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Frequently Asked Questions
What is it like to be an online MBA program student?
An online MBA student should expect to spend a lot of time in front of a computer. Certain programs may communicate primarily through e-mail, chat rooms, online conferencing and forums. Some courses are real time and require scheduled logins for interaction with teachers via chat rooms or videoconferencing. However, most courses do not have fixed schedules, thereby allowing online MBA program students to login at their convenience.
What are the benefits of an online program?
Flexibility of schedule is probably the biggest benefit of an online program. Essentially, students set their own schedules and study at their own convenience. However, as mentioned above, certain classes may schedule required logins for real time interaction. As a result, students are responsible for maintaining these meetings as well as assignment deadlines. Convenience is another huge benefit. Lecture notes are often available online, as are transcripts of class chats and discussions. Consequently, there are many different resources a student can leverage in order to succeed.
Am I missing anything by not going to a traditional school?
The major thing missing from any online mba program is the personal interaction with colleagues. However, with that said, through various forms of online communication, students often form strong relationships with other students over the internet. Moreover, studies conducted by the U.S. Office of Technology Assessment, as well as by the University of Phoenix, show that distance learners do as well or better in courses and on tests than traditional students.
Is learning online different from "distance learning"?
Getting a degree online is simply a form of distance learning, which is described as "education that takes place with the instructor and student geographically remote from each other." Distance learning may occur by standard mail, portable video media, interactive or cable TV, satellite broadcast, or via Internet technologies such as e-mail, chat rooms, forums and video conferencing.
What does it when a school is accredited?
Essentially, when a school is accredited, it means that the quality of instruction provided by that school meets or exceeds the predetermined standards of an official educational board or committee.
Are all online MBA programs accredited?
No. Not all online MBA programs are fully accredited so students should research options thoroughly prior to making any decisions on enrollment.
Are credits from online schools transferable?
Different schools have different standards; consequently, whether or not credits can be transferred is determined by the receiving school. If the credits are from an accredited school, they will often be accepted for transfer. For more details, fill out an information request form for the desired school and a representative will call to happily answer all questions.
Do I need a "high-powered" computer to be a student?
It is difficult to determine what one considers "high-powered" versus another. However, as long as a computer meets the relatively modest system requirements for the program, all should be just fine. The main requirement: the computer should be able to connect to the internet.
What type of student does well in an online MBA program?
Many students do very well in their online MBA programs; in fact, there isn't one type of student that consistently performs the best. However, there are certain qualities that bring about success. First, a student should have discipline. Being disciplined helps online students manage their time appropriately while staying engaged with their own learning. Since online programs offer flexibility and convenience, it is very easy for some to fall behind due to "lack of time" or "laziness". So as long as a student takes their education seriously and stays disciplined, all should work out just fine.
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