes into the big picture? And there, you will get the answer to the most asked question: How to address your “Why second MBA” essay?

SHOULD I GET AN MBA IF I ALREADY HAVE A MASTERS?

This is for you to answer. Do you feel the need of getting an MBA (or second MBA) if you already have a masters? If yes, why? Do you think you can achieve your goals without doing an MBA? If yes, how much time would it take without an MBA? If no, then there you get your answer. Keep questioning yourself at each single point and you will know if you need to pursue MBA as second masters or go for a double MBA.