Completing an MBA degree can be a daunting challenge. Whether you do it to increase job opportunities or for career and salary prospects, there's no clear-cut path to obtaining a holistic and fulfilling business education. In many cases, students fail to effectively traverse the demanding – but rewarding – MBA landscape.
Here are some guidelines for students interested in extracting the most value from their MBA, either on-campus or online, while securing a healthy work-life balance.
Commit to the Experience!
You’re pursuing an MBA for a reason. Whether it's to gain additional insights into the field of business management or to hone in on a specific skill set, you'll want to receive the most bang for your buck as a student. This can only be realized if you honestly pay attention in class, listen to your instructors, and take the time to learn from course assignments.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Place more emphasis on actually learning the material than worrying about your grades. The amount of education and experience you receive is the result of the effort you put in.
Be Proactive! Leverage the Resources Available to You As an MBA Student
The depth of resources you'll unlock cannot be overstated. As a recent MBA student notes, the MBA “card” will allow you the freedom to explore new and interesting opportunities and meet exceptional leaders both inside and outside the classroom. The UOnline MBA grants students access to world-class faculty in addition to providing a week-long on-campus immersion session for online students. Moreover, UOnline MBA students can take advantage of UM’s Toppel Career Center, which provides career-related programming and prepares students for lifetime career success, and UM’s LaunchPad, which provides students free entrepreneurial programming and resources.
Make sure to make the most of these opportunities.
Keep an Open Mind, but Have a Firm Understanding of Your Career Goals
The purpose of an MBA is to give students a well-rounded understanding of business management. As a result, you'll probably discover many new interests that will add to your understanding of business and evolve your career goals. It's important that you absorb as much of this information as possible while staying true to your career ambitions. After all, 72 percent of prospective MBA students either seek to enhance or switch careers, according to a 2015 Prospective Students Survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council. Don’t be reluctant to “update your blueprint as you go,” writes one MBA graduate, but be aware of why you chose to pursue an MBA in the first place.
Build Professional Relationships
According to one business school administrator, “The network you will develop as a student, together with the alumni network of your institution, is one of the reasons many people [select] the program they are attending.” You'll be joining an elite group of talented and ambitious individuals like yourself, so you'll probably find that your classmates will enrich and expand your professional network. UOnline MBA students have access to the U, a global network of 180,000 plus alumni which affords them the opportunity to learn and network with students and alumni. Taking advantage of these resources will greatly enrich your MBA experience.
Don’t Overdo It – Be Selective with Your Time
Given the vast array of resources at your disposal, you can very easily overwhelm yourself with coursework and extracurricular activities such as clubs and student groups. It's important that you set aside time for personal matters such as family commitments and be selective with your MBA activities. One of the many perks of an online MBA degree is that it affords students flexible scheduling so working professionals can more easily juggle work commitments, familial obligations, and course loads. Make sure to allow time for each respective task and you’ll be well on your way to developing a healthy work-life-school balance.
References
Graduate Management Admission Council: 2015 mba.com Prospective Students Survey Report
Poets and Quants: 25 Ideas to Make the Most of Your MBA
LinkedIn: Reflections From an MBA Grad -- How to Get the Most Out of an MBA
Forbes: 13 Tips From MBA Students on How to Succeed in a Top-Tier Program
Bloomberg: Getting the Most Out of Your MBA Program
Wharton Magazine: Getting the Most Out of Your MBA Experience
