MBA Online-Texas A&M or UMASS-Amherst?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by rx_mba, Aug 10, 2010.

Loading...
  1. rx_mba

    rx_mba New Member

    Hello,

    I debating which MBA online school to attend-Texas A&M or UMASS-Amherst. Does anyone have pros/cons of each? Feedback? It would be greatly appreciated!

    For UMASS-Amherst-Does anyone know if there is there a student support group online (yahoo? google? facebook?)? (i.e. Sell books/buy books, syllabuses from previous classes, etc.).

    Thanks!
     
  2. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    Where do you live? If you are in Texas or the south, that could make a huge difference.
     
  3. rx_mba

    rx_mba New Member

    I live in CA! Since both schools are out-of-state, I'm not sure if it even matters which I choose! They both cost the same since I have to complete foundation courses (I don't have a business degree). I currently work in healthcare and just want to move up in my job or at least open my options. I'm not trying to be a major CEO or anything.

    Thanks for your response.
     
  4. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    My reply would be in the form of another question: "Do I want a Mercedes or a BMW?" Both are great. In my not so erudite opinion, UMass has a slightly more prestigious name than Texas A&M, but the next person you talk to may say just the opposite.
     
  5. rx_mba

    rx_mba New Member

    Does anyone know if UMASS-Amherst has an online student support group (Yahoo groups/google/Facebook)? (i.e. buy/sell used books, syllabuses from previous classes, advice on professors, etc.)

    Thanks
     
  6. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    There has been talk on the board about a school in Cali (USC?) that just started a online program...anyone?
     
  7. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    It's a regional thing. Texas A&M would have better name recognition in the south whereas Umass...well you get the point. It's definitely a regional thing. There are schools that break through that barrier such as the Ivy's and schools with big football programs.
     
  8. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    I am a current student at UMass-Amherst and in the program you're looking at. This should hopefully clear up any biases. I'm in my last semester.

    1. The business school has a LinkedIn group.

    2. The All MBA Blackboard mailing list routinely has buy/sell emails floating through it during the times between semesters. It's a bane to a lot of the people on the list that do not want to be receiving spam, but it does work.

    3. The UMass Bookstore does trade in used and new.

    4. It's not uncommon for people to request a heads up on professors through contacts they've made through the program or via the LinkedIn group. Of course we're all careful with what we say and how we say it.

    5. You'll find that professors are constantly tweaking their classes in response to survey metrics and the semester they're teaching it in (the 8 week winter and summer semesters are much different than the 16 week fall and spring semesters). You'll also find that the tenured academics are harder and have a reputation. (Mostly good from my point of view)

    You'll find that Massachusetts schools are usually considered "better" than Texas schools as far as academia is concerned. That's not to say that particular geographic and especially corporate circles feel that way or care at all about such things. I'd not worry about it unless you're going to be an academic for a living and to be fair, there are a few people on UMass faculty with Texas A&M doctorates.

    Best,
    ITJD

    PS. If you have any questions about the program itself, feel free to PM or reply.
     
  9. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    If we were discussing UMass-Amherst vs. Texas A&M-College Station I would tell you to go Texas A&M, but to think Texas A&M-Commerce carries as much weight as UMass-Amherst is absurd. You're talking about a small branch campus vs. a state flagship school. TAMU-Commerce is not the same thing as TAMU-College Station, it's not even close.
    If costs are the same go to UMass-Amherst.
     
  10. dstrains

    dstrains New Member

    Therein lies my dilemma. I've been leaning towards TAMU-Commerce as of late, especially as I'm a resident and can qualify for GMAT waiver. However, UMASS-Amherst just keeps popping back up in my mind. Both seem to have positive reviews all around, albeit Amherst definitely gets more coverage. There are 4 positive comments over at geteducated.com on TAMU-C, some good responses here, and another I found online stating that even though it was a satellite campus the Texas A&M name opened a lot of doors for the person internationally. The costs aren't the same that's for sure, and that's one aspect that makes it such a tough decision. The TAMU-Commerce program would only cost me around $11k or so, but UMASS-Amherst would run around $30k. However, I don't have a business undergrad, so TAMU-C would require 48 hours of coursework while UMASS-Amherst would require their 6 or 8 wk intensive prereq program and 36 hours, which is definitely a plus as I'd like to finish as quickly as possible. Of course the UMASS reputation and ranking is higher, which I like, but being in Texas, and with no plans to leave the state, or my current employer, I keep wondering if it's worth the extra dough. But you never know what the future holds, which is why I continue to go back and forth in my mind between these schools, and a few others. Arizona State Uni would be my top choice, but I simply cannot afford the tuiton. Decisions, decisions. I just wish there were more people commenting on TAMU-Commerce, the program, and it's reception by employers, peers, etc.

    For me:

    TAMU-C = low cost, even for out of state, good reputation from the relatively few comments I've read, and GMAT waiver. Also potential for networking or benefiting from Aggie alumni network, even though I have no evidence, and suspect that TAMU-College Station alumni may be snobby towards the satellite folk. But that just might be my own ignorance talking.

    UMASS-Amherst = Not geographically close, but a flagship school ranked nationally in publications, great reputation from what I've read so far, but around 3x the cost of TAMU-C (for residents, a bit less that 2x for non-residents).

    But, all of that said, if you're coming from California I'd definitely go with UMASS-Amherst.

    Not sure if it helps, but that's my two cents. Maybe I'll see this post display in a week or so. I replied to one of my own threads and it still hasn't shown up after 1wk. But I digress....
     
  11. mathues

    mathues New Member

    How was the distance learning experience at UMass? I've been debating an online mba for months (which school, how much to spend, quality program, and ROI based on ranking/prestige/career/salary). Thanks in advance...

