Q&A: How an MBA in the U.S. helped me achieve a career transition
Note: This interview was adapted from a blog post previously appearing on WeChat. It was conducted in Chinese and translated into English.
Student: Sunny Zhang
Home: Shanghai, China
School and program: University of Michigan, MBA
Q: Why did you decide to study abroad?
Sunny: The desire to change careers led me to study abroad, and I chose to pursue an MBA in the U.S. for career path and self-improvement. Before going abroad, I had already worked at HSBC Bank for four years and gradually felt that the room for advancement was becoming limited. That’s when the idea of a career switch emerged.
Q: Why did you choose an MBA in the U.S. as your path for a career change?
Sunny: Whether in China or abroad, changing fields directly is quite challenging. An MBA is a good opportunity to facilitate such a transition. My undergraduate degree wasn’t in business, so the MBA allowed me to acquire the systematic business knowledge I had always lacked. Another reason was to see the world and understand what other countries are like.
Q: How did you decide on studying in the U.S. instead of other countries?
Sunny: After comparing several major study abroad destinations, I chose the U.S. In the U.K., only MBS (Manchester Business School) is comparable to top U.S. schools. The choice felt too limited, and MBS seemed too finance-focused. In the U.S. all the top 16 schools are generally good. My school, the University of Michigan, ranks around 10th in the U.S. Although the MBA programs in the U.S. are also employment-oriented, you get a more comprehensive overall experience.
Q: What was your school application process like?
Sunny: I applied to five schools and got interviews at all of them but only received an offer from the University of Michigan. The cost of attendance was not a main factor for me, as MBAs are generally priced similarly. The strengths and suitability of each program, along with the culture and atmosphere of the schools, mattered more. My program’s tuition was about US$120,000. Including living expenses, the total cost for two years was around US$200,000.
Q: How did you fund your studies?
Sunny: Before deciding to apply, I had already considered how to fund my studies. Many lenders don’t accept loan applications from international students, so my options were limited. In my first year, I used a cosigner-required loan service with a U.S. green card holder, a friend of my father’s, as my cosigner. He withdrew his cosign in the second year, so I had to look for no-cosigner loans. The support from my parents also gave me the confidence to apply for a (no-cosigner) loan through MPOWER Financing.
Q: How did you manage your living expenses?
Sunny: I lived frugally but didn’t hesitate to spend on necessary things. I shared a two-bedroom apartment with another Chinese student, each having our own room but sharing the bathroom, living room and kitchen. Our monthly rent was US$1,700, split equally. It was an old building but clean and chosen mainly for its proximity to our college – just a six-minute walk.
Q: How did the MBA program support your career transition?
Sunny: MBA programs are designed with a “buff,” offering numerous resources to enhance students’ future careers. Almost everyone in the top 16 MBA programs in the U.S. can secure a good internship during their studies with a return offer. Our program had over 400 students, with about 30 from China. The high tuition of an MBA is justified. Although it doesn’t guarantee a specific job, it provides ample support and resources. Many large corporations are willing to recruit from these schools, often visiting multiple times.
Q: What was your job-hunting experience like during your MBA?
Sunny: While applying for the loan, I was doing a paid internship at Amazon and received a return offer. Classes were held in the morning, with afternoons free after 3 p.m. for company info sessions or networking events. Fridays were class-free, with many companies hosting forums and activities. For my Amazon interview, Chinese seniors who had interned there helped me with mock interviews.
Q: How do you feel about your decision to pursue an MBA in the U.S. now?
Sunny: I can clearly feel my growth on a daily basis, and I’m grateful I chose to pursue an MBA in the U.S. For me, pursuing an MBA for a career change was a wise choice.
Final thoughts: Consider an MBA abroad to help with a career transition
Transitioning from one field of study to another is challenging, and getting an MBA might be the solution to bridge that gap. While the benefits of an MBA are great, the costs of tuition, fees and living expenses are also substantial. International students under financial pressure might consider applying for a no-cosigner private loan to cover costs.
If you’re considering pursuing an MBA or postgraduate degree, learn about financing your education as an international student abroad. MPOWER Financing offers no-collateral and no-cosigner loans for master’s students studying in over 400 universities in the U.S. and Canada, without restrictions on majors.
To take the next steps, start an application and check your eligibility in less than a minute.
