UMUC to Business School (UNC or Kelley online MBA programs)

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by LR_MBA, May 22, 2017.

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  1. LR_MBA

    LR_MBA New Member

    Hi everyone,

    I am new to this forum and am finishing up my undergraduate degree in marketing with a minor in business administration from UMUC. I would like to attend either University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler) or Indiana University's (Kelley) online MBA program, but am not sure how an undergraduate degree from UMUC will be viewed on a business school application. I would like to know if anyone who has received an undergraduate degree from UMUC has been successful in getting into a graduate school other than UMUC. George Washington University and University of Maryland College Park (Smith) round out the four schools I plan to apply for graduate school. I really like the curriculum that is offered by these schools and would love to be considered a viable candidate for admittance, but I am not sure.

    Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
     
  2. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    My wife got her undergraduate degree from UMUC and went on to a very solid in-residence graduate program.

    I wouldn't stress over how UMUC is looked at on applications for grad school.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 22, 2017
  3. FTFaculty

    FTFaculty Well-Known Member

    Certainly not going to be viewed as strongly as U Maryland - Smith B School would, but there's a lot more to MBA applications than UG school, such as experience, rationale for pursuing MBA (i.e., is it something you need to get you to the next level after a history of career progression?), GMAT scores, etc. Those are two very good MBA programs you're talking about in UNC and IU, right on the edge of Ivy League level elite, so you better be pretty strong in the other categories to be seriously considered.
     
  4. LR_MBA

    LR_MBA New Member

    Thanks, airtorn! That is very good to know.
     
  5. LR_MBA

    LR_MBA New Member

    Hi FTFalculty!

    Since the UNC and UI programs I am interested in are online I guess I was hoping that they would not be as hard to get into as their full-time, brick and mortar counterparts. I know I can get into Smith, if all else fails, and have been in contact with their advisors. They take UMUC students quite often, probably because they too fall under the University System of Maryland. My dream, however, would be to get into UNC or IU. Unlike IU's online program (Kelley Direct), UNC does not require GRE or GMAT scores for their online program (MBA@UNC) for students with more than 7 years of work experience, which I more than succeed. I have a decent GPA (higher than their incoming student average of 3.4) but was wondering if a GPA of 3.8 from UMUC would not be considered high in their eyes because of the school it came from. I found the courses at UMUC to be challenging, but became discouraged once I read online how some people view degrees from this instituition.

    Thanks for your help.
     
  6. FTFaculty

    FTFaculty Well-Known Member

    UMUC isn't junk, they just have a mission different from the University of Maryland College Park, like Penn State World Campus has a different mission from Penn State at State College. Of course, all else being equal, you'd rather have a Smith BBA, but a GPA of 3.8 is strong for just about any MBA program, regardless of which Maryland campus it came from. I can't speak to the admission rates for online versus on ground MBA programs at elite or trans-elite B schools (my school has both types of programs, and we're AACSB, but we're middle-of-the-road, Directional State U, not in the same league as any of the programs you've mentioned) but it stands to reason it would be easier since you're not taking up the same amount of resources as a traditional in class student. If you have a good work history, maybe some mid-management experience in there and can tell a good story in the statement of purpose or whatever they call it, you are probably competitive.
     
  7. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Unless you have money to burn or your employer pays for the program. I spoke to the admission director, the price tag at UNC is $104,000.00

    With $104,000.00 generates $240,000.00 in 10 years for me, so it is not 2 years MBA and $104,000.00.
     
  8. LR_MBA

    LR_MBA New Member

    Hi TEKMAN,

    Thanks for your reply. Cost is not a factor, however, I do know that UI is cheaper.
     
  9. LR_MBA

    LR_MBA New Member

    Thanks, FTFalculty, that is very encouraging. I have been in talks with university advisors/counselors to guide me through the admissions process but was concerned about UMUC. I am glad to know that it shouldn't be a factor for admission.
     

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