Online Universities

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Class discussions, networking, presentations, and so on.

[Munchkin03]

B-school is all about networking, which is why I don't understand how one could get much out of an MBA program that was entirely online. That said, I'm a real school snob and I focus on national/international, and not regional, reputation--because you never know where you'll end up. Also, you'll want the strong alumni network of a top school.

My ex-boss got his MBA from the University of Phoenix but talks like he was at Wharton or HBS. LAME. I think it's unfair that my uncle (full-time MBA from a Top 20), one of my old boyfriends (executive MBA from an Ivy) and that clown can all say they have the same degree.

On the other hand, one of my friends is now getting his Executive MBA from Michigan's LA program--they meet once a month and his cohort is really close. It sounds amazing.

I guess an employer will know its an Executive MBA from the fact that there's no break in your employment for education.

[OldOleMiss]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Class discussions, networking, presentations, and so on.

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with DeltaBetaBaby on her assessment of online courses not giving you the same "experience" / "value" as the classroom experience. I am finishing up my masters online which I started in the classroom, so I have experience with both aspects of the learning environment. In both we have had group projects and presentations. The difference is that my online experience has been more true to life than my classroom one. The group projects that I have been required to do have required time management, online collaboration, conference calls and true group effort as opposed to "meeting in the library 2 or 3 times right before the assignment is due and "knocking it out". The presentations that I have had to do for my online classes have required me to utilize powerpoint and online presentation software that I never would have mastered in the classroom, where typically I would just get up and "wing it" for 15 mins. Online I am required to think on my feet and answer questions from people across the country that i have never met, not my classmates that I have seen twice a week for 5 weeks and feel comfortable around. Overall I have gotten more out of my online classes than I ever did out of my classroom classes. I find that I have to be 120% prepared online. I have to be able to answer questions intelligently and comment on other students work intelligently. It has really honed my critical thinking skills in a way that the classroom ever did.