<p>Many MBA programs require students to choose an area of concentration.</p>
<p>Other programs don’t require students to declare a concentration, but students may find that doing so will open more doors.</p>
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<p>You will want to make sure that you find a concentration that helps you reach your goals.</p>
<h2>How Do You Find a Concentration?</h2>
<p>Choosing your concentration is going to be one of the most important steps you take as an MBA student.</p>
<p>You need to understand what options are available to you when you are looking for a mba online program and</p>
<p>which ones could best fit with your future plans. Here are some ways you can help find a concentration.</p>
<h2>Reflect on Career Experience</h2>
<p>There is a reason that most business schools require or encourage their students to have some professional work experience before applying.</p>
<p>They want to make sure that you have some insight into what you want to do with your career. Think about what skills you developed in the past.</p>
<p>What were your strengths? What did you enjoy or not enjoy? Are there are any valuable skills that you think you need to develop while moving forward?</p>
<h2>Consider Your Strengths and Passions</h2>
<p>You should think about what kind of career you will be best suited for after graduation.</p>
<p>Are you the kind of person who enjoys networking and is a natural leader?</p>
<p>A concentration in management might be best for you. Are you highly analytical and great at math?</p>
<p>You may want to consider a concentration in finance.</p>
<p>You don’t necessarily need to limit yourself to a particular concentration because of your strengths.</p>
<p>For example, you can use your analytical skills to do marketing research instead of analyzing financial data.</p>
<p>However, you will have to look for a more specialized career.</p>
<h2>Take Initiative If You’re Unsure</h2>
<p>Many people are not sure what they want to do when they start business school.</p>
<p>You will need to be proactive about your education to learn what direction you want to go.</p>
<p>Take the time to network with others who can give you more insight into what path may be best for you.</p>
<p>Ask your professors and people in the industry what you need to know about particular industries so that you can find a path that works for you.</p>
<h2>Be Flexible</h2>
<p>Everyone’s preferences can change over time. You may start off with a concentration in finance and then realize the classes don’t interest you as much as you expected.</p>
<p>You may also do an internship and find that it isn’t the path you are looking for.</p>
<p>You will need to be flexible and be willing to change if the concentration isn’t right for you.</p>
<p>Most concentrations only consist of a couple of classes and you won’t be set back much if you decide to change.</p>
<p>You can also consider pursuing two separate concentrations if you would like.Some concentrations may even share common classes.</p>
<p>For example, a class on international finance could be used for both a concentration in global business and a separate concentration in finance.</p>
<p>Pursuing dual concentrations can be particularly helpful if you have a very distinct, multidisciplinary career goal.</p>
<p><strong>About the author: </strong>Kalen Smith is an Internet entrepreneur.</p>
<p>He also has an MBA with a dual concentration in finance and marketing from Clark University in Worcester, MA.</p>