To succeed in any kind of business these days, there has to be a strong business sense, a level head and for the best bet, a business school degree. Hopefully that degree will take your business nature and show you where you are strongest and what you will need to work on. Getting into a good business school should be the first step on your road to successful business ownership, no matter how strong you think your idea is.

Getting into business school is not just as simple as walking to the front door and signing up. Depending on the level of business degree you are pursuing, there may be additional steps to follow.

A bachelor’s degree in business can be obtained through a community college, but to go further with that education, you will have to apply and be accepted into a Master’s program or beyond. The more prestigious that a school is, the harder it may be to get into a program. Your grades may be only one factor that is considered before admission is granted, and there may be further testing to see if you truly do qualify for business school.

If you do have to test to get into a business school program, keep in mind what is being tested for: a basic sense for business, a drive to excel and the dedication to follow through with what you start. If you have successfully completed one degree you will then have a leg up over other business school applicants, but you may still find yourself faced with having to test into the program of your choice.

You may also find yourself having to bide your time on a waiting list- especially if the school you are applying to is very popular or your grades are not as high as they could be. Regardless, make sure that you understand exactly what you will need to do to complete your business degree once you get started.

Failing a few classes while working toward your bachelor’s degree will not knock you out of earning a Master’s, however, you should keep in mind that if competition is fierce, you might find your grade point average coming into play. Of course, you want to keep your grades up, but if you are planning to go farther, then by all means your grades should be of the utmost importance.