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Aarya's Career Decision on MBA vs Job

XAT 2025 · Decision Making · Medium · Decision Making

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Passage / data set

Aarya had always been a mediocre student. Luckily, after finishing her undergraduate degree from a tier-two engineering college, she secured a decent but modestly paying job at a reputable IT company. However, after a year on the job, Aarya found her role mundane. When her best friend Shruti left to pursue an MBA from a top-tier business school, citing significant career growth, Aarya felt inspired to follow the same path.

Question 1 of 3

The CEO of Aarya's IT firm tied up with a premier business school to reserve thirty seats in an online management certificate program. The CEO declared that participating employees must sign a three-year bond. Which of the following considerations will BEST help Aarya decide whether to apply for the online management certificate program?

  1. A.

    Aarya keeps getting appreciated for her performance by the HR department.

  2. B.

    Shruti attempted the MBA entrance exams twice, before she could get selected.

  3. C.

    Aarya feels that the online program is light enough to manage while working full time.

  4. D.

    Aarya wants to be part of a very good alumni network.

  5. E.

    Those who complete this online management certificate program do well in their career.

Answer

E

Explanation

Aarya's ultimate objective is long-term career growth and advancement. Knowing that alumni of this certificate program achieve tangible career success directly addresses her primary goal.

Question 2 of 3

After working hard on MBA preparation for one year, Aarya received an admission offer from the two-year agribusiness program of a premier business school, and another from a brand new global one-year executive MBA program in General Management in a mid-tier business school. Which of the following considerations would BEST help Aarya in taking admission in the one-year executive MBA program?

  1. A.

    The executive MBA program offers generous scholarships to women with IT experience.

  2. B.

    Aarya does not have the confidence to spend another year in MBA entrance-exam preparation.

  3. C.

    The agribusiness program is not the flagship program of the premier business school.

  4. D.

    Aarya has a better chance of furthering her career in a field of her interest through the executive MBA program.

  5. E.

    The unique structure of the executive MBA program has gained a lot of attention from the new start-ups.

Answer

D

Explanation

Since Aarya has no interest in agribusiness, choosing a program that aligns with her domain interest offers the best opportunity for her long-term career satisfaction and success.

Question 3 of 3

Aarya enrolled in the one-year executive MBA program, but later received a call that due to a technical glitch, more admission offers were made than available seats. She was offered a 1-year deferment or a full refund. Which of the following considerations will BEST restore her faith in this business school?

  1. A.

    A deferment by a year will give her a chance to build on her work experience.

  2. B.

    The business school runs many management training programs on ethical leadership for corporates.

  3. C.

    A similar incident happened three years back in another business school, and all deferred candidates eventually got good placements.

  4. D.

    Many mid-tier business schools give offers to more candidates than available seats to tackle rejections.

  5. E.

    The business school owned the mistake, and tried their best to help the affected candidates.

Answer

E

Explanation

Owning the error transparently and actively striving to minimize harm to affected students directly rebuilds trust and demonstrates organizational integrity.

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