Pursuing a master's degree in business administration is something many young professionals are doing instead of swimming in the crowded job pool, reported the Kansas City Star.

The newspaper said MBA students are also pursuing the degree in an attempt to change careers, move up with their current employer and gain job security. MBA programs are now a way for students to increase their networking opportunities with other young professionals and employers.

Adam Burstein, a student who recently earned his MBA, told the news source that getting the MBA has definitely helped him in his professional life. He said he used the knowledge he learned in his program to open his company, Artisan Fish, a fish import and wholesale company based in Miami.

Burstein received his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg executive MBA program in Coral Gables, Florida, and told the news source he uses the contacts he obtained in his classes as valuable members of his professional network. 

According to the Financial Post, with more students now earning MBAs, many businesses are making an MBA a prerequisite for applying to certain positions, which demonstrates why the degrees are becoming more important for students to pursue.