The Juggling Act: Work, Life and Part-Time MBA Programs

Think you can't find time to pursue an MBA degree and still maintain a work-life balance? Think again! Flexible part-time MBA programs for working adults let you sharpen your competitive edge without forfeiting your foothold on the corporate ladder.

by Jami J. Rodgers
jami.rodgers@MBA-Business-Schools.com
MBA-Business-Schools.com Columnist

Part-Time MBA Programs: You Aren’t Going It Alone

Today’s working professionals want increased career opportunities and earning potential without giving up their full-time positions. As a result, part-time MBA programs that speak to these desires are growing in popularity. The Graduate Management Admissions Council, which administers the GMAT exam, reports that 11 percent of part-time MBA programs experienced significantly higher application volume in 2005—an increase of 21 percent or more. This trend suggests that part-time MBA programs are delivering results, providing working adults with the skills needed to successfully obtain an MBA degree while keeping their full-time positions.

Flexibility: The Key to Your MBA

Today’s MBA programs offer flexible scheduling to meet the growing needs of the working adult. They equip part-time MBA students with the same knowledge, skills and abilities as their full-time student counterparts, using the same faculty and resources with one marked difference—the format. Most part-time MBA programs have evening and weekend classes. They can be completed over the course of three to five years, versus a standard two-year, full-time MBA degree program. While a majority of MBA degree programs now incorporate an online coursework component, some programs are fully virtual and conducted entirely online. This provides even more flexibility for the part-time student, who gains sound business acumen and hones business and leadership skills while keeping that all-important on-the-job experience.

Sources

• Application Trends Survey 2005: Executive Summary, The Graduate Management Admissions Council
• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

About the Author

Jami J. Rodgers—who is currently pursuing MBA school admission— works in acquisition management for the federal sector in Washington, D.C Jami holds a B.S. in Spanish with a business option and an international studies minor from The Pennsylvania State University.

Posted on October 17, 2006 at 9:57 AM

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