Problem
If
y
is 45 percent of
x
and
z
is 25 percent of
x
, what is
y
+
z
in terms of
x
?
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MBA programs can be very intense and demanding,
especially in the first year. You have to devote significant
amounts of time and energy to study and group projects.
Full-Time Programs
The most significant advantage of attending business
school full-time is that students can devote as much time as
possible to coursework without being stretched too thin by
other competing demands.
Activities & Networking
Full-time programs generally offer a wide range of
activities, often directly tied to disciplines, such as
marketing or information management. These activities aid
professional growth and can strengthen a personal network.
Participation often is highlighted on resumes.
Networking among classmates is one of the greatest benefits of
full-time MBA programs. Many B-Schools tend to admit students
with significant prior work experience - those using their MBAs
to immediately jump higher in a corporate hierarchy.
Consequently, students are often provided with invaluable
high-level contacts for potential business partners, suppliers
or employers. The contacts made in b-school can help you
throughout an entire career.
Internships & Job Opportunities
Full-time programs provide the opportunity to gain
significant professional experience through summer placements
or internships. Through these important programs, participants
can test an interest in a particular field and determine if
it's right for them.
Placement Services
At most schools, placement services generally focus on
helping full-time students conduct their job searches for the
often-dramatic leaps in job responsibilities and salaries that
MBAs expect.
Juggling School & The Rest of Your Life
The very intensity of being a full-time student can exact
a price. This is especially true for those who have been
working for a while and recently returned to school. In
addition, there are definitely competing demands for time for
those with families. Finally, attending business school often
entails relocating to a new area and unique disruptions that go
along with it.
Cost
Paying for two years of full-time school is often the
biggest disadvantage of being a full-time student. While
financial aid is available for b-school - usually in the form
of loans rather than outright grants or scholarships - you
should plan on accumulating significant debt as a full-time
student.
Part-Time Programs
Attending business school part-time is often not a matter
of choice; but one of necessity.
A Long Haul
A part-time program can drag on for a number of years,
during which your commitment to an MBA will be tested by
professional and personal obligations, as well as by simple
fatigue.
Cost
Most schools have little, if any, financial aid for
part-time students. However, many companies reimburse for some
or all of the cost of tuition for continuing education. Because
of this and the fact that most are working during their
education, part-time students often do not occur the massive
debt associated with full-time students.
Flexibility
This is probably the main advantage of the part-time
route. Part-time students generally decide if they want to
enroll for any given term. This can help relieve some of the
pressure from competing professional or personal demands. Many
vary their course-load in order to concentrate exclusively on a
particularly difficult course and then take a heavier load
later with less intensive courses.
Networking
Because of the flexible nature of part-time programs,
enrollment patterns of students tend to vary greatly. This
makes it comparitively difficult to develop the same kind of
relationships with peers - or do the same kind of networking -
that full-time students enjoy.
Juggling School & The Rest of Your Life
Managing both a part-time student career and a "real
life" can be tough. The demands of job or family won't always
mesh with those of school.
Executive MBA Programs
An Executive MBA Program is especially attractive to
those with significant work experience and plans to continue
with their present employer after graduation. Most of these
programs offer classes on weekends or on Fridays and Saturdays.
They are often completed in two years. However, Executive MBA
Programs are usually open only to the most senior managers who
are supported by their employers.
An MBA is an important investment of both time and money.
Consider what sort of program suits your needs best. Then
research all the options and programs as fully as you
can.
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