Thanks for the detailed thoughts, bb.
bb wrote:
Thanks for posting. Usually this form is reserved for choosing between schools that someone has already gotten in but you do your research so I have no qualms about you getting in here.
Thanks. Your observation makes 100% sense ... to not clog up traffic w/ a 'what-if" ... wait until admitted and there's a choice to make. If need be, feel free to delete this and I'll revisit in a few months.
bb wrote:
I should also point out that we have a little exposure to online MBA programs here. Most GMAT club members apply for full-time programs with a subset of the population going for a part-time or executive MBA.
Good to know. There are only 6 schools in the USNWR Top 40 programs who offer a full MBA degree -- the schools listed above, plus Arizona State (Carey).
bb wrote:
I don’t know what age or demographic attends the online programs. You probably don’t wanna be in the class with a bunch of 25-year-olds or a bunch of 65-year-olds. I’m thinking with your experience, an EMBA may be better.... Sorry about the family situation, and some of the limiting factors associated with it. But it is what it is and life must go on. I don’t know if Tepper’s 15 visit approach works for you, But it seems like they would meet once a month. I believe several executive MBA programs also meet on a monthly basis for a weekend and combine online with an in-person components. Kelloggs Miami-based the EMBA comes to mind.
The advantage is the caliber of your classmates on the network that you can rely on. Your classmates will be your primary networking opportunity. These tens to be a bit more expensive But also often have a simpler admission process.
The average work experience for all four programs exceeds traditional MBAs by a good bit, but doesn't get to the level of the EMBA -- Kelley is about 9yrs on average and UNC is 10yrs; Ross is about 7.5 and Tepper about 6.5 years. Each program advertises they have several people in their cohorts who are in their late 40s or even their 50s.
The travel for an EMBA is a non-starter. I cannot do that much travel with my family situation. I believe Tepper's travel requirement (once every 6-7 weeks over a three year period), for me, probably knocks it out, as well. And, it's possible MBB consulting isn't going to be an option either -- but, that's at least 2-3 years from now (i.e., post graduation), and my world may be different by then. We'll see.
bb wrote:
As to your choice in question, I would vote for Ross or Tepper. I know nothing about the programs but, the stronger name please well and I like the 15 in person opportunities a temper. It increases the cost but it should greatly in enhance the program
I will be very interested to see how financial stacks up. I understand Kelley has really good scholarships for high GMATs ... and ... Ross has almost nothing to offer (maybe get some people the in-state rate). Not sure about Tepper's aid, though. UNC, I understand, also only has modest awards to give, too.
bb wrote:
Honestly, everyone may be doing online MBA next year. If anything you would have a more certain experience. The UNC program is the oldest one and probably most reputed online MBA program. it’ll likely be the smoothest as all kings have been already worked out.
I think online delivery is absolutely the wave. There are simply too many teams accomplishing too many things with staff / partners from around the world to think that getting an MBA in this format will not be a seriously viable strategy for programs and students. I am not alone in my desire to advance my career, my ability to do the work and be a good cohort member for others, and my inability to travel to do so.
UNC is actually NOT the oldest program. Kelley is 21 years old. UNC is 8-9 years old. Tepper is maybe 5-6 years old and Ross is just in their 2nd year (they've not yet graduated a class).
bb wrote:
Part of the values of the program ads, important aspect of the program, is recruiting. I don’t know how online programs help with recruiting. Do they fall under the same assumption as an evening or executive MBA? Meaning they don’t really provide recruiting beyond career services or something like that? Is your family situation going to allow you to hold a consulting job with a lot of travel? By the way, consulting after certain age becomes very hard to recruit for. By that time, consulting companies are trying to get rid of older consultants potentially more expensive and replace them with the younger ones.
It's my understanding from all four schools that I can participate in on-campus recruiting for career jobs, but I'd have to get to campus to participate. A couple of the schools allow to interview for internships -- but -- that'd require the online participants to clear their deck for a summer working for someone else, which, obviously, could be tough to do.
My family situation (and age) may knock out consulting as a career option. I can cross that bridge down the road -- graduating with my MBA will take AT LEAST two years, maybe four. If that isn't an option, I've got other cool stuff I think I can do.
bb wrote:
I do feel your better chances of recruiting will be networking with the classmates in an executive MBA program. However, if that is not an option or recruiting is not a huge concern, any of the four programs you identified with beer likely good choice. I was still favor Ross, temper and UNC. Ross and Tepper having higher ranking and UNC being a more established program.
Part of where this is going dovetails with your extended posts elsewhere about "how much lower does the ALL IN cost of a school in a lower tier need to be in order for you to leave a higher tier"? As it sits now, Kelley is about 60% of the cost of UNC and Ross ... and about 50% of the cost of Tepper. And, that's before scholarships.
Again, Kelley is (by far) the most long-tenured online MBA program with the most extensive class offerings ... but ... the name brand recognition is not nearly the same as the other schools.
P&Q and USNWR each rank Kelley, UNC and Carnegie Mellon very highly in their online MBA rankings. Due to the age of the program, and having no alumni to interview, Michigan isn't on anyone's list just yet.
close
25 Apr 2020, 21:49
so tells you how much I know 
but don't discount a program out of the gate. You may be able to leverage an offer for a scholarship potentially, though I imagine Online MBA is akin to EMBA and scholarships are very scarse. 
