Eric Scheib

Auburn University, Harbert School of Business

“I’m a highly motivated, detail oriented, and hard-working individual with a drive to succeed.”

Age: 29

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Fun fact about yourself: At 18, my friends and I took a three-week road trip to travel across the county. We visited 19 different states in the process.

Undergraduate School and Degree: The Pennsylvania State University | Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology

Where are you currently working? PNC Financial Services Group, Application Developer

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? In a previous position as a technical implementation consultant at SAP, on my first implementation with a Fortune 500 company, I earned both the commitment of the quarter and excellent service awards. The awards were earned on the merits of leadership, professionalism, and technical deployment knowledge. As a new member of a technology organization consisting of 150 employees, the awards showcased my ability to quickly learn a complicated technology while offering a client a smooth implementation experience.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? Auburn University has a strong reputation with a business school that offers a high quality education at an affordable price. The distance program allows students the opportunity to become a part of the on-campus classroom through live streaming and on-demand technology. The program also offers the flexibility to allow students to balance the demands of a career and family.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? I thoroughly enjoyed the many opportunities I had to collaborate with full time on-campus students. My favorite of these opportunities was the Capstone project. The project gave me the chance to work with a team of three other students on a consulting engagement with a real client, allowing us to apply learned concepts in a real-world scenario.

What was the most surprising thing about an online learning environment? Despite being a distance student, I felt very engaged and included in the on-campus environment.

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? Given Auburn’s approach of streaming and recording the on-campus lectures, the back and forth discourse between instructors and students during lectures makes the experience feel similar to sitting in a classroom as I did during my time as an undergraduate. Instructors also dedicate time during lectures to address questions and comments submitted by distance students.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Schedule dedicated study time. With so many competing priorities it’s incredibly important to plan to stay on top of assignments and exams.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? The Auburn University brand is a great addition to my resume. The skills I’ve learned in the classroom, as well as the balancing of my career with school and family, have already been put into use at my current job. I know that I will continue to utilize the skills and connections that I’ve made for the duration of my career.    

If you had to do it all over again, would you? Why? Without a doubt – it was a great experience that I know will be recognized and rewarded in my career moving forward.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? I plan to continually grow to a place in my career where I can provide a positive impact on others while challenging myself and learning as much as I can.

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