And what I learned from the experience
Way back in 2019, when pandemics were the stuff of horror movies, I decided to pursue an MBA. I jumped on the internet, researched the process and eventually landed on what I believed would be the right path for me. I’d like to share a bit about my experience and the things I learned from going through the process.
About the MBA
The MBA is the Masters of Business Administration. There are a number of ways to achieve this degree, many of which are convoluted and quite costly. This is a graduate-level degree which means that applicants are typically required to complete an undergraduate program prior to applying for entry. Many schools also require an entry exam such as the GRE or GMAT.
What I chose
I made a list of what was important to me prior to picking a school for my MBA program. Here are a few of the criteria that I used
- Reasonable Cost (MBA programs cost anywhere from $11,000-$200,000)
- 100% Online
- Self-Paced (if possible)
- Regional Accreditation
I started researching options and found several online engines such as the one hosted by U.S. News. These resources provided me with a list and then I went to work exploring what each school offered. My final decision was to attend Western Governor’s University.
WGU provided me with the ability to attend 100% online and to go at my own pace which allowed me to complete the program in my own timeframe. The self-paced was incredibly important to me and you’ll see why below.
I was also impressed with the degree options provided by WGU and I was able to find a treasure trove of material on Reddit about the experiences others had at the school. I have found through my own learning experiences that if I can refer back to how others have handled classes, I can move more quickly and perform far better than simply trying to navigate the process by myself.
My Process
I enrolled with WGU in January of 2021. I had read through online resources and found a number of students had managed to finish the program in a single 6 month semester. The great thing about WGU is that you pay for a semester and complete your work as you are able to. In other words, pay a flat-rate and complete as much work as you can.
I decided prior to enrollment that my goal was to complete my MBA in a semester. This felt very ambitious as the program is expected to take 3 semesters, or 18 months. At that time, I was working a very full-time job and had recently had major spine surgery. I knew I was biting off a lot, but I felt I couldn’t put this off any longer.
Upon entry, I found that the program consisted of 10 courses, about half of which were written papers and the other half were tests. I sat down on a Friday evening and reviewed what the objectives of my first few courses were and wrote my papers. I was somewhat nervous when I made my first submission, but I went ahead and hoped for the best. My papers were accepted and after a single weekend, I was 20% done with my MBA.
I was very encouraged and reached out to my advisor to open additional courses. She was somewhat shocked but was more than happy to open up more courses for me. I jumped into those and knocked them out as well. This went on for the next several weeks and within 45 days I completed my MBA. I did this for under $5,000.
Here are my tips if you decide to pursue your MBA.
- Pick a school that suits your needs – consider time, money and prior obligations.
- Don’t assume you can do online school – online isn’t easier, its just online.
- Research other’s experiences. Google the school name and MBA, check Reddit.
- Once you’re enrolled, Google the class name and course number. You’ll be surprised at the useful info you can find.
- Don’t cheat, but don’t cheat yourself either.
- Build relationships – You can use the school you attend to help you get involved in groups.
- Don’t assume that higher cost equals better education. It’s just more money spent and you still have an MBA either way.
Your results may vary
I am providing my story as encouragement, I truly believe anyone can do this. That being said, I want to explain that my journey is my own and your journey will be yours. My insanely fast tromp through an MBA program is an aberration. I have been involved in online learning and self-led education for over 20 years. I have established processes for taking courses. That doesn’t mean I’m special, it just means I’ve had a lot of practice.
If you decide to go back to school (you should, even if you have a degree) then I would encourage you to explore online options. Look at websites such as Udemy.com or Study.com and start working through an online class to get used to the process for example.
Trust me, you can do this and education never goes to waste. Learn something today and make tomorrow better.
C9
Resources:
https://www.bschools.org/faq/what-is-an-mba
C9
