Find the Right MBA Program for Your Lifestyle
If you're having trouble—perhaps due to job and family obligations—creating and meeting a timeline in which to earn your MBA in a traditional program, don't worry. There are other MBA programs available which just might fit your demanding lifestyle.
One of the most popular MBA program choices for busy adults is the online MBA. An accredited online MBA program delivers high quality and results on your schedule and at your pace, and online MBA programs are readily available. But if time is a critical factor and you want to get your MBA faster than even an online MBA program affords, you have other options.
Here are three lesser-known MBA program types that could make your quest to earn an MBA a little easier:
Accelerated MBA Program
If you already have some business credits, or if you're willing to put your nose to the grindstone, the Accelerated MBA program may be the right degree choice for you.
The Accelerated MBA program is the leading alternative to traditional MBA programs because they allow you to return to work quickly. This fast-paced MBA program is generally completed in one year to 18 months. An accelerated online MBA program is also available.
Attendance in an Accelerated MBA program is usually limited to those who have an advanced knowledge of the fundamentals of management gained though a combination of undergraduate studies and on-the-job experience. Because students already have some core business credits and experience, the Accelerated MBA program will spend less time covering those first-year business school basics. This program also offers fewer opportunities for specialization, because it operates on a tight and intensive schedule.
4+1 MBA Programs
BA/MBA–or BS/MBA–programs fall under the 4+1 program aegis. These specialty MBA programs typically allow students to substitute an undergraduate business degree for the first year of the traditional 2-year MBA curriculum.
The 4+1 program moves students directly into an MBA track after finishing their 4-year undergraduate degree, so they earn their MBA in just one more year.
Students apply to the program during their junior year and they are evaluated for eligibility based upon their academic records and accomplishments. In most cases, a GPA of 3.0 is required to be considered, and you may need to submit your GMAT score and letters of recommendation from professors or administration who are familiar with your achievements. Additionally, you may need to write a statement of objective, or participate in an internship in order to be accepted into this selective MBA program.
Evening/Weekend MBA Program
Evening/Weekend MBA programs generally hold classes on, not surprisingly, evenings and weekends. Or there may be two tracks, one for "evening" and one for "weekend" students.
Because students study on weekends and evenings, this MBA program usually takes two- to-three years to complete, and because the students in these programs typically already have a job, internships are not available.
Weekend tracks may involve classes being held every Saturday, or on Friday and Saturday on alternating weeks. The executive MBA program, for example, is often held on Friday and Saturday of every other week. Attendance in these programs is often limited to people who work during the week and, as with accelerated MBA programs, the Evening/Weekend MBA program also offers fewer opportunities for specialization because it operates on a similarly tight and intensive schedule.
Choose Your MBA Program
Don't let a busy schedule, full-time job, or other life obligations stop you from advancing your education. Many options are open to MBA students, and one of them should fit your lifestyle. And don't forget to see if your current employer will help pay for your MBA degree. An MBA is a win-win for both you and your employer, so get going today.
