Online MBAs: The Biggest Advantages

Who says you can’t have it all?

A career, a family, an MBA, a life – you can do it. Will there be tradeoffs and sacrifices? Absolutely! Will you fall behind or feel like your priorities are out of balance? Sometimes. That’s why many professionals opt for the online route. You can study when you want, where you want, and how you want. In other words, say graduates, you possess the flexibility to learn when it is convenient for you.

Just ask Geno Malaty, who earned his online MBA from Arizona State’s W. P. Carey School this summer.

“I’m naturally an early riser, so I often started schoolwork around 5 a.m. before work. Working early allowed me to enjoy a free night or two per week, spending time with my family and pursuing my hobbies versus working on coursework each night. I’ve also enjoyed being able to travel without it negatively affecting my schooling; I’ve taken 10 trips throughout my two-year MBA program, including separate trips to Disneyland, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and Japan.”

While studying at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School, Kitty Whitehead placed a premium on family time. A wife and mother of three children who worked full-time at the Smithsonian, Whitehead used the online format to squeeze in learning after completing her daily routine.

“After work, I can still attend my kids’ sporting events, help with homework, have dinner with the family, and then head to my home office for a class or study group,” she tells P&Q. “The flexibility of the online program allows me to manage my time effectively and pursue my educational goals without sacrificing family or work commitments.”

Earlier this year, P&Q asked top online graduates from the Class of 2024 to share their favorite parts of their MBA experience. Here are some ways that the online format enabled them to advance their career without hampering what mattered most in their lives.

“Being able to continue my full-time job while also pursuing an MBA from a business school of superior quality was a significant benefit to the online MBA program. The flexibility to access recorded lessons at a later time, especially with late work hours or overnight calls, proved immensely beneficial. Moreover, attending classes from the comfort of my home office provided a welcomed alternative to being away from home all day at work, and then sitting in a campus classroom at night.”
Jason D. Hanks, MD, Hofstra University (Zarb)

“I loved that I didn’t have to miss important events, because I had the freedom to choose when I would study. I have three kids and wanted to make sure I was able to attend as many of their sports and school events as possible. Being in the online program gave me the best of both worlds because I could invest in myself while still being present with my family”
Brianna McAnally, University of Texas-Dallas (Jindal)

“As someone who did not have a clear-cut post-MBA career path, the online MBA program gave me three years instead of two to explore and consider my options, while being able to continue my career and support my family. The extra time helped me definitively figure out my immediate post-MBA goals. Having classes and working at the same time also gave me the chance to apply the concepts I learned in real time, which happened much more often that I initially expected.”
Jason Chan, Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)

“It was being able to study when I was at my best or had time available, and not on a fixed schedule. I did a lot of the work on trains or at airports, or in the morning before work.”
Jocelyn Tillner, ESMT Berlin

“It was the flexibility of the program and just how customizable it can be if you are willing to be strategic and engaged in your experience. With the assistance of the incredible program staff at the University of Florida and significant advanced planning I was able to experience much more than the core academic curriculum. During my two-year program, I was able participate in a week-long Washington Campus residency learning about Strategically Managing Healthcare Policy from top policy makers and executives in DC; an ELO in Argentina learning from foreign and domestic companies and executives in Buenos Aires; and a week-long campus residency in Gainesville learning about Change Management.”
Maja Lacevic, University of Florida (Warrington)

“Dallas allows online students to participate in international study abroad trips. Last spring, I joined the study abroad trip to Dublin, Ireland, where I spent the week learning how international companies excel at supply chain management. This year, I am joining the trip to Stockholm, Sweden to learn about international sustainability efforts in business.”
Richard Lindeman, University of Texas-Dallas (Jindal)

“My favorite part was the flexibility – though I know that may seem obvious! It’s really hard to overestimate just how much time and energy you save from not commuting, having to manage an ever-changing class schedule, and attending classes in-person while working full-time. I live and work in Nashville, so it would have been impossible to attend UTC in a traditional class setting. I really wanted to go to this particular school above the schools near me, so the online MBA made that a possibility (especially while working full-time!).”
Erik Franey, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

 

DON’T MISS: 

BEST & BRIGHTEST ONLINE MBAS: CLASS OF 2024

ONLINE MBAS: TOP GRADUATES SHARE THEIR BEST ADVICE