A large part of our lives today takes place online. Local news, world events, social trends, entertainment and much more now come to us via our computer screens, and we connect to the rest of the world through social media. The Internet is an increasingly comfortable place to be. With this in mind, completing your MBA online seems logical and natural. While there are clear benefits to learning at a distance, it’s not right for everyone. It’s important to weigh your options and ask yourself if you can handle the pressure of learning from home.
A growing trend
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 20.4 percent of all undergraduates have taken at least one distance education course, and about 3.7 percent completed their entire program through distance education.
The popularity of online colleges is growing exponentially in relation to traditional education, according to a recent study. In fact, the ratio is more than 10 to 1. An online degree is usually cheaper and shorter in duration, and it allows you to continue your education without interference with your career, family responsibilities and everyday life.
Factors to consider
Before registering for an online MBA program, there some things you need to do. The first is to consider why you are embarking on this journey. Getting an online degree might seem like a walk in the park, but unless you have real motivation, the time and effort you need to invest will soon seem overwhelming.
Next, you need to choose a program that will fit into your schedule. Time management is crucial in online programs, so plan ahead to ensure you can get all the work done.
Last but not least, do your research and select an accredited school—taking a program at a so-called ‘diploma mill’ will end up being a waste of time and money. Bear in mind that you can choose from a variety of different formats. Try to understand the requirements and the deadlines of your program, so that it can fit in with your usual rhythm of life and achieve the best results possible.
Many distance learning formats to choose from
The open schedule format provides the highest level of freedom possible, enabling you to incorporate the coursework into your personal schedule. Students are given the course material and a set of deadlines—this style of online education is designed for self-motivated people who do not tend to procrastinate.
Blended learning is a common version of distance learning that offers an open schedule, but requires you to communicate with an established location, in a physical classroom or online via message boards or chat rooms. Similar to an open schedule, blended learning allows students to complete assignments at their own pace as long as they meet the deadline required for communication.
Computer-based learning almost mirrors the behaviour of the standard classroom. Students are required to participate at designated times and places, often ranging from a computer to an actual classroom. This option is typically ideal only for those who live close to campus and are looking to take on extra coursework.
Fixed-time e-learning is the most common type of online education. It sets a predetermined schedule that can be kept from any location. Students are not required to attend a physical location. They’re required to complete the coursework and then log onto the online learning site at the predetermined time. This type of distance learning is popular since it provides a live online forum with a social component that is often lacking from online courses.
Online education is not right for everyone
You need self-motivation, discipline and strong willpower to avoid succumbing to procrastination. Without direct contact with your fellow students and professor, you might be tempted to miss deadlines and skip classes and appointments. To stay on top of your online degree, you need to:
- Set goals and stay motivated.
- Prepare for your online sessions in the same way you would for a traditional, real-life class.
- Wake up early and review the material, be alert and attentive, take part in the discussions and ask questions, if you have any.
- Find the right study environment. If you are distracted at home, going to the library or a coffee shop to study might be the best solution.
Manage your time
Studying from a distance gives you the advantage of setting your own pace; however, you need to plan ahead and keep track of deadlines, mid-terms and final exams. Even more so, if you are enrolled in a distance learning course, you will have set locations for reviews and exams.
Katia Vasileva, who recently completed a four-semester distance learning course in human resource management at the Open University of London, shares her experience: “The real challenge is to find the extra time to complete assignments. Between work and responsibilities at home, you can easily forget that you have ‘homework’ as well.” Out of the 13 students in her class, only three completed the course. Surprisingly, the people who completed the course on schedule were the ones who had full-time jobs.
Finally, make sure you’re not wasting your time—make sure that your program of choice has a credible reputation. The best way to ensure this is to study for a degree with the distance-learning arm of a well-respected, traditional university or an accredited distance-learning institute.
By ACCESS MBA Tour
The Access MBA Tour is held by Advent Group—an international media agency with 52 executives based in Paris, Sofia and Shanghai. With the experience of organizing over 300 events, the company has become a global leader in business education recruitment. The Access MBA Tour is a series of 60 One-to-One events per year held in 35 countries in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia. The aim is to match selected candidates with top-ranked international business schools. Each event gathers over 350 MBA candidates of which only the best profiles are selected and invited to meet the school representatives. The Tour represents some of the best programs for global management education. Attending schools are globally accredited and highly ranked by influential media like The Financial Times, Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist.
The Access MBA Tour will be back in Canada (Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver) February 2014 for the sixth consecutive year, giving MBA candidates the opportunity to meet face-to-face with admission officers of top international business schools. For more information, please visit: accessmba.com
