How has your online MBA helped your career?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by reckedhim, Jul 27, 2014.

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  1. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    I'm in the process of applying for online MBA programs. I've narrowed it down to a few after a lot of research. I'm interested in getting an MBA as I think it will help me advance my career.

    For those of you who have earned an online MBA, has it helped your career? It seems that online MBA programs are still not embraced by others like brick and mortar MBA's are but that seems to be rapidly changing.

    So, do you feel getting an MBA online was worth it?
     
  2. dlcurious

    dlcurious Member

    I haven’t really had an opportunity yet to tell, to be honest. Haven’t applied to any new positions, have been busy with other things that have been pretty visible, but outside of a celebratory dinner with a coworker, I didn’t really make a big deal of it at work. Working in the public sector where people can be credential happy, the MBA seems to be a valued credential, be it from Rice University or UOP (I’m in Houston). But unlike a lot of other people, I will not be adding it to my email signature.

    Overall, with my program I believe it was worth it. It was more of a hybrid type where on-line sessions are held in correlation with on-campus sessions. The professors were hit or miss, but you can have that anywhere. One thing that was sort of frustrating was that some embraced the LMS (Blackboard) more so than others, and thus not everyone performed distance testing and assignment submissions in the same manner. But, overall it was a solid program.

    Just an FYI, I did try to respond to your PM but got an error indicating an issue with your user name. Hope this helps.
     
  3. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    I graduated from AMU with my MBA in IT Management. It helped me get a great job with good pay with lots of potential. I'm not in that job anymore, and the job I'm in now is awesome and back in my hometown but did not require a degree. It probably helped that I had the MBA in this case.

    Anyway, if I had to do it all over again I would have went with a state college close to my hometown to get an online MBA. There are way to many really great options out there from state colleges. The extra money would have been worth it.

    Good luck to you,

    C
     
  4. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    Thanks for the answers. They've offered some insight.

    The two schools I'm looking at are both state schools, just not in my state.

    Also, I don't plan on adding "MBA" to the end of my name or my email signature.
     
  5. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    Good call on choosing a state school. The only time I would add the MBA after my name or email signature would be....well never. It doesn't mean what it used to, when people like me have them you might not want to advertise that you are part of that group.

    Good luck in your studies!
     
  6. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    An MBA not meaning as much as it used to has made me a little hesitant about getting one. However, the state schools I've applied to are fairly low cost and my employer will be paying most, if not all, of the tuition so it would be stupid not to get it.
     
  7. Gau555

    Gau555 New Member

    My online MBA got me out of technology and into a business role. I've had 2 job changes since completing my MBA program and my salary has increased over 60% since graduating.

    I knew completing my MBA from a third-tier school wouldn't get me into the types of jobs first-tier school, but I didn't care. I already had work experience and the MBA program was just an enhancement on my career.

    My biggest regret (or lesson learned) was waiting too long to start the program. I thought I should get into a really well known school and so I spent 3 years "preparing" for the GMAT. I kept pushing out my study time and my application to a top 20 business school because I didn't think I was ready.

    Finally I just gave into going to the school I could afford and was already received acceptance. Obviously everyone's situation is going to be different, but for me, I loved my online MBA program. I got a lot out of it and I think it helped me advance my career.

    Bonus: I don't think the actual MBA degree helped me advance my career, but it was the material that I learned in the program that helped me move up. Maybe the MBA got me past the HR reps, but it was actually applying the knowledge in odd situations that helped me stand out, gain additional experience, and ultimately helped me advance my career.
     
  8. Boethius

    Boethius Member

    I don't have an MBA, but have an MPA. I'm in government. I train and mentor an MBA who has a lot of private sector experience. Like many MBAs who got knocked around in the private sector, he came to government.

