When I started doing grad school admissions consulting back in the early 2000s, almost all of my clients pursued MBAs. These include specialty MBAs, such as in Luxury Brand Management and Fashion. But, little by little, my percentage of non-MBA candidates has increased. It’s now about 30%. The degrees include LLM (Master of Law), MPH (Public Health), MPA (Public Administration), PhD (Computer Science, Leadership), MEM (Engineering Management), MSx (@Stanford), Master of Accounting, Master of Real Estate Economics, and even a Master of Dentistry. Recently, there’s been an increasing number of business schools offering Master of Management degrees. These are similar to MBAs, but there are four main differences. First, they are typically one year in length or even as short as 10 months. Second, students are less experienced, normally ranging from 0 to 3 years of professional experience. Third, the acceptance rate is higher (GMAT requirements are not as strict). Fourth, these programs are less expensive. Despite the obvious benefits, these programs are not so well known in Japan. The conventional pattern among Japanese candidates is to work 5-8 years before aiming for an MBA. But I would argue that if you’re been on the job for a year or two and your career is not satisfying, it might make sense to consider a Master of Management. These programs have many of the same benefits of MBA programs, including the same professors and access to job recruiters. The list of top universities with such one year programs is pretty impressive. Top US schools include Carnegie Mellon Cornell, Michigan, MIT, NYU, UCLA, and USC. European programs include ESADE, HEC, IE, INSEAD and LBS. The bottom line is that there are many pathways for those looking to improve their skills and advance their career. If you’d like help finding the right fit for you, don’t hesitate to contact me for a free consultation. (info@roahconsulting). Finally, Happy Golden Week!