How to Choose an Online MBA Program

Business school sure has its benefits. But how do you go about choosing the right program? Here is our helpful guide on choosing the right online MBA program:

Is it Accredited

Many online programs claim to be accredited or are “accredited” by a made-up organization. Be sure to do proper research on both the school and the accreditation organzition before enrolling in a university.

AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accredits 620 schools total and has very strict requirements. Only a few online MBA programs are accredited but those that are will look best to your future employers.

There are many other accreditation organizations and typically schools will only seek accredation in a few. So how do you know which accreidation organzations to trust? The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit MBA programs, however, the Secretary of Education does publish a list of trust-worthy accrediation organzations on the Department of Education’s website.

GMAT Required?

The Graduate Management Admission Test is a test required by many MBA programs. The test is a standardized exam which tests skills in Math and English.

If taking another, harder SAT which costs $250 does not appeal to you, you do not need to feel pressured to take it. Many MBA programs do not require the test. Also, many of the programs which do require the test may not make you take it if you have sufficiant managerial or business experience (typically 8+ years).

Value

Some programs will cost much more than others. Some of those same programs will also give you much more return.

The best thing to do is to find out why you are getting an MBA. That will best determine the program’s value to you.

If you are aiming to get an online MBA so you can get a raise or promotion in your current job, then you may want to aim for higher ranking and, usually, higher costing programs. If you thinking of getting getting an online MBA so you have the knowledge to start your own company, it may be best to choose a less-expensive program so you can have some start-up capital for your company.

It is always best to evaluate your reasons for getting an MBA before choosing your program.

Have any tips or suggestions. Let us know in the comments below.

Further Reading: Online MBA

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Top 7 Online Tools Students Should Use

Students now have it so much easier than those that were in school 12+ years ago. Technology has made it so much easier to do online research, stay organized, keep up with deadlines, collaborate with classmates and have online discussions; even 1st graders get to have iPads in the classroom. It’s only inevitable that soon laptops or tablets will be a part of the required school supplies for most grade levels.

With the advancement in technology also comes an abundance of online tools and services for students. The top-notch tools listed below will help any student whether in grade school or college. Let’s take a look at the top 7 online tools students should use.

Notely

Notely is a great time management tool that helps students stay organized with notes, to-do lists and a course and assignment calculator. It’s great for those who need help keeping track of assignments and due dates. Each time you login you’ll get to see which deadlines are approaching. With the calendar, schedule builder and homework planner students can take control of their hectic lives and make time for studying and assignments. The Word-like note taking interface doubles as an online word processor with formatting options that are very similar to Google Docs.

Backpack

Backpack is just what the name insinuates: Click to continue reading…

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College Students and Credit Cards: How to Avoid the Debt Trap

Most college students don’t have a lot of cash for extras; the rising costs of tuition, books, and related fees often requires a strict budget, even for the student that carries a part- or full-time job in addition to their schedule of classes. For this reason, having a credit card can seem like a godsend, allowing for additional funds to eat out, take a trip, or hit the clubs with friends. Unfortunately, it can also spell disaster for a kid that is away from home for the first time and has no idea about the trap that the common credit card can spring on the unwary shopper.

When you rack up debt, max out your card, and pay the minimum monthly fee (which is all you can afford on your salary), it could take you several years to pay off the debt (assuming you don’t make any additional charges) and you’ll end up paying way more than you ever intended to for your purchases. There’s no trick; it’s all in the fine print. It’s just that so few people really understand what they’re getting into with credit cards. Here’s how you can avoid the trap. Click to continue reading…

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How to Avoid Bad Professors

In primary school, it is more or less impossible to effectively avoid teachers that are known to be awful. You either get assigned to their class or you don’t. Once you’re in, you’re stuck. Although many a parent has complained about a teacher being “unfair” to their child, it is the policy of most schools that unless there is abuse of some sort, a kid will stay in the classroom they are assigned to.

But now you’re in college and things are a bit different. You not only get to choose the classes you want to take, but even general education courses that are mandatory often come with several time slots and teachers to choose from. And once you get to your major study, you’ll be limited to a smaller department and faculty, but you still have some latitude when it comes to selecting the classes and teachers you prefer. So how can you tell which teachers to avoid? There are actually several ways to find out. Click to continue reading…

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Planning for Post-Grad: Take a Break or Jump Into a Job?

You’ve spent the last four (or more) years learning a trade (at least in theory) and now that you’re about to receive your diploma, you may be wondering where you go from here. If you were lucky enough to get an internship, you may have a job waiting for you. Ditto if you’re going into the family business or you happen to be top of your class and graduating from a very pricy law school.

But for the majority of students leaving school with a piece of paper that qualifies them for work, all that awaits is a lot of hustling (application and rejection). Click to continue reading…

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