I'm totally confused. (MBA question)

I work for this school. IMO, from the comparisons that I've done, it's a good MBA program. The curriculum and the platform are pretty impressive.

I won't say that we don't have problems, though. Ellis College is the newest academic division of NYIT, and has been in existence for less than a year. We have a lot of service issues, mainly due to the fact that we are understaffed in the "operational" areas (advising, financial aid, registrar, etc). These issues are being actively addressed and I believe in 3-4 months, we'll be in good shape.

 

European MBA Info Site

I'm just using this discussion as a springboard to post a url I just ran across. The site appears to be well organized, and perhaps others know of it. It may be a bit dated, but it seems to have extremely valuable information for those considering an international MBA program. Not my field, but I'd be interested what you all think.

http://www.careerdynamo.com/

No connection with these folks, I just ran across it this morning.

Phil Ternahan

 

I initially took one course (for MBA) at Keller (Devry University) and found that it was pretty good. The course was challenging, the instructor was experienced and had good interest in the class. Then I moved to Ellis, because they were charging less for their courses. Ellis has good website and lot of videos for each class. But I found Ellis to be less challenging and not so rigourous when compared to Keller MBA. At Ellis, there are no exams, we just have to finish a project and that is it. At Keller we have to do a lot more i.e. participate in threaded discussions, project, exam etc. I am now back at Keller and doing my 4th course. So far, although it is a lot more challenge, I am enjoying and it has been very rewarding.

 

Re: answers

Hello, dis.funk.sh.null. Clever forum name BTW.

How are you finding Aspen University for your MBA? I start my first course there in December. The price is affordable compared to Keller Graduate School of Management for sure.

Meanwhile, I am pursuing an AA GS (Counterterrorism) via DL from American Military University; the coursework at AMU is on par with that of the traditional B&M campuses so I feel I am getting comparable value for the money. Besides at the mid-point experience-wise in my career is not the time to take time off from full-time employment.

I need an MBA to move up the management ladder and out of the trenches so to speak. I am allowing myself 2-3 years to complete the MBA.

 

Utility of degree is most important....

BubbaGump is 100% on the mark. This is what I've been trying to get across to all these people that overemphasize the degree name or major title: if the degree you earn gets you where you wanted to be (career advancement, job placement), then it has great utility. If your degree is unable to accomodate your goals, then all that work was really for nothing . Whether it's from Harvard or Excelsior.

 

Re: Re: answers

Hey Horne

First off, I apologize I totally missed out on your post.

And thanks for the complement btw

Aspen has a really good program and I feel one can learn a lot. What I want to know from you is have you done any study as to whether your employer will accept a DETC degree. By the looks of it, you seem to be working (or wanting to work) at a government agency. I am sure if you're at the American Military University, then you know pretty well about the utility of DETC degrees so that should not be a problem for you

Meanwhile, I'd say heads up for the accounting course That one's a real curve-ball!!

 

Re: Utility of degree is most important....

I agree with this, except that many people, in my experience, have picked their university based on today's goals. This may pigeon hole someone in the future. IF (this is a big if) everything else was equal, why not go for the high accredition and/or high prestigeous degree.

Many times someone will say "I will never teach at an AACSB school". Then some time goes by and they decide to go that route, only to find their non-AACSB degree won't help them, but both programs were available at the time they took on the degree....

 

Re: Re: Re: answers

My current employer only requires that the degree be issued by a recognized accredited institution. Normally, in Canada that would mean recognized by the provincial or territorial ministry of education and applies equally to public and private schools. From what I understand the situation in the USA comes down to NA versus RA - DETC is NA and recognizd by the US Department of Education. Hence, in my present workplace Aspen University falls into the recognized institution category. Also, many of my fellow students are in the US military and are pursuing degrees offered by AMU (APUS) for career advancement. The military tutition assistance (TA) program pays for DETC accredited courses and degrees. Worst case scenario I will have to join the US military to make use of my Aspen University MBA. Living in Canada the entire NA v. RA debate is less important to me though not irrelevant as the program and school must be acceptable to the appropriate provincial or federal ministry of education.