    Currently I'm debating how much to spend - and so I have a pretty wide range of schools (from 15k to 70k):
    Northeastern University
    IE Business School
    Pennsylvania State University (PSU)
    Indiana University (Kelley)
    Thunderbird (ranked high in international business)
    University of Florida
    University of Nebraska
    UMass Amherst
     
  12. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    I'm not terribly sure what IE Business School is so I can't speak to that listing.
    I'm an alum of Northeastern and in my last class at UMass Amherst's program. I've also done a lot of research on Thunderbird. I've family that have graduated from Penn State and Kelley.

    Offering the above so advice can be taken in context.

    1. You couldn't pay me enough to attend Northeastern again. Nuff said there.

    2. Thunderbird is a good school so long as you have every intention of being a business person and not an academic. If that's the case, top pick imho due to the powerful network of alumni that's very active in the school and the international focus.

    3. PSU, I have reservations about the distance program but the b&m is top notch in every way. If you're local to Pennsylvania I'd go here.

    4. Kelley, another good school. If your choice is between Kelley and PSU go with whichever is closer to you, with a slight bias towards PSU.

    5. UMass. - What follows is personal opinion.

    a. I have had entirely too many adjuncts teaching in this program over the past 3 years. (for my tastes) Though a few of them did have full professor appointments in the past and left UMass for one reason or another, now returning.

    b. There is a significant difference in course difficulty between some professors and others and moreso between adjuncts and full time.

    c. The program could benefit significantly from instituting a residency model similar to Thunderbird or other hybrid programs. It's too easy to get into "sign up, take course, sign off" mode and not connect with other students or teachers. (Some will find this a positive - for those who need recommendations for future programs or need to network for jobs, this is a major detriment)

    d. Quality of the program is good and I feel I've learned an awful lot that is directly applicable to my job. I don't necessarily feel that I'm better off financially or career-wise due to the degree or the opportunities provided by the program, but I've yet to complete.

    Any questions feel free to ask.
    ITJD
     
  13. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    These are my opinions on your list, others will disagree.

    Northeastern - good school that loses some prestige here in the Boston area due to all the phenomenal schools in the area. I know a few people who have done the law and business programs with mixed results. I don't know of anyone who has done the distance MBA

    IE is one of the better European b-schools. They recently partnered with Brown to do an executive MBA, but if you're in the states I'd avoid it as not a lot of people are familiar with the school.

    PSU is an amazing school, that said I think their online MBA is, let's be diplomatic and just say not top notch. This has been discussed here previously, search the threads to read more.

    Indiana university (Kelly). Best school on your list if you can afford it, go here. Phenominal reputation.

    Thunderbird. Only go if you're certain you want to work in international business.

    University of Florida. Solid business school, it would be my second choice on your list.

    University of Nebraska. My father went to school there, attending football games once a year with him was always a treat growing up. Don't know much about their business. School, but it is a fine University. Might choose this one if I lived in the mid-west and Kelly was prohibitively expensive.

    UMass-Amherst. Good school, the extent of my exposure to their MBA program is what I've been exposed to on this board. I'd look to what you can read about the program here on the board as it has been discussed a great deal. Just search the old threads.

    I'd also recommend looking into the following schools as they of the same caliber as several of the ones on your list. Auburn, Ole Miss and possibly Mississippi State.
     
  14. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Precisely … Texas A&M University-College Station (Mays Business School) doesn’t offer the OMBA (only Full-Time or EMBA options). Even though I’m from Texas and both schools’ (TAMU-Comm. & UMass-Amherst) business colleges are AASCB, the UMass-Amherst MBA would possess far better name recognition than a MBA from TAMU-Commerce. Again both are AACSB accredited, but so are the University of Texas (Austin), TAMU (College Station), and Rice as is my undergraduate alma mater Sam Houston State University … enough said?
     
  15. Buford1983

    Buford1983 New Member

    I'm going to bump this old thread

    I am also considering Texas A&M online MBA program, as well as Colorado State MBA program, both are AASCB accredited.

    I'm looking for any first hand experience with the school and the rigors of doing it online. I have a full time job and can only see myself doing 1 16 week class at a time, atleast until I get used to what they expect out of me.

    Are the classes that are taught at the University videotaped, then uploaded online?

    I'm not very good at Math and I have notice some Universities focus more of finance and economics than others, should I be concerned about that?

    I'm not looking for a tough school or expensive school, I'd like to stay around $25,000, specifically because I'm a veteran and have approximately $25,000 left in 9/11 funds.

    My goal is to go into Business Marketing in the next 5 years once my wife retires from the military so I'm not looking for something fast which is a good thing. I calculated that if I do 3 classes a year, I can get done in 5 years which is a long time for sure, but atleast I'll have a degree from a AASCB school instead of a regionally accredited school... if that matters.

    Any and all help with be appreciated! Thank you
     
  16. rmm0484

    rmm0484 Member

    Buford, I did not see any online MBA programs at Texas A&M. However, if you live in Texas, they will take care of you!

    " Funding for military: In addition to scholarships from the MBA program, veterans may also qualify for the following programs at Texas A&M University:
    Hazlewood Act - Texas residents who served in the armed forces may qualify for the Hazlewood Act, a benefit that pays the tuition and some fees for former military
    John and Betty Potthoff Endowed Scholarship in Business - A Mays Business School scholarship reserved for veterans or children of veterans
    Honored Service Scholarship – A Texas A&M scholarship program for armed services veterans with disabilities
    Other scholarships for veterans"

    Military Friendly MBA | Full-Time MBA Program | Mays Business School | Texas A&M University

    They also offer online courses in a variety of modes...

    Good luck in your MBA search!
     

Share This Page