Articles

Part-Time MBA Programs a Perfect Fit For Driven Individuals

2009-04-17

Many prospective students approach the notion of attending a school part-time with a certain amount of trepidation - especially with rigorous courses of study such as MBA programs and other competitive graduate programs. MBA candidates, however, are typically better suited to part-time programs for a seemingly obvious reason: by nature, they are more driven and organized people. If they weren't, they would likely never have been drawn to study business in the first place.

The main challenges of attending school part time involve dividing one's time and focus between a steady job and night classes or distance learning classes. This can be doubly taxing if a student is also juggling social or domestic relationships as well. Still, many professionals who have already entered the job market and have significant financial commitments are understandably hesitant to walk away from their salaried positions in order to pursue a degree. Navigating this conundrum falls easily into the skill set of management minded professionals.

Management and organizational behavior is a key part of what is taught in MBA programs. Students who are motivated and discipline enough to excel in part-time study without compromising their devotion to their full-time job are particularly suited to part-time MBA study. Students who earn a degree part-time also prove on their resumes that they are effective multitaskers and are committed to lifelong education and career development.

In fact, part-time students often report a more satisfactory experience from their MBA programs than their full-time counterparts, according to a recent survey conducted by the Graduate Admission Management Council (GMAC). Per the survey, 92 percent of the graduates of part-time MBA programs "considered their degree a good to outstanding value" when comparing the total monetary cost of the MBA program to the quality of education they received. Furthermore, of the respondents who were offered jobs after earning their part-time MBA, over 60 percent reported receiving two or more job offers and over 46 percent expected to be placed in a senior or executive level in their next job.

As you can see, work experience prior to or concurrent to entering an MBA program is highly valuable. Many schools customarily require their students to have a certain amount of work experience in their field before enrolling in a graduate business studies, while almost all schools recommend the practice, as students with relevant work experience typically find MBA studies more rewarding. Students who undertake part-time MBAs exude flexibility and highly developed organization skills.

Because of the quickly rising marketability of part-time and distance learning MBA programs, many more accredited and highly reputable universities and colleges are offering flexible part-time MBA programs. Those who are constrained geographically by their current work responsibilities find online study and distance learning particularly valuable. Students conducting independent or distance study receive the same distinction and educational value as on-site students.

In order to find online and part-time MBA programs that are recognized and respected within the industry, it is best to consult a site such as mbas.com. At mbas.com, prospective students can easily compare and contrast graduate programs and concentrations in order to make an informed decision before going through the application process. Choosing the best program to fit a students' needs and expectations proves highly valuable in the overall process of earning an MBA - as such, consulting a specialist site such as mbas.com has become standard practice.