I’ve been talking to family, friends, and co-workers for over a year now about getting an MBA. I’ve known that I want to get an MBA, but which type of program I want to go to and the type of post MBA work I want to do has always been a little bit of a mystery for me.
The biggest reasons I want an MBA are because I want to learn more about business, and I want the challenges that both the MBA program and my post MBA work will bring. I realize that right now I am not challenged enough in my current position. Unfortunately, there is not much room for me to quickly advance in my current company, nor in my current location. A big hindrance to my professional advancement is a combination of a lack of high level education and professional experience, and I strongly believe that an MBA will help me to achieve my professional goals.
My original plan was to attend either a part time or distance learning MBA program while continuing to earn a salary in my current workstream. I would be able to receive my education and graduate from a respectable MBA program. The advantage would be little to no debt upon graduation. (I do not have tuition assistance from my employer, but I do have the GI Bill, which would cover a substantial amount of my tuition for a distance or part time program).
However, lately I have been thinking about taking time off from work and going through a full-time MBA program. I believe there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to both forms of education, so I will begin a multi-part series going over what the options are, and how they relate to my personal decision. I know I will learn a lot about the MBA school selection process, and hopefully others will too!
Please feel free to leave comments, ask questions, or share your experiences!
Here is the rest of my MBA Options series:
- How to Choose and MBA Program
- Part 1: Do You Need an MBA?
- Part 2: In-Residence MBA Programs
- Part 3: Distance and Online Learning MBA Programs
- Part 4: Importance of Business School Rankings
- Part 5: How Much Will an MBA Cost?
- Part 6: MBA: Return on Investment
- Part 7: Other Deciding Factors for Choosing Your Program
- Part 8: Applying for an MBA – (Series)
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has a report you should take a look at regarding the ROI of various types of MBA programs. I have a quick synopsis of the report on my blog in the MBA category.
It won’t answer all your questions, but may answer some!
Thanks for the head’s up, Brian!
hello ,
YOUR ARTICLE IS VERY HELPFUL TO ME AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. CAN YOU SUGGEST ME WAYS TO WRITE RESUME OBJECTIVE ? I AM A GRADUATE (BACHELOR’S OF FOREIGN TRADE) AND SEEKING FOR ADMISSION IN A GOOD B-SCHOOL.
Shachi: I recommend searching the web for examples of a good resume objective. Each objective and school has a different style, and you should taylor your application for the specific program to which you are applying. Best of luck to you.
Brian,
Information that you have provided is very helpful. I wish you all the best for your MBA degree.
Ryan,
I’ve loved business from the time I was a kid, and plan to pursue my MBA beginning next year. Needless to say, I really have/had no idea what direction to go to. This was a good start though. I’m obviously going to have to do a lot of research before I pick an MBA program. Either way, thank you.
I wish you luck in your higher education and getting your MBA.
Donny
Ryan,
Personally, I am planning on attending either LSE (London school of economics) or Nyenrode in Netherlands. LSE has a 3 part rotational program between London, Paris and New York and is one of the top schools- I would probably pick that over our Ivies (although I am salivating at some of the professors at Columbia). A professor that I highly respect (Sousan Urroz Korori) told me that Nyenrode is the best MBA to go to if you want to be a global manager. Currently Europe is far ahead of the curve in terms of structuring coursework to fit the new global framework and they offer several different types of MBAs in both Duth and English programmes. They aren’t cheap, but I think that the cost benefit of not going to a top tier school makes MBAs not worth it. Good luck!
Thanks for the info, Michelle. Best of luck with your goals!