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 my plan of attack for the series:

• Introduction
• Part 1: Do You Need an MBA?
• Part 2: Program Types, In-Residence
• Part 3: Program Types, Distance and Online Learning
• Part 4: Importance of Business School Rankings
• Part 5: How Much Will it Cost?
• Part 6: MBA: Return on Investment
• Part 7: Other Deciding Factors for Choosing Your Program
• Part 8: Applying for an MBA - (Series)

Note: Right now I am still in the process of deciding my goals. I know getting an MBA is the direction I plan on going, so wish me luck, and as mentioned before, feel free to leave comments, ask questions, or share your experiences!

 Print This Post | | PF Buzz It!

~/~

Do you like what you're reading? Then please consider leaving a comment below, subscribing to my feed, or visiting my Greatest Hits page for more!