Top Five Reasons to Get Your MBA Online

Top Five Reasons to Get Your MBA Online
Five Smart Reasons to Get Your MBA Online
Once you’ve made your decision to pursue your MBA degree, there is no shortage of options when it comes to choosing the program that is right for you. Many of today’s business professionals select an accredited online MBA program for the advantages that distance learning can provide over a traditional on-campus experience.

1. Flexible Scheduling

This is a major decision point for many students. Having the flexibility to pursue your education in harmony with your work, life and family responsibilities eliminates several stressors. Yes, you will still have to make some hard choices about where to focus your time and energy, but those decisions will be yours and yours alone.

2. Virtual Classroom Environment

Hand-in-hand with flexibility is the convenience and reach of the online learning environment. You can study from anywhere, at any time, whether you are at home, in the office, or traveling for business or pleasure. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with professors and professionals from many locations and all walks of life, further enriching your educational experience.

3. No GMAT Requirements

A great number of students also cite the advantage of being able to move forward with their online MBA with no GMAT worries. Real world experience does not necessarily translate into high test scores. Many schools now recognize the GMAT is not always a predictor of success in achieving the good grades required to graduate from an online MBA program.

4. Quality Education

Most online MBA programs offer the same exact curriculum as their on-campus equivalent. You are able to learn from the same faculty members and have access to the same educational resources. There is no long a need for the physical trappings of the traditional university setting, particularly for working professionals who are not interested in non-educational aspects of college life.

 

5. Financial Considerations

Online MBA programs are normally less expensive than on-campus degrees, simply because there are no infrastructure costs required. Virtual students don’t need to pay for access to the library or the gym or other campus amenities. You’ll also save money on commuting costs. Furthermore, you won’t have to ask for special arrangements at work that could cut into your earning power. In fact, the opposite is true. You’ll gain professional credibility and recognition for advancing your education in a very smart way.

Getting Your MBA in a Digital World

Getting Your MBA in a Digital World
Today’s MBAs: Filling a Digital Skills Gap
There’s a digital skills gap among leaders today, and it widens with each new technology that takes hold of the world’s imagination. What works in the analog world doesn’t always translate to digital know-how, particularly when it comes to responsiveness.

Digital media and 24/7 conversations have presented new challenges and opportunities on a brave new landscape. It has become critically important to be able to satisfy competing priorities in real time. Leaders who know how to communicate virtually across multiple channels can guide discussions and control dialogue.
Success in modern leadership means knowing how to engage people you don’t know and may never know face to face. Where we once traveled to meet our colleagues in other states or countries, we can use Skype and FaceTime instead. Professionals who have experience working remotely on projects to complete their online MBA degree, for example, often find that they can build a long-lasting relationship with a virtual stranger across a web chat.
That’s just part of adapting to leadership in 2013 and beyond. Leaders should also understand how our digital universe impacts marketing, finance, sales, human resources and other key organizational functions. The benefits of having more channels for sharing your message are especially valuable for marketing-minded MBAs, who can immediately see the applications for targeting key demographics around the world.

Finance is more globally intertwined than ever before, which gives the investment and wealth management professionals new reasons to stay up at night. Sales teams can be more geographically diverse than ever before, with centralized online tools for collaboration and measurement. The human resources sector has also seen major changes in how applicants and employees are sourced, onboarded, trained, and managed via digital channels.
Today’s on-demand talent marketplace makes it easy to contact prospective employees, even if they aren’t looking for a new job. New hires can fill out all the required paperwork, participate in self-guided orientation modules, and complete other necessary training online. No pen, paper or proper desk required.
It really is an exciting time for tech-savvy MBAs to pave a whole new path to the future by exploring long-time areas of interest that are experiencing rapid change. You don’t need to be a programmer or an engineer to take advantage of technology-driven workplace trends. The way you use digital devices and media in your daily life is simply a precursor to what’s next for your career.