    He's a middle-age guy, can adapt to situations quickly, and is certainly a number cruncher. He is fearless when he speaks to corporate execs. It doesn't take too much for him to learn how we do things in the public sector. He doesn't care for the bureaucracy though - and I agree with him. Also, he doesn't say he's an MBA, but told me when I asked him because he caught on so well and contributes to the work. I then told him, as is often the case with people I train and mentor, that he will soon be my boss, or a boss, and not forget who showed him the ropes. (By the way, he thinks I should be running my Region - he he. . .)

    You know what? Go for the online MBA if it's low cost, from a State school like 03310151 suggested. I'm sure it's accredited and all that jazz. In the case of government, that's all they care about.

    The MBA will hone your professional skills. But once you are hired, you'll have to prove it, and that's what my mentee is doing. Take communication courses if they are offered.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 28, 2014
  9. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    I'm glad to hear that it worked out for you.

    I planned on taking the GMAT last summer but kept pushing it off. I finally scheduled a date about a month ago (and I took it Saturday 7/26) just so I would be forced to study.

    I studied for the quantitative section for about and hour a day for two weeks and maybe three hours a day for the last week leading up to the test and that was it. I took it and was more than happy with my score, especially with my limited amount of study time.

    I already have work experience too, so I feel the same way as you. I have a job that I like at a company that I like so I'm just trying to become more well-rounded in the business field so I can have the opportunity to move up at this organization or have some more opportunities if I decide to leave.
     
  10. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    Thanks for the advice.

    I just recently got out of state government. I hated the bureaucracy and the work ethic of most of the people I worked with. I'm now in the private sector and am much happier. I made sure the schools I chose were AACSB accredited because they seem more "legit" and I did read that government positions usually require the proper accreditation (who knows, I may go back to the public sector if I see an opportunity I can't pass up).
     
  11. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    Also, if you were working while getting your MBA, how many classes did you take per semester/quarter? I'd like to take 3 per semester so I can finish a little quicker but I feel like that might be too ambitious and it would take up all of my free time.
     
  12. Boethius

    Boethius Member

    I know you are asking about MBAs. As I mentioned above, I did an MPA. As a working professional and family man, I could not see myself handling more than two courses per semester. If I took on a 3rd course, that would have been madness on my part. But everyone is different. You have to look at your own life situation.
     
  13. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Not exactly an MBA...

    but a finance/accounting-related Master's...my LL.M. in Taxation from Taft Law contributed to a substantial raise and significant promotion plus some of the stuff I learned was directly applicable.

    Way more than paid for itself.
     
  14. dlady

    dlady Active Member

    My cheap as dirt nationally accredited online MBA got me interested in online education, into a school to complete a doctorate, a job as university president, and now a gig as provost of a not for profit college in Colorado.
     
  15. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    Good to know. I debated whether I should get an MBA or Master's in Taxation. I ultimately chose MBA over the MS in Taxation but may consider getting that after the MBA.
     
  16. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Master of Science in Taxation

    Wm. Howard Taft University (sister school to Taft Law) does offer the MST but the courses are considerably more expensive than their MBA. $395/unit vs. $225/unit.

    :: William Howard Taft University :: Accredited Online Degree Programs in Business, Education and Taxation

    D/L tax degrees are uncommon compared with D/L MBA programs. Market forces at work, I guess.

    The WHTU MST is DETC accredited and fairly well known among the enrolled agent community. I have no idea what CPAs think of it but a tax background is considered valuable in the accounting world and CPA firms aren't prestige whores like law firms are.
     
  17. dlady

    dlady Active Member

    For what it is worth, and I would know, this is an excellent program and seems to fulfill a real career/market need.
     
  18. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    Since my current job focuses mostly on multistate sales/use tax, I'm not sure how much I'd benefit from an MST, so that's one reason I decided to go with the MBA.
     
  19. Gau555

    Gau555 New Member

    I eventually ramped up to 3 x 8 week courses at the same time. I was only able to pull that off for 2 sessions and then I realized I was getting burned out and dropped it down to 2 classes per session.
     
  20. reckedhim

    reckedhim New Member

    Hmm...that's what I was afraid of. I may try out 3 classes for a semester to see how it goes.
     

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