Thanks for the heads up on the Accounting course. If you have any specific insights into the gotchas of the course let me know via PM. I am taking the Project Management Essentials course and the Accounting course is next on my schedule.

 

Cowboy's dilema-my two cents

Cowboy,

Satisfaction with a program has a lot to do with a recogniction of what pond you're swimming in with respect to properly aligning your expectatins. While students may have similar PURPOSES for the degree, their MOTIVATIONS may be quite different. I did an MS at NYU in a part-time program. The program was so big, that I was able to do it full-time (4 courses per term), while others were part-time (2 per term). Most were company sponsored and were not leaving their firm, so their idea was to MINIMIZE effort to just get card punched. While I had a similar purpose, I needed mine in order to get a job in the first place. I did all the group work so I got an A, and others most often rode my butt to glory. Hey, that's life (personally and in the business world) man so I suggest you consider getting over it. Alternatively, in a B & M program, there is a taller, more consistent distribution of students as measured by degree PURPOSE, thus each is working their butts off in order to provide the highest utility in their credential.

I'm 43 now Cowbow, and it's just my opinion that changing schools every year will not get you out of the situation you are in, because the distribution of students as to their motivation in any DL program is very different than in a B & M. Many part-time B & M programs are the same company sponsored crowd, like the one I did. That's reality man.

But if you are going to get kicked in the sack for doing all the work, it might as well be in the best "branded" school right? This is what you're looking for now, cause you're not going to change the composition of a DL class. I don't know about your grades, GMAT's or financial resources, but there are obviously lots of AACSB MBA programs out there.

I suggest that you frame the issues that concern you and discuss same with admissiosn reps at AASCB MBA schools that you would NOT attend to see if you can get your thoughts organized. The worst thing for you I'd think is to go through a buch of crap to find out that the grass is no greener over the fence man. If you do switch schools, do it only once and be clear about why. Hiring people understand a switch for a poor program fit, but you must explain why you did not see it was a problem before getting into the program in the first place. Make sure you can logically explain why you are moving to different programs to a recruiter. UofP is not perfect, but there is a lot to say about consistency and determination. I'm not suggesting you stay at UoP necessarily, but make damn sure you have a valid reason to switch.

For me, I'd suggest you do a DL AACSB if you can afford it, which is a step UP to a different class of programs. If you step SIDEWAYS to another RA DL program, made damn sure its for the right reasons.

John

 

hey horne:

I'm in the 510- Managerial Accounting course right now, and it is a monster.

I might actually be falling behind a little, which has never happened before.

The only suggestion I can offer you is that if you usually take more than one class at a time, plan it so don’t take any when you take the accounting class, it will take as much time as two, or two and a half of the other classes.

 

I would take it a step further and add that if you're planning to invest upto two years, then you should take the accounting course interactively (with a class) and not take any courses while you're enrolled in it. This will give yo a chance to focus on one subject at a rate of one module a week. That's what I did and it worked for me. At least if you're with a class, you can interact with peers and share insight (not answers lol)

Regards,
Mahmood

 

Just a joke, Jay Leno style

Yeah how about that Cowbow!!

Messagewriter, I mean it as a gag and not trying to bug you... I've made more typographical mistakes than anyone on the forum

 

Messagewriter,

Great post. Thanks for your take.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about it and I believe I made the right choice for the right reasons. I hope in the end it gets me where I want to be.

I'll tell y'all where I'm applying when I know if I got in.

 

good luck

My typing has little to be desired for sure.

Good luck and remember, the extra work and leadership will come out in an interview. Those riding your axx won't interviewing, since they are most likely already set.

 

Thanks to both Bubba and dis.funk.sh.null for your insight and suggestions for 510 Managerial Accounting. I will schedule the course for the next interactive session (March 2005). And I will opt for the interactive mode of instruction per d.f.s.n's advice. Who knew moving figures around in columns was so difficult. ;-)