Many Americans are working full-time jobs without a degree, and nearly 40% of Americans that attended college dropped out before obtaining their diploma.
While there is no end to the list of unexpected events that can occur in one’s life to derail them from completing their education, having to step away from it temporarily doesn’t mean giving it up completely.
Should you already have one attempt under your belt for getting a degree, or if you’re contemplating the idea while trying to manage a demanding job, there are still ways you can achieve your goal without unreasonable time management expectations.
Here’s what you should think about when it comes to applying to an MBA program:
A Universal Degree for Nearly Any Field or Profession
An MBA is a Master’s in Business Administration degree generally focuses on management or general business to give you solid building blocks in the field of entrepreneurship.
Sometimes also covering risk management and finance, different courses can discuss numerous varying aspects of business management.
This also means that every course will have different expectations to fulfill the terms of completion for the degree, which is something to keep in mind when considering getting yours.
Having an MBA can open many new opportunities for you in any career you’re looking seriously at entering into, even if the field you desire to work in isn’t directly business related.
Besides the clear fact that you were able to achieve the focus and maintain the determination necessary to obtain a degree, this also offers potential employers that you’ve studied how to complete a goal.
With leadership skills and basic knowledge of the importance of productivity and risk management, you can apply your experiences in class to your new job and display your abilities for your chain of command.
Consider Your Circumstances Against the Options Available
If you know you are ready to set aside time to study online, check with experts about the best place to get started.
However, if you’re still debating between full-time or part-time classes, it can be draining.
There are a few simple points to weigh that can give you a fairly clear picture of which choice is right for you:
- Are you currently employed? Having a job, regardless of the hours, means a constant balancing act of your time between work, sleep, and school.
- Do you have family or loved ones that depend on you? Considering a part-time course can give you a workload you can handle while still allowing you time for caregiving.
- Will transportation be an issue? Some full-time classes can require your presence for certain lectures or events, while many part-time classes can be done exclusively online and, therefore, won’t give you the added concern of finding a ride on time for an in-person class.
- How much energy do you have to spare? There are plenty of jobs that only have a few shifts each week for employees but are incredibly demanding, such as assembly workers. If you’re not sure you can handle going back to school, consider trying part-time first to judge its effect on your energy levels.
Another benefit to consider with part-time courses is a lower tuition cost. These are essentially tailored to the working force of American citizens hoping to further their education.
Schedules that are flexible and meant to fit around work requirements and expectations, class sizes that allow student-teacher interaction on a realistic scale, and a cost that won’t send students scrambling for extra hours to afford bills and tuition together, part-time courses give you more freedom and control.
A New Level of Professional Possibilities Is Within Your Reach
After completing classes and obtaining their MBA, graduates can then go on to pursue their dream careers or begin the journey of climbing the corporate ladder of their current job to achieve the position they want.
But before you pursue this opportunity, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of getting your MBA.
Getting your degree should never require grand sacrifices, you are entitled to expect a balance of responsibilities between your job, your home life, and your schooling.
Taking into consideration your work schedule as well as any extracurricular activities or hobbies, managing online or in-person classes can still be possible.
A reliable internet source and a basic functioning computer, laptop, or in some special cases, a tablet are all you need to attend classes and tackle projects at your convenience within a given deadline.
Contact your teachers and professors via email or video call meeting from the comfort of your home to get clarity on questions or to discuss any potential conflicts between your school and work needs, your livelihood will be respected, and your time will be treated as the valuable commodity it is.
