Bespoke Grad (or UnderGrad) School

Here’s the all too familiar dialogue (often between parents and student)…
Go to business school.
Why? (What is the expected result?)
Graduate with a better degree.
Why get a “better” degree?
Get a better job.
What’s a better job?
The answer is rarely clear. So we make an investment of time, money and emotion going down a path without a clear goal in mind. This could be a huge mistake.
The most important step then is the first one. You need to define the desired outcome…what does success look like? Perhaps being happy and fulfilled…while working in a hotel. Or is to earn more money out of the gate? Or is it a guarantee to be picked (which I doubt there is). To make it even more fuzzy the traditional expected outcomes (more money and an improved chance of landing a job) are not realistic, especially outside of education, science or advanced accounting.
So, what sort of education is best to get me that result? University coursework? Maybe. Or perhaps it’s a highly customized educational plan complete with unique work, life and social experiences. A plan that also includes coursework and book learning, but not necessarily in the institutional sense. Here’s a list of books (to satisfy the part of you that says books are a necessary part of learning)...
Now, build your own MBA…
Develop a list of books to read
Develop a list of jobs to work
Develop a list of projects to complete
Develop a list of people to connect with
Develop a list of places to explore
The point is to develop a plan…get it funded…and go learn!