Hi - After years of working in dead-end jobs, I've decided that I'd like to pursue an MBA. Thing is, I've been out of school for so long and even in school, my grades weren't the best.

I've seen pre-MBA courses advertised that say they can help with GMAT prep, application procedures, etc. Has anybody had any experience with this kind of thing? Do you think it's worth the money? Also, can it be a good introduction to being back in school?

Honestly, I'm a bit nervous about being in a classroom again.

I think GMAT prep and MBA prep are probably two related, but ultimately separate things. GMAT prep will be focused on optimizing your score on that one test. I'm not sure it will help you feel more comfortable in the classroom environment again.

If you're in the U.S. like me I've heard that taking a community college or open enrollment statistics course before your MBA might be a good way to get back in the swing of things academically. And statistics should come in handy (along with Microsoft Excel) with the quantitative stuff you'll face.

Thank you. I think I will take a statistics course in the fall at a local community college, and I don't think a pre-MBA course would hurt.

Does anybody know of any respected pre-MBA course that I can take online?

I would advise that if you have been out oof Education for a long time, then for sure you need to start some kind of Maths and stats courses for beginners to get you back in the swing of things. I would suggest you look for a few schools that interest you and have a chat with them expressing your concerns, they should listen and give you clear good advice, if not choose another school and keep choosing one until they listen to what you need. Do not rush into this and plan your actions step by step. You need to look at the modules of the MBA you want to do and see what each subject entails, from there you can devise an action plan to brush up on the skills that you need strengthening. Good luck and do not worry, you will get there.
saint

Thank you, saint, for that information. I've enrolled in some community college courses for the fall - statistics and a general finance class, and I've been volunteering at a local nonprofit because that's the field I'd like to be in.

I'm still going to apply to a few schools this year, to test the waters so to speak, but I'm not holding my breath. There's always next year, when I'll be a little more experienced an academically inclined.