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Online MBA Programs: Learning on Your Time

As gas prices get more unpredictable and our time becomes even more valuable, more women are turning to online education for their MBAs. In fact, a recent survey showed 12 percent of all MBA students were pursuing their degrees online, according to Eduventures. But while there’s no commute—and you can go to class in your pajamas at 2 a.m. from your dining room table—there are trade-offs. PINK talks to some of the top women in executive education to find out the pros and cons of skipping the tangible classroom. Here’s what they suggest you consider:

Here’s what’s good ...

Flexibility Reigns

While most online programs have deadlines you have to meet, when and where you study is up to you. “My classroom time was from five to six in the morning,” says Jan Cardwell, Detroit campus director for the University of Phoenix and a former online student. “That allowed me to work full time and have a life.” And what happens in the classroom is always accessible, adds Betty Vandenbosch, Ph.D., dean of Kaplan’s Graduate School of Management. “What the professor said and your classmates’ discussions are posted throughout the term,” she says. “In a regular classroom, that’s all gone, except for your notes, as soon as class is over.”

Plus, most online MBA programs allow you to work at your own pace, which can mean graduating months earlier than in a traditional two-year classroom program.

Anonymous Dialogue

Because of the relative anonymity of online classrooms, students tend to be braver about speaking up. “If you’re shy or afraid of public speaking—or are just one of those people who needs time to formulate her thoughts—online interaction makes it easier,” Vandenbosch says. And you can keep your involvement a secret if you want, Cardwell adds. “Perhaps you have less education than those working for you and you want to catch up without their knowing, or you don’t want your boss to know that you’re about to be able to command more money.”

This can, however, be a disadvantage because you don’t get to hone your interpersonal communication or presentation skills like you would in a classroom, Cardwell warns. “It’s important to find other channels to develop speaking skills.”

Legitimacy Questioned

While companies are becoming more accustomed to hiring people with online MBAs, some still question their legitimacy, says Mae Jennifer Shores, director of MBA admissions for UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. “Industries like finance, investment banking and consulting—firms that historically hire large numbers of MBA grads—are more familiar with traditional programs and tend to favor them,” she says. “But companies that don’t hire MBAs regularly can be more open to online degrees.” Just make sure whatever program you choose is accredited, experts say.

Networking Challenges

“The hallmark of a top MBA program is the rich interaction among peers, faculty, and alumni,” says Joan Coonrod, director of marketing and admissions for Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business. Many grads depend on such relationships and networking opportunities for future opportunities. And while most online MBA programs offer discussion boards so students can interact with the professor and one another, the long-distance nature also makes actual in-person networking impossible.

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