Is it stressful to get an MBA?
Mental health is in the headlines and MBA students are not immune. Surviving the stresses of the classroom, work, and life is a challenge for every student. Thankfully, business schools are taking notice.
According to a survey2 by the American College Health Association, 77% of graduate and professional students experienced above-average stress in the last year.
Top MBA programs have reacted by offering initiatives focused on strategies and programming to improve students' emotional and mental wellness. Students are also encouraged to engage in mindfulness, to talk to mental health professionals, and to simply speak with their peers. Awareness, reflection, education, and support of mental and emotional needs all help build the emotional resilience that helps drive student success.
Which MBA class is hardest?
Mental health aside, incoming students often wonder about the hardest MBA courses. Unfortunately, there is no common consensus, and the answer often comes down your educational background.
For some, the quantitative courses in an MBA program are the most difficult. These “hard skills” classes include statistics, finance, economics, and accounting. Students with strong mathematical, technical, or analytic backgrounds may find these less difficult than their peers.
For others, the "soft skills" are harder because they can't be mastered simply by opening a book. These include things like integrity, creativity, effective communication, open-mindedness, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and empathy.