Choosing the right online MBA is important if you want it to be respected. You also want to make sure that you will get an education that is on par with traditional MBA programs. The good news is that online MBAs are now better than ever, and they are just as good, if not better, than traditional programs in many ways. However, it all depends on the quality of the school and programme you decide to enrol in. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should be looking for when picking an online MBA.
Accreditation
The first thing you will need to do is check what kind of accreditation the programme has. This is what will ensure that your degree will be recognized. It will also play an important role if you ever decide to switch universities and want to be able to transfer your credits.
But, ultimately, accreditation ensures that its online programme will be respected. For instance, the online Aston University MBA is accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA. Not all universities will have triple certification, but if you see one that does, then you can rest assured that your credentials will be respected not only in the country but virtually anywhere in the world.
Look at the Technology
When choosing a programme, you also want to know what type of technology they will be using. You want to know if they have some sort of portal where you can freely engage with other students. You should also check if they’re going to be using proprietary tools or rely more on third-party tools. Some programmes will make it easier for you to interact with the teaching staff in and out of class. This will be very important to know and prepare for before you start.
Course Delivery
This one is very important – you have two main delivery methods for online classes; synchronous classes that require you to be at your desk at specific times for lectures; and asynchronous classes that allow you to attend lectures on your own time.
Don’t assume that the latter is automatically better, however. While it is true that it might be more convenient, you’re missing a lot of the experience. For instance, you won’t be able to directly interact with teachers and ask them questions in real-time. This could make a big difference if you can’t entirely grasp a subject.
The same can be said about other people in your class. Synchronous classes leave more room for live collaboration. In this way, they are much better at replicating the collaborative atmosphere you’d have in a traditional MBA.
Not only that, but asynchronous classes may make some students feel more isolated. It also takes a certain type of temperament to succeed in those. So, before you pick one format over the other, make sure that you don’t go for the seemingly easy route.
Placement Rate
At the end of the day, your goal is probably to land a good position once you complete your studies. This is why you must look at the placement rate for the school you were thinking of. Anything over 80% is considered respectable. This means that the school and its programme is respected among employers. This also means that the prestige of a school is more important than the way you received your degree.
Also, check what resources they offer. Most schools will have some sort of career placement service. This will help you find not only a position, but also a direction if you weren’t sure what to do after graduation. You also want to find a university that will help you with things like preparing your CV or tips on how to land a job after finishing your education.
Look at Reviews
Another thing you should do is look at reviews for the school and their online MBA in particular. Speak with current and past students and hear what they had to say. You will have the chance to hear their honest answers and get a good list of drawbacks and benefits. While you don’t want to base your final decision on those alone, they should still be important factors. Also, make sure that you look at student satisfaction levels.
Another thing you should do is look at where recent graduates are in their careers. You want to know what type of positions they were able to get and whether they feel their degree helped them. You should also check if they experienced pushback from recruiters they’ve had to meet. If you want to know how to find graduates, social media sites like LinkedIn are a great place to start.
Compare Both Their Online and Traditional MBA
Also, you shouldn’t assume that their traditional and online MBA programmes are one and the same. While both degrees will be as respected by employers the same, the experience and quality can be vastly different.
Some schools may be prestigious but haven’t caught up yet in terms of technology, or their teachers might not be as proficient online. These are all things you cannot overlook if you want to get the optimal MBA experience. Look at the admission standards, professors, resources, and reputation of the online programme in particular.
One other thing you should look at is the QS Rankings. They rank online MBAs based on factors such as faculty and teaching, employability, class profile, and class experience. This, in addition to accreditation and the opinion of previous and current students, should give you a complete idea of the level of education you can expect. You’ll also be able to avoid unpleasant surprises.
If you want to make sure that you pick an online MBA programme that you’ll be satisfied with and that will open doors, make sure that you look at all the factors above. Also, make sure that you get as much information as you can from people who have experience with the course or institution you have in mind.
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