Broadening Business Horizons: QS Scholarship Winner

QS Scholarship winner Steffen Müller tells TopMBA.com us how his career aspirations align with his future MBA program.

One of the primary appealing factors of an MBA degree to many applicants is the view that they afford into management practices across industry sectors.

This provides graduates the skills to understand, and manage systems across an entire department, product, or even organization.

For Müller, the holistic approach to business was the key motivator in commencing his MBA journey, and what led him to select IE Business School in Madrid, Spain for his MBA program.

“I hope that the MBA will bring me up to speed regarding economics and finance topics. Moreover, I want to improve my management and soft skills during my time in Madrid.”

“Finally, I am really looking forward to the entrepreneurship classes. In the future, I want to specialize in international business development and maybe start my own business.”

“I think an MBA program at a top business school would be the most interesting and challenging experience. And for me – without a business background – it is one of the few ways to go.”

Pre-MBA experience

Coming from an IT background, Müller has long felt a need to expand upon his existing skill-set in order to advance his career.

Through careful consideration during his pre-MBA professional life, the German MBA candidate ensured that he gained relevant experience in order to achieve his long term career goals.

“During my studies of computer science, I realized that I like the structured way of solving problems and also that I would like to be more than a programmer or IT specialist in the future,” Müller states. “So I first started as an internal consultant for Bayer in their business intelligence department.”

Remaining with the German chemical and pharmaceutical company, Müller’s desire to progress further into the upper realm of business has heightened even further.

“Currently, I am project manager for marketing analytics projects for our most important brands. During the last years, I understood that I want to make the step into the ‘real’ business. That is why I started my preparations for the MBA application.”

MBA application process

As a non-native English speaker, Müller first started his MBA application journey with an English language test, then continuing the rest of the process much like a business project, “step by step.”

“I started with the TOEFL and continued with the GMAT. At the same time I informed myself about different business schools. I used the internet, talks to alumni and of course the QS World MBA Tour fair. Finally, I started the formal admissions process.

“I don’t think that the essays are tough. They are really time consuming, but not tough. If you are prepared for the MBA and you know why you want to do it, than you just have to write it down. Be authentic and give them specific details about your past and future.

“At the interview stage, the admissions committee wants to check if the applicant’s CV and essays are consistent. Moreover, they want to get to know the person behind these documents. I had my interview via video phone and it was a very nice conversation of about 45 minutes.”

MBA scholarships

For many MBA applicants, the issue of securing the money to pay for both tuition fees and living expenses can be the most troublesome part of the admissions process. As a result, many opt to apply for the various MBA scholarships that are on offer to talented applicants.

So far, Müller has been successful in applying for two scholarships; one from IE Business School where he plans to study, and one from QS, which he became eligible for by attending the QS World MBA Tour.

“MBA scholarships are a great opportunity to lower the financial burden and I am really thankful for this. It is a great way to focus on the MBA and to forget about the current loan.”