If you’ve ever worked a full-time job, there’s a good chance you’ve thought about going to business school (at least once).

But why do so many people think about getting an MBA, while so few actually take the leap?

Let’s look at a typical (and very real) pattern (at least in Korea).

The excitement from your first promotion or job change fades quickly. Your paycheck barely covers your credit card bill. You tell yourself working at a well-known company is enough. But one day, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror—and realize you’ve become the very boss you once swore you’d never turn into. Then, a former colleague posts about getting into an MBA program abroad, and something stirs in you. You scroll through their photos, wondering if that could’ve been you. You start browsing school rankings. You order a GMAT book. “If I score over 750, I could get into Harvard or Stanford, right?”

You open the GMAT book. It’s rough. But after checking the answer key and going through explanations, you feel like you’re getting the hang of it. You take the official test—580. You blame your test-day condition, study casually for a month, and retake it—610. Encouraged by the slight bump, you try again—570. Walking out of the test center, you mutter, “Honestly, is an MBA even worth it anymore?”

This is a familiar story for many. And yes, while test scores are important, they’re just the beginning. Essays, recommendations, interviews—all of it lies ahead. Some even say the GMAT ends up feeling like the easiest part. The journey can seem daunting. But with the right mindset and approach, it can actually become rewarding and even fun.

I didn’t come from a traditional MBA background, so I had to approach everything differently.

Here’s what helped me.

1. Make yourself irreplaceable

It’s natural to compare yourself to other applicants. We all do it. But in the big picture, your resume “specs” matter far less than you think.

Applying to an MBA isn’t about proving you’re better than someone else. It’s about showing how your past choices shaped where you are today, and how your potential aligns with what the program stands for.

This isn’t about standing out in a crowd. It’s about being the only person who brings your story to the table. Someone who can’t be slotted into a category or compared line by line.

That takes reflection. It means getting honest about your strengths and also your gaps. But this kind of self-awareness is what makes your story real—and worth remembering.

If you only focus on checking the usual boxes, your application ends up sounding like every other forum post: good GPA, big-name company, a few international experience. It’s forgettable unless you have very impressive ones.

2. Understand how a changing world shapes you—and how you shape it

The world changes constantly. So do we.

What tends to stay the same are the core values that guide how we make decisions. That inner compass becomes a foundation, especially when you’re navigating uncertainty.

MBA programs want to build future leaders. And leadership is mostly about making decisions—some good, some not. But the best leaders act based on clear principles, not just external pressure. Their choices affect the world around them.

So ask yourself: what are the values that have consistently guided you? And how do those values align with the school you’re applying to?

You don’t need to chase every trend. You do need to show you understand what’s happening in the world—and that your decisions have kept pace with change while staying true to what matters most to you.

Admissions teams notice this. They’re looking for people whose careers reflect thoughtful choices, not just good timing.

Interestingly, each MBA class tends to reflect the cultural moment they applied in.

Class of 2022? Many came in during COVID and had experience bridging tech with legacy industries. 2023? Metaverse. 2024? Blockchain. 2025 and 2026? Almost certainly AI.

If your job doesn’t align with the theme of the year, don’t worry. What matters more is your curiosity and willingness to adapt. Great leaders don’t just follow change—they translate it into action. That’s what admissions teams are really looking for.

3. Your failures and flaws are your biggest assets

Writing essays was actually my favorite part of the application.

Yes, I highlighted my achievements. But I also showed how the principles behind those wins were shaped by failure. Every strength came from a moment I struggled, fell short, or had to face a limitation head-on.

After each failure, I made a choice: learn from it, don’t repeat it. That decision led to resilience, patience, and eventual progress. And that’s what made my story mine.

Some limitations are technical and you can work on those. Others are more personal. You choose whether to fix your weak spots or double down on what you’re already good at. Either way, you need to show you’re capable of growth.

That’s what makes your story stick. The vulnerability. The reflection. The honesty. That’s what makes someone want to talk to you and why interviews happen.

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You might be wondering: Do I really need to go this hard just for a degree?

I didn’t major in business or engineering. I majored fashion design and merchandising. I didn’t come from consulting, banking, family business, or a chaebol. But I believed my background could be an asset, not a liability. So I leaned in.

The MBA was never the final goal. It was a step I needed to take to reach something bigger. That’s why I gave it everything I had. Light touch, serious intent.

This whole process made me take a hard look at who I am and what I stand for.

When everything else felt out of my control, showing up for this journey was something I could control. And weirdly, that brought me comfort. The effort itself became its own reward.

In the next post, I’ll talk about the GMAT—what it really is, and how I approached it.