10 Biggest Surprises About Online MBAs

4) The Quality Is High All-Around: “This is the first time I have ever taken part in an online learning environment. I have to say Auburn has made it a priority to make online students feel like they are on campus. All the classes have both the student and teacher wired for sound, so you never miss any questions or comments. Some professors will even answer online students’ questions in the middle of a live class. On-campus opportunities are made available to all, such as the MBA International Trip. This, by far, blew me away. I thought the program would be mainly pre-recorded videos and generic exams but Auburn has done a great job in taking the online environment to a whole new level.”
Joshua Jones, Auburn University (Harbert)

“As a very visual learner and social person, I thought that my learning might struggle in an online environment. The online instruction and technology was excellent. I felt as though I was watching lectures in a classroom setting. Most professors offered both in-person and online office hours, which really helped me with communication. I made it a point to schedule a private phone or video call with each professor during week one of each class to introduce myself and set expectations, which I believe made my learning more personal as a student.”
Lauren Boldizar, Drexel University

5) You’re Part of a Highly Supportive Community: “The biggest surprise was the camaraderie, comfort, and trust that developed among fellow students, along with faculty and staff. The Tepper program is not easy and the level of empathy, understanding, and support from the entire community throughout the rigorous program was necessary to succeed. It is not all about you behind a screen, rather the combined success of you and your cohort.”
Andrew Woodward, Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)

6) Everyone Was Accessible: “I was initially worried about being one of the few non-US-based students in many of my classes. I also wondered if the time zone difference of 12 or 13 hours (depending on daylight savings) would make it difficult for me to participate or be able to ask questions. However, I was pleasantly surprised that meetings took place with consideration for international students and that the professors really meant it when they said that we can give them a call anytime (within reason, of course) or send an email and get a response rather quickly. I was of the impression that this was as part-time for them as much as it was for me. However, they proved to be as readily available and responsive as a full-time professor could be.”
Joseph Peter Park Florendo, Jack Welch Management Institute

7) Online Is Highly Convenient: “For me, online learning was as efficient as in-person courses. I liked that I could access the course materials anytime I wanted. Also, I could watch it again if I did not understand the material well. Faculty and teaching assistants were always available through the Q&A board, live sessions, and office hours. All of these aspects afforded me flexibility in my schedule and allowed me to complete the MBA program while working full-time.”
JaeB Kim, University of Illinois (Gies)

“The most surprising aspect of the online learning environment is the access, redundancy, and availability of information. Because I’m a multi-tasker, it is imperative to stay organized — an initial worry of taking classes online. However, calendars are automatically updated; “to-dos” are easy to find; lectures can be viewed as often as necessary, and program advisement is one click away.”
Jamie Williams, University of Nebraska

8) Brings Together Diverse Perspectives: “The benefit of an online learning experience is the incredible diversity of backgrounds, work experience, and even geographic locations of those in the program. I knew I would build relationships and learn from my classmates, but the connectedness, support, and level of expertise I found within my cohort exceeded my expectations. Coming from a working environment that did not foster collaboration or mentorship, stepping into an online program where everyone was committed to investing in the education and growth of their fellow cohort members was inspiring and meaningful. I am grateful for my colleagues and have made some lifelong friendships.”
Cari G. Lim, USC Marshall

“I was surprised at how much I connected academically and personally with my classmates. Live sessions and group projects allowed us to collaborate and benefit from each other’s rich and diverse experiences. I worked with physicians, nuclear engineers, military personnel, data scientists – as well as other working professionals at various stages of their careers. Having that network to draw upon for projects is a tremendous benefit. For example, in the Entrepreneurship course, we had to come up with an idea for a product or service, then create and sell in seven weeks. Our team included individuals who had backgrounds in sales, marketing, operations, and finance — all crucial skills needed for a successful launch. Those types of experiences made me look forward to each new class and the opportunity to learn with, and from, my cohort.”
Vi Zenone, University of Maryland (Smith)

9) The Faculty Is Highly-Committed: “As an Airman, moving around and deploying frequently, most of my college career has been online. I think the thing that surprised me the most is how committed and how helpful some of the professors can be. I believe that there may be a perception that online professors fire-and-forget with assignments and are minimally hands-on. It’s been my experience that many professors apply themselves just as thoroughly through email and video teleconferences as they would in a brick-and-mortar classroom.”
Patrick Brennan, University of Florida (Warrington)

10) Teamwork Is A Must: “The aspect that most surprised me about the online learning environment was the degree of collaboration. Everything from class sessions to team projects to program-wide lectures to the Canvas site was highly engaging and relational. When most students think about online classes, they think about modules, discussion boards, and recorded lectures. While all of those components are still present, they’re not the focal point – conversation and dialogue are. It’d be easy for a student to log in, complete their work, and log out. However, the true magic of the experience was when anecdotes were shared, opinions clashed, questions were asked, professors provoked, and so on because that’s when the real learning happened.”
Allie Pearson, Indiana University (Kelley)

DON’T MISS: The first admissions event focused exclusively on online MBA programs.

During the day-long interactive event, you’ll hear directly from Admissions Directors from top programs across the country in a series of panel discussions, get the chance to engage in small group video chat sessions with Admissions teams to get your most pressing questions answered, and also have the opportunity to watch short excerpts of online classes from select schools to understand what your learning experience will look like. Register